By:John Borrelli
BID: Hold on, we're coming
Property owners along Sunrise Highway in Lynbrook became part of the Business Improvement District (BID), but not because they wanted to.
The landlords along Sunrise Highway were against it. They feared that their stretch of property would be ignored in favor of Atlantic Avenue.
As things stand now, that fear of being neglected, though they are paying members of BID, has been realized. Atlantic Avenue has received a major facelift, while evidence of improvements to businesses along Sunrise Highway is hard to find -- a fact BID President Harry Levitt readily recognizes.
However, Levitt, has some good news for the disgruntled property owners along the highway.
"We're working on putting a plan together for Sunrise Highway right now," he said. "The village just got a federal grant to fix Sunrise Highway. We're waiting to find out what the village is doing, but we're already talking to an architect about plans."
The idea is to find out what the village will pay for and spend the BID money on other projects.
A BID is a federally designated district created when a town or village's downtown area is in need of refurbishment. The Village of Lynbrook sought to create a BID about three and a half years ago. BID members pay additional tax, which is matched by the federal government, in order to receive such things as new sidewalks, landscaping and improved lighting.
Those against creating a BID felt they were facing a losing battle from the very beginning, even in the way the voting was handled.
Only landlords were allowed to vote and, according to Mario Cipriano, owner of the row of buildings along Sunrise that includes Gino's Pizza, many of the Sunrise Highway building owners do not live in the area. If a landlord did not vote, their ballot was counted as a yes to create a BID.
Mario suggested he be photographed standing next to the new garbage can in front of his pizzeria. It's the standard metal wire type, not like the fancy ones found elsewhere in the village. "It took me two years to get this," he says.
Mario has been paying the BID about $2,000 a year.
Filomena Masiello, who has owned buildings 421 through 437 along the highway since 1972, got a much nicer garbage can, but not without a fight. She pays the BID about $800 a year. She recently spent about $15,000 of her own money to have a new sidewalk put in along part of her property. "They said don't fix it, we will," she said of the BID. "Then Village Hall sent me a letter demanding that I repair the sidewalk."
Chris Biancaniello, whose family owns the buildings across the street from Masiello, just east of White Castle, told of the difficult time he had when he wanted to renovate the facade of his buildings. "The village turned down so many proposals. They finally said they wanted a colonial look."
They got one, sort of.
"We've been paying. They promised us. We opposed it. Now the project's almost over, " Biancaniello said. Indeed, the BID project is nearing the end of its five-year lifespan.
"The money is there. Just because the taxes stop doesn't mean we will stop our work," said Levitt.
Anxious landlords can expect to see some real progress very soon, according to Levitt. Sunrise Highway, from Broadway east to the Long Island Rail Road trestle, will be seeing major improvements.
"It takes so long to get things done," said Levitt, who found the revitalization of Atlantic Avenue to be an ultimately satisfying but often frustrating process. "We have to be so careful. The village must approve all our plans. The state watches us. On Atlantic Avenue, a three-year project, the planning took almost a year."
When asked if the Sunrise Highway property owners have seen their fair share of BID money, Levitt said, "No, they haven't, and I feel bad. The owner of Gino's fixed up his own building. That issue will be taken care of. He'll get money back."
The unhappy property owners have heard a lot of talk over the years, and they're anxious to see some action.
"They will have something to look at in six months," Levitt said. "Sunrise Highway renovations will begin next spring. The renovation work from Broadway to the railroad tracks will be completed within two years."
Levitt can be sure that the folks who own the property on Sunrise will be waiting for something more than a shiny new trash can.
"I can understand their frustration," Levitt said. "I'm glad to be made aware of the situation. I'm sorry they were not better informed."
