By Paul J. Condra
A plan for the building that will occupy the vacant lot at the Five Corners site in Lynbrook was preliminarily approved last Thursday by the Lynbrook Village Zoning Board of Appeals. But the board's decision rests on whether the Nassau County Planning Commission agrees to ignore the parking statute for the site.
According to county law, new structures can only be built so long as parking proportional to the size and needs of the building is provided. The new structure at the Five Corners intersection near Merrick Road and Broadway will not provide any new parking spaces. But neither did the previous building, built in 1918, which is why village officials believe the county will most likely look favorably on the plan.
And even if it doesn't, a super majority vote by the village zoning board could override the county's veto. For that to happen, the village would need support from at least four of the five board members. The board has already shown that four members approve of the plan, as all voted in favor of it Thursday. One member, Robert Ferraro, abstained, because his job with the design firm working on the new structure is seen as a conflict of interest.
Drafts for the new building by Wax and Ferraro of Cedarhurst describe a one-story retail building with three entrances on Broadway and three on Atlantic Avenue. The total area of the structure will be 6,800 square feet, slightly larger than the previous structure, and will cost between $400,000 and $500,000, said Lou Bello, superintendent of Lynbrook's building department.
Plans for the interior of the structure have not been completed, but construction will begin on the shell of the building. The new building could be completed by June 2002.
Bello said while some business owners are hinting they will move into the new building, nothing was finalized. Still, the area is popular and local businesses are looking forward to the addition to the area.
It's going to be beautiful and a good thing for Lynbrook, said Bill Gaylor, president of the Lynbrook Chamber of Commerce.
Indeed, the current empty lot is a blight on the row of colorful shops along Atlantic Avenue, which has seen strong growth since the Chamber of Commerce designated the area a Business Improvement District years ago.
Since then, many of the storefronts have undergone renovations and most of the spaces remain occupied by merchants.
The historic Five Corners retail and office building was ruined June 18, when an early-morning blaze caused by an
electrical fire destroyed a row of second-story offices and caused extensive smoke and water damage to six ground-level businesses.
Early in July, the property owners, Lynbrook-Broadway Associates, were considering whether to rebuild the gutted structure. But Bello announced to do so would be a violation of village code, as refurbishing costs about $400,000 would exceed half the total value of the property. Subsequently, the building was razed in mid-September.
Bello said Lynbrook-Broadway Associates felt a two-story building wasn't cost-effective as space would be needed for stair wells and it would be difficult to find tenants to fill the upper floor offices. He said despite some difficulty in accessing the busy corner, construction of the new building won't be impeded.
