Major developers interested in Baldwin

, part of a planned Town of Hempstead revitalization project on Grand Avenue that is expected to be completed in roughly two years.
Town Councilman Anthony Santino hosted a public forum at Baldwin Middle School on Feb. 13, at which he unveiled preliminary proposals from what he described as "major developers" interested in rejuvenating the corner of Grand Avenue and Merrick Road, among them Breslin Realty, Basser-Kaufman and Engel Burman.
More than 300 people attended the meeting, an indication of the enormous interest the project has generated ever since it was announced more than a year ago. Early last year, the town announced the results of a study that deemed the area blighted, saying that more than 50 percent of stores were vacant and that buildings, some of which are over 100 years old, are run down and deteriorating.
The town is planning to acquire the roughly six-acre property on the corner of Grand Avenue and Merrick Road through eminent domain. It would then turn it over to a developer, who, it is hoped, would attract a large anchor retailer in addition to other quality businesses that the towns says will rejuvenate the area.
"Let me make it clear - it won't be nail place or a Chinese place," Santino said to a round of applause. "This is an opportunity that cries out for economic development." Santino added that after the town chooses a developer for the project, it will "beautify the area, create jobs and bring people to Baldwin. We'll make this area of Baldwin a real commercial hub."
The project is still in its early stages, town officials emphasized, and most of the preliminary proposals did not include the names of retailers. One real estate firm, Philips International Realty, only alluded to a "well known, very significant Long Island-based grocery chain as an anchor tenant," as well as an "important-named coffee shop."
The proposals did feature some impressive designs, including a joint venture by the firms Basser-Kaufman and Engel Burman. It featured a modern, two-story retail space next to the firehouse, measuring 16,500 square feet on each level. The design also boasted more than 84,000 square feet of retail space for a number of shops extending along Grand Avenue and around the corner onto Merrick Road.
Along with the shops, some of the designs included walkways for shoppers, gazebos and even a fountain. Some consisted of street-level development with parking in the rear, while other spaces ran along Grand Avenue with stores set behind them.
Some proposals, however, received tepid reactions from residents, including a design by AvalonBay Communities Inc. that featured a mixture of 292 residential apartments and retail space. It also called for either a Walgreens, a supermarket or an apparel store on the corner. "I knew the answer to that one," Santino said after a number of residents yelled "No" upon hearing Avalon's proposal.
Santino said he is conscious of the fact that the area needs a good retail mix. For instance, when developers suggested stores like Walgreens, Santino said he explained that the town - and residents - are not interested in such stores, and that the whole point of the project is to attract quality retail shops like The Gap or Barnes & Noble.
"Residential was never what the town was looking for," Santino said. "It may be a good proposal, but this is the wrong place for it. The most important facet of this project is going to be the tenant mix. It's very important to attract quality, first-class retail tenants and attract shoppers not only from Baldwin, but from surrounding communities as well."
Town officials said that no tax dollars are being used for the project, and that after the town acquires the property, it will turn it over to a developer who will pay for the parcel and assume the entire cost of the project.
Not all of the buildings included in the blight study - which covers the area south of Prospect Street on Grand Avenue and ends at Fullerton Funeral Home on Merrick Road - will be torn down. But the buildings on Grand Avenue below the firehouse will, and Santino and others emphasized that those tenants and business owners would be assisted during that process. "There obviously are some residential tenants, and the town will help them relocate, even if they want to stay in Baldwin," Santino said.
He and others said that housing would generally be better than current conditions, and that tenants will be assisted under the Federal Uniform Relocation Act, which aims to provide tenants with fair, equitable treatment and protection during such projects. "We want to make sure that no tenant is mistreated," Santino said.
One resident asked whether the town expects legal action as it moves ahead with the plan, and whether litigation could hamper the project. Charles Theofan, the town's commissioner of planning and economic development, said he does not anticipate any major hurdles, explaining that property owners are generally reimbursed "very generously," and adding that the town is responsible for offering the highest appraisal. Property owners who feel that the fair market value is inadequate can challenge the offers in court.
"All in all it is fair, but it won't be a long process for us to acquire ownership," Theofan said. "We do not want this thing lingering year after year so that property owners are in limbo."
Howard Gainsburg, the owner of Baldwin Kitchen & Bath Designs on Merrick Road, which would have to be demolished, said he hopes to be relocated nearby, something Santino and others said they are committed to doing. "I think this is a good thing for Baldwin," Gainsburg told town officials. "I hope we become a part of it."
Others asked about traffic and parking issues, and what impact the project would have on the area. "All of these proposals really do provide for sufficient on-site parking," Santino said, adding that the town would conduct a traffic study and ensure that the project is pedestrian-friendly, to allow for "a walkable downtown, where people can buy jeans or a book."
With no specific stores aligned with the project at this point, residents asked just what sort of guarantee a developer could give that it can attract an upscale retailer. "If they can't get us a Barnes & Noble, they better get us a Borders, Bed Bath & Beyond or something of equal caliber," Theofan said.
The town will soon begin issuing Requests for Proposals, and will then select a developer and adopt an urban renewal plan for the area. The preliminary proposals shown to the public last week would be modified significantly, since many are based on the blight study and include properties that are not slated to be demolished, such as Fullerton Funeral Home.
The project is expected to be complete in roughly two years. "Two years from today, we should be well into construction and nearing completion," Theofan said.
Many residents said they are hoping to see the area finally revitalized, especially since plans to rejuvenate the corner of Grand and Merrick have failed in the past. Many also said that there is a lack of high-end retail stores in Baldwin, and that they don't want to see another drug store or grocery store in town. "Whenever I have to do any kind of shopping, I have to go somewhere else," said Philip Cotty, 26. "[The town] seems to be on their way to doing something about the area."
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