By Angela Marshall
Several construction projects will come to a head during the year 2001, adding to the ever-changing face of Rockville Centre. The biggest change this year will be to Maple Avenue. From the senior hotel to Champion Twist Drill Corp's new building, Maple Avenue will have a new look by the end of the year.
More than a year after its final approval by the village board, the senior hotel, which was the center of marathon zoning board meetings throughout 1998, has yet to be built. Construction on the Tudor-style, five-story assisted living facility has been pushed back to early spring 2001.
Several residents opposed the initial plans for the building, to be located at the corner of Maple Avenue and North Long Beach Road just north of the railroad tracks. It was originally designed as six stories and had little parking. Once an arrangement was made to lower the height from 60 to 55 feet and lease parking from the village, few residents continued to fight the building.
When Hassett Belfer Senior Housing received approval on Sept. 27, 1999, Andrew Belfer, one of the project's two developers, predicted that the facility would open at the beginning of this year. The other developer, William Hassett, has since died.
During a recent conversation, Belfer's assistant could not say why construction had been delayed but predicted it would take place in the next few months. She expected that once construction begins, it will take approximately 13 months to complete.
According to Steve DeClue, building superintendent for the village, the developers have a permit to build the foundation but have not applied for a building permit. "We expect them any time," DeClue said.
Just down the avenue, construction is already underway on the Champion Twist Drill Corp's new building. The family business, which is almost 104 years old, outgrew its current facility on Park Avenue years ago.
"We're bursting out of the space we have," said Leon Frey, one of the owners.
The Champion company was not without opposition itself because of size but was ultimately approved by both the zoning and architectural review boards.
The building, which will be divided into office and warehouse space, will be 21,000 square feet. In addition, the offices are to be built over a 25-car parking garage.
Construction was derailed for a bit by the weather but Frey is hopeful that it will be completed within the next two or three months. "We hope to move in March but it will probably be April," he said.
Just in between the two Maple Avenue construction sites, some Rockville Centre Village buildings are also being revamped. While extensive renovations are being done to the municipal building at 110 Maple Avenue, residents will have to do their business with the building, electric and computer services departments in trailers in the parking lot.
The driving force behind the $500,000 project, expected to be finished in July, is bringing the building into compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. The current building has no public elevator; installing one will account for one-third of the cost of the renovation.
A representative from the building department said the construction is ahead of schedule and under budget.
Plans also include the reorganization of offices inside to better utilize space, the installation of handicap-accessible bathrooms, and aesthetic improvements to the facade of the building.
Bricks and windows will be replaced on the building's exterior to help beautify Maple Avenue.
Mercy update to come
The Herald will continue Rockville Centre construction updates for the year 2001 next week with an in-depth look at Mercy Medical Center's continued renovations.
