By KEITH GRANT
The plan was submitted to the Zoning Board of Appeals last week, which must decide on several variances if the 60-plus year-old building is to come down in exchange for the new units.
The plan calls for 11 attached townhouses on the corner property, six on Monroe Boulevard and five on Broadway. The new units would be about 20 feet lower than the current four-and-a-half story building, which is vacant. The Palace had been used as a home for psychiatric patients for many years before the city succeeded in closing it down in early 2001.
Nassau County Legislator Michael Zapson, in his role as a private local attorney, is representing the builders and led the presentation before the board.
The variances are relatively minor, he said, but the benefits to the community would be great.
Each of the proposed condos would have two to three bedrooms, two bathrooms, and sell for about $400,000. Year-long construction would follow a four-to-six week demolition of the Palace, officials said, costing local developers Peter Cohen and Barry Popkin a total of about $7 million.
Traffic expert Robert Eschbacher of Lynbrook-based Eschbacher Engineering testified that his studies showed traffic at the new homes would actually be less than the flow of vehicles to and from the Palace, even though most of the previous residents there did not drive.
Nonetheless, some area residents disputed claims that the neighborhood is all in favor of the project.
To say the Palace is going to be ripped down doesn't mean go and put this up, one resident said.
Resident Gabriella Chandler said that, with most houses in the area being mini-mansions, the condos would be out of character with the neighborhood and create a density problem.
The Palace may have been run-down, she said, but at least it was beautiful building. This is prefab.
In regards to renovating and preserving the old building, which is basically a victim of its past use and neglect, Zapson said, It just really is an impossibility based on the current state of the building.
It's never been taken care of, Zapson later noted.
The variances being sought are for density, front and side yard setbacks, and height. A vote may take place at the next meeting of the Zoning Board of Appeals on Sept. 26.
Mr. Sports targeted for new bar/restaurant
The Zoning Board of Appeals also heard a proposal for bringing a new bar/restaurant to the center of town, replacing Mr. Sports across from the railroad station.
Restaurant owner Greg Bartolotta is seeking a variance for off-street parking and provisions for the conversion of the longtime retail store at 20 W. Park Ave. into a 75-to-95 seat restaurant with a 30-foot bar and a private catering room for up to 50 people. Bartolotta said the new establishment would primarily serve as a restaurant rather than a bar, yet said he expected it would stay open as late 2 a.m. during the week and 3 a.m. on the weekend. The kitchen, he said, would close at midnight on weekdays and 1 a.m. on Friday and Saturday nights.
Bartolotta, owner of two other reportedly acclaimed restaurants
