Wang: no plans to abandon Lighthouse project

New York Islanders owner Charles Wang, lead developer for the Lighthouse project, has denied a report claiming he has abandoned the proposal.

Citing an unnamed source, the Long Island Press reported on Wednesday afternoon that Wang had dropped the project, and had begun reassigning top Lighthouse officials to other duties within the organization.

Wang released a statement at 11:30 a.m. on Thursday morning, nearly 17 hours after the report was released.

“There are no plans to abandon this project which is so vital to the future of Nassau County and Long Island as a whole,” Wang said.

The Press report came 11 days after Wang’s Oct. 3 “certainty deadline” for the Town of Hempstead to give him a yes or no answer on the project. The Lighthouse project is a $3.7 billion privately funded proposal to renovate the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum, and develop the 150-acres that surrounds it with a new convention center, a residential community, retail stores, restaurants, office space, a sports complex, and a five-star hotel.

“As far as the status of the Lighthouse project, we have submitted to The Town of Hempstead and Supervisor Kate Murray all the studies and required documents,” he added. “A lease has been negotiated. Supervisor Murray and the Town Board need to make a decision on the zoning.”