Roger Eltringham

Comments by Roger Eltringham, President
Garden City Chamber of Commerce
At the Public Hearing on the Draft
Generic Environmental Impact Statement
For the Lighthouse at Long Island Project

Supervisor Murray and Members of the Board:
Thank you for the opportunity to speak before you today. I first want to congratulate Mr. Wang and Mr. Rechler on the scope and vision with the Lighthouse Project. You have my respect and admiration for your work.

Contrary to what Mike Francesa on WFAN thinks, Garden City is not opposed to the Lighthouse Project. The benefits of construction jobs, tax base increase, worker housing, Coliseum upgrade, keeping the Islanders on Long Island and adding permanent support jobs are obvious.

Speaking for the Garden City Chamber of Commerce, I want to comment on the less obvious and on a path that this development is taking us that could well deteriorate the town and village structure around the Lighthouse. When I look at 1,000,000 sq. feet of office space and 500,000 sq feet of retail space, and yet another hotel, the overpowering feeling I get is a queasy apprehension about our future.

As things stand today, we can’t even support the retail space that already exists. Glen Cove Road, Old Country Road, The Source, the former Avis property and even Roosevelt Field have gaping vacancy problems that are still growing.

The office vacancy rate is 16 to 17 percent in the Garden City area and our own Village retail vacancy rate is teetering. I don’t think we’re so different than surrounding villages and towns.

So - given a dreary business environment that’s not getting better anytime soon, I see the looming glitter and promise of the Lighthouse and wonder if we’re about to experience another “malling” of Nassau County that did so much to decimate our towns and villages twenty and thirty years ago.

To me, right now Tom Suozzi’s NEW Suburbia looks like it would make his recent vision of “Cool Downtowns” a thing of the past. This doesn’t have to be. Garden City has always had a successful operating model and balance between residents and business that is based on sound principles of planning to which we have consistently adhered.

Which brings me to my point. - In its present form the Lighthouse is a development that could suck office and retail business alike to it’s center, leaving Garden City and other towns as a second rate, half empty shell that can’t compete with the glamour of this project.

The planning of the Lighthouse Project has been detailed and thorough, but it has been largely self contained to the 150 acre empty space surrounding the Coliseum.

I would urge Mr. Rechler and Mr. Wang to consider a more modest and scaled down version, especially in the office and retail segment of the plan. You need to factor in the needs and economics of Garden City, Hempstead, Mineola, Carle Place, Westbury, East Meadow and Uniondale so that we all can continue to thrive and grow. A complimentary but not dominating plan makes more sense for us all.

The increased tax revenues from the Lighthouse won’t help Nassau County if the surrounding businesses are second rate and half empty, paying no taxes and generating no jobs.

If Mr. Wang’s project bordered next to his beloved Hamlet of Oyster Bay then perhaps he might think more as we do. And – just maybe, the water and traffic issues might be easier to resolve if a more modest plan exists.

I urge the Hempstead Town Board to be diligent yet expeditious in making the Lighthouse something that works for everybody. Let’s Build it Now but Let’s Build it Right!

Roger Eltringham

Comments by Roger Eltringham, President
Garden City Chamber of Commerce
At the Public Hearing on the Draft
Generic Environmental Impact Statement
For the Lighthouse at Long Island Project

Supervisor Murray and Members of the Board:
Thank you for the opportunity to speak before you today. I first want to congratulate Mr. Wang and Mr. Rechler on the scope and vision with the Lighthouse Project. You have my respect and admiration for your work.

Contrary to what Mike Francesa on WFAN thinks, Garden City is not opposed to the Lighthouse Project. The benefits of construction jobs, tax base increase, worker housing, Coliseum upgrade, keeping the Islanders on Long Island and adding permanent support jobs are obvious.

Speaking for the Garden City Chamber of Commerce, I want to comment on the less obvious and on a path that this development is taking us that could well deteriorate the town and village structure around the Lighthouse. When I look at 1,000,000 sq. feet of office space and 500,000 sq feet of retail space, and yet another hotel, the overpowering feeling I get is a queasy apprehension about our future.

As things stand today, we can’t even support the retail space that already exists. Glen Cove Road, Old Country Road, The Source, the former Avis property and even Roosevelt Field have gaping vacancy problems that are still growing.

The office vacancy rate is 16 to 17 percent in the Garden City area and our own Village retail vacancy rate is teetering. I don’t think we’re so different than surrounding villages and towns.

So - given a dreary business environment that’s not getting better anytime soon, I see the looming glitter and promise of the Lighthouse and wonder if we’re about to experience another “malling” of Nassau County that did so much to decimate our towns and villages twenty and thirty years ago.

To me, right now Tom Suozzi’s NEW Suburbia looks like it would make his recent vision of “Cool Downtowns” a thing of the past. This doesn’t have to be. Garden City has always had a successful operating model and balance between residents and business that is based on sound principles of planning to which we have consistently adhered.

Which brings me to my point. - In its present form the Lighthouse is a development that could suck office and retail business alike to it’s center, leaving Garden City and other towns as a second rate, half empty shell that can’t compete with the glamour of this project.

The planning of the Lighthouse Project has been detailed and thorough, but it has been largely self contained to the 150 acre empty space surrounding the Coliseum.

I would urge Mr. Rechler and Mr. Wang to consider a more modest and scaled down version, especially in the office and retail segment of the plan. You need to factor in the needs and economics of Garden City, Hempstead, Mineola, Carle Place, Westbury, East Meadow and Uniondale so that we all can continue to thrive and grow. A complimentary but not dominating plan makes more sense for us all.

