Rediscovering the waterfront

Revitalization of underdeveloped bayfront property discussed

      Looking for insight and feedback from the community, the City Council held a public hearing on the much-anticipated Waterfront Revitalization Project on Tuesday, October 17, with the architectural firm of Dvirka and Bartilucci presenting a conceptual design plan.
      Calling the City Hall hearing the "starting point of the process," Dvirka and Bartilucci outlined the three segments of the preliminary plan and discussed possible features of the site, including marinas, a museum, an urban environmental facility, a miniature-golf course, a nature park, restaurants, small-scale retail stores and a fish market.
      "What we have now is a 'wish list'," said City Council Vice President Barbara Mosca. "We have the beginnings of what could be a wonderful project. We have some very exciting ideas for the area."
      The revitalization project is in the underdeveloped waterfront area where the former City garage, maintenance area and incinerator were stationed. It is expected to encompass the bayfront shoreline from Monroe Boulevard to the boat ramp at National Boulevard and would create a linkage with the present Veterans' Memorial Park and the greenway, which runs along the shore from Magnolia Boulevard to Washington Boulevard.
      Among the more intriguing, if not controversial, ideas of the plan is the possible reconfiguration of the incinerator building into an urban environmental center, which would entail removal of the smoke stack.
      While City Council President Joel Crystal mentioned the spectacular views of the channel and the ocean that would be seen from the revamped incinerator, such concerned citizens as Sarah Nicholas - who played a vital role in helping close the incinerator in March 1997 - wonder how much needs to be done before these preliminary plans come to fruition.       
      "I think the city needs to get more input," said Ms. Nicholas, who suggested at the presentation that the City send a questionnaire to the community to find out what they would like see done with the waterfront area. "I'm thrilled to see anything environmental. I think an environmental center would be wonderful. But certainly I'm concerned by the clean-up of the site. The City has environmental reports that identify certain things in the soil."
      In a report dated September 13, 2000, CA Rich Consultants, Inc., found that the soil around the incinerator and throughout the waterfront property contained dissolved metals and petroleum.
      "Actually, we're pleasantly surprised that the contamination that has been found at the site has been minimal," Public Works Commissioner Rob Raab said. "Based on the fact that it was an incinerator site that was in operation for a long period of time, it could have been a lot worse. Only recently, in the last 10-15 years, the regulations have been much more stringent in emissions."
      Mr. Raab told The Herald that CA Rich Consultants has provided the City with documentation of procedures where they would conduct further sampling at the site and would then develop a remediation plan to identify the contamination that has been found.
      Mr. Raab said he is not concerned with the clean-up that the site will eventually require, and that it will be coordinated with CA Rich Consultants and with what the City is proposing for the waterfront project.
      Meanwhile, the City Council said it will continue to explore options for funding. In August, the City Council authorized the City to apply for grants to fund various aspects of the revitalization, including bulkheading and shoreline stabilization.
      Mr. Raab told The Herald that there is no set timetable for the development of the Waterfront Revitalization Project, but he did say construction of the project would take roughly 10 years to complete.
      "This project will open up our unique bayfront area as never before," Mr. Crystal said. "Residents will be able to stroll from the tennis courts at Monroe Boulevard, under the Long Beach Bridge, over the Railroad track, ending on Washington Boulevard.
      "Long Beach is one step closer to realizing the full potential of our unique natural resources. If we are able to secure funding, this area may become one of the most magnificent locations on Long Island."