Public hearing for proposed apartment complex at Feather Factory site in Lynbrook set for May 17

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The Lynbrook village board unanimously voted on Monday to set May 17 for a public hearing on a 210-unit apartment complex that has been proposed for the site of the vacant Mangrove Feather factory, and to make itself lead agency on the project.

David Orwasher, chief development officer for the Garden City-based Breslin Realty, is seeking to build the complex after years of negotiations with the village and property owner Barry Singer. He hosted two meet-and-greets with the community — one of which was also held virtually — on April 1 and 6.

Before the meetings, Mayor Alan Beach said the board was keeping an open mind about the project.

“We’re very excited, and the board is open to all interesting projects that come to our village,” Beach said last month. “We look forward to the public hearing.”

Though the former factory has long been a blight on the village, many residents said they were concerned about the traffic that an influx of new residents might create, among other issues. Most said they would support a smaller-scale apartment project, or advocated for other ideas, such as using the site to construct senior housing or a brewery. They will have the chance to voice their opinions publicly at the May 17 hearing.

The one-time Mangrove Feather factory has been dormant since 2008, and several village administrations have sought to develop it, but it took many years to persuade Singer to sell the property, which residents and village officials have called an eyesore. Orwasher and Singer began negotiating a deal in November 2017, and finally reached one last month. Orwasher said he thought the site was a perfect spot for housing because of its proximity to the Long Island Rail Road station and the downtown.

“This is a classic transit-oriented development,” he said last month. “It’s literally across the street from the village train station. It’s also going to replace a derelict building that has been vacant for over a dozen years. This particular location occupies what we believe is a pivotal location within the fabric of the village downtown.”

The building would also include a parking space for each unit, with the first two stories serving as a garage. The complex would comprise a mix of studio and one- and two-bedroom apartments. Among the amenities would be an outdoor recreation deck, sun deck, chess table and more, Orwasher said. If approved by the village board, construction would take 18 months to two years.

To learn more about the project, visit restore4347broadwaylynbrookstation.com.