By Mike Caputo
Documents have been filed with the Town of Hempstead indicating that a group including former Sen. Alfonse D'Amato, his brother and his son plan to develop 100 condominium units on the site.
If their plan is approved, the 50-year-old Atlantic Beach landmark, owned and operated by Jem Caterers, would be demolished and replaced by single-family condos and 233 parking spaces, according to the documents.
D'Amato's son Christopher signed the petition as a representative of PS Atlantic Beach Housing Holdings LLC, a Park Strategies group that would be a 20 percent equity partner of the buyer, Deb Steve Development LLC, headed by Donald Dinnino. The former senator owns 60 percent of PS Atlantic Beach Housing Holdings, and Christopher and Armand D'Amato each own 20 percent.
The beach club sits on unincorporated, so the Atlantic Beach village government won't have a direct say on the property's zoning.
The younger D'Amato is the executive vice president of Park Strategies, a business consulting firm founded by his father in 1999. According to the company's Web site, it specializes in "government affairs, strategic advisory services and business development."
Among the documents filed with the town is a petition request for a zoning change at the Sands property, at 1395 Beech St. If the petition is granted, the property's zoning would be changed from marine recreation to a multiple-dwelling district, which would allow the construction of residential units.
Christopher D'Amato, who described the family group members as "long-time Nassau Countyans," said that Dinnino had approached him in search of equity partners for the development. "He indicated to us he thought this was an attractive and potentially exciting project, and he was looking for other equity partners," D'Amato said. "We took a look at it and decided it seemed to be a very exciting project, one that we believe would be in the best interests of that part of the Island, and we decided to participate with them."
According to online public campaign funding records, Dinnino has made several contributions to the local and national Republican party, with which former Senator D'Amato is affiliated.
Calls to Dinnino and representatives of Jem Caterers were not returned.
Christopher D'Amato explained the concept behind the development. "We think it is going to provide some fantastic housing ... and is going to capitalize on what is at present a really underutilized area," he said. He added that he anticipates a great deal of interest in what he described as "spectacular oceanfront residential developments."
According to the site plans, the condominiums would measure 2,200 to 2,400 square feet, and would be divided into groups of five, in 20 maisonette buildings. The complex would include a community outdoor pool and gatehouse.
Atlantic Beach Mayor Stephen Mahler, who said he was not aware of the petition's official filing, suggested that people move to Atlantic Beach for its quaint and quiet lifestyle, leaving behind the need to cram everything possible onto small parcels of land. "You know these builders - they want to maximize their space," Mahler said. "They want to make everything Coney Island.
"How come [D'Amato] isn't building it in Lido Beach on the Lido Sands, where he lives?"
According to a Town of Hempstead representative, it takes a long time for a zoning request to make it onto a town board agenda because of the number of reviews and signatures required. It could take up to a year from the date the petition was filed for such requests to be acted on, the representative said.
Christopher D'Amato said he is aware of the lengthy process, and cannot pinpoint a target date for when the project might begin. "My understanding is that these things take a generally long time, and I would be speculating if I told you I had a picture of what the time frame would be," he said. "Obviously we would hope that it would move forward more quickly."
Rumors about the Sands have circulated among Atlantic Beach residents and the club's members throughout the year. Resident Raina Russo, a community activist and a member of the Sands, claimed that officials at Jem Caterers have continually denied rumors of a development project for about six months, which prompted Russo to conduct her own investigation. She said that the Sands sent a letter to all of its members in which it rejected all notions of a sale and the development plans. In fact, Russo said, members have continued to book cabanas at the club for next year.
"Their plan, if passed, would be detrimental to our community and our beachfront," Russo and her husband, Ralph, recently wrote in an open letter to their neighbors and the Nassau Herald. "The petition clearly disregards the nature of our community and the beauty and fragility of our beaches."
The Russos cited traffic, congestion and school crowding as major obstacles the small community would encounter if the development comes to fruition.
According to Mahler, the potential problems go way beyond traffic and congestion, and he cannot see village residents being in favor of the project. "Of course it would affect everybody very badly if you would put in 100 residential units - that's a lot of units to put in," Mahler said. "That would be a great effect on the entire area. There would be very few people other than the ones proposing it that would be in favor of that."
Raina Russo said she firmly believes that Jem Caterers and the D'Amatos tried to quietly push the process through before residents had an opportunity to act. She said that only properties within 200 feet of the Sands would be notified of the petition. That includes two beach clubs and about 12 residences.
"If nobody shows up [to town board meetings], they won't have opposition and will be without any resistance," Russo said.
Alfonse D'Amato's wife, Katuria, is a member of the town's Zoning Board of Appeals, which could be more than incidental to the case if the petition makes it through the process to that committee.
Mahler urged community members who oppose the petition to fight for what they believe is the right thing. "It's time for all these people to stand up and make a lot of noise," he said, "and if that is what they want, and if they are going to protest, they better protest loudly and clearly."
Comments about this story? MCaputo@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000, ext. 210.