The increased tax revenues from the Lighthouse won’t help Nassau County if the surrounding businesses are second rate and half empty, paying no taxes and generating no jobs.

If Mr. Wang’s project bordered next to his beloved Hamlet of Oyster Bay then perhaps he might think more as we do. And – just maybe, the water and traffic issues might be easier to resolve if a more modest plan exists.

I urge the Hempstead Town Board to be diligent yet expeditious in making the Lighthouse something that works for everybody. Let’s Build it Now but Let’s Build it Right!

Roger Eltringham

Comments by Roger Eltringham, President
Garden City Chamber of Commerce
At the Public Hearing on the Draft
Generic Environmental Impact Statement
For the Lighthouse at Long Island Project

Supervisor Murray and Members of the Board:
Thank you for the opportunity to speak before you today. I first want to congratulate Mr. Wang and Mr. Rechler on the scope and vision with the Lighthouse Project. You have my respect and admiration for your work.

Contrary to what Mike Francesa on WFAN thinks, Garden City is not opposed to the Lighthouse Project. The benefits of construction jobs, tax base increase, worker housing, Coliseum upgrade, keeping the Islanders on Long Island and adding permanent support jobs are obvious.

Speaking for the Garden City Chamber of Commerce, I want to comment on the less obvious and on a path that this development is taking us that could well deteriorate the town and village structure around the Lighthouse. When I look at 1,000,000 sq. feet of office space and 500,000 sq feet of retail space, and yet another hotel, the overpowering feeling I get is a queasy apprehension about our future.

As things stand today, we can’t even support the retail space that already exists. Glen Cove Road, Old Country Road, The Source, the former Avis property and even Roosevelt Field have gaping vacancy problems that are still growing.

The office vacancy rate is 16 to 17 percent in the Garden City area and our own Village retail vacancy rate is teetering. I don’t think we’re so different than surrounding villages and towns.

So - given a dreary business environment that’s not getting better anytime soon, I see the looming glitter and promise of the Lighthouse and wonder if we’re about to experience another “malling” of Nassau County that did so much to decimate our towns and villages twenty and thirty years ago.

To me, right now Tom Suozzi’s NEW Suburbia looks like it would make his recent vision of “Cool Downtowns” a thing of the past. This doesn’t have to be. Garden City has always had a successful operating model and balance between residents and business that is based on sound principles of planning to which we have consistently adhered.

Which brings me to my point. - In its present form the Lighthouse is a development that could suck office and retail business alike to it’s center, leaving Garden City and other towns as a second rate, half empty shell that can’t compete with the glamour of this project.

The planning of the Lighthouse Project has been detailed and thorough, but it has been largely self contained to the 150 acre empty space surrounding the Coliseum.

I would urge Mr. Rechler and Mr. Wang to consider a more modest and scaled down version, especially in the office and retail segment of the plan. You need to factor in the needs and economics of Garden City, Hempstead, Mineola, Carle Place, Westbury, East Meadow and Uniondale so that we all can continue to thrive and grow. A complimentary but not dominating plan makes more sense for us all.

The increased tax revenues from the Lighthouse won’t help Nassau County if the surrounding businesses are second rate and half empty, paying no taxes and generating no jobs.

If Mr. Wang’s project bordered next to his beloved Hamlet of Oyster Bay then perhaps he might think more as we do. And – just maybe, the water and traffic issues might be easier to resolve if a more modest plan exists.

I urge the Hempstead Town Board to be diligent yet expeditious in making the Lighthouse something that works for everybody. Let’s Build it Now but Let’s Build it Right!

Roger Eltringham

Comments by Roger Eltringham, President
Garden City Chamber of Commerce
At the Public Hearing on the Draft
Generic Environmental Impact Statement
For the Lighthouse at Long Island Project

Supervisor Murray and Members of the Board:
Thank you for the opportunity to speak before you today. I first want to congratulate Mr. Wang and Mr. Rechler on the scope and vision with the Lighthouse Project. You have my respect and admiration for your work.

Contrary to what Mike Francesa on WFAN thinks, Garden City is not opposed to the Lighthouse Project. The benefits of construction jobs, tax base increase, worker housing, Coliseum upgrade, keeping the Islanders on Long Island and adding permanent support jobs are obvious.

Speaking for the Garden City Chamber of Commerce, I want to comment on the less obvious and on a path that this development is taking us that could well deteriorate the town and village structure around the Lighthouse. When I look at 1,000,000 sq. feet of office space and 500,000 sq feet of retail space, and yet another hotel, the overpowering feeling I get is a queasy apprehension about our future.

As things stand today, we can’t even support the retail space that already exists. Glen Cove Road, Old Country Road, The Source, the former Avis property and even Roosevelt Field have gaping vacancy problems that are still growing.

The office vacancy rate is 16 to 17 percent in the Garden City area and our own Village retail vacancy rate is teetering. I don’t think we’re so different than surrounding villages and towns.

So - given a dreary business environment that’s not getting better anytime soon, I see the looming glitter and promise of the Lighthouse and wonder if we’re about to experience another “malling” of Nassau County that did so much to decimate our towns and villages twenty and thirty years ago.

To me, right now Tom Suozzi’s NEW Suburbia looks like it would make his recent vision of “Cool Downtowns” a thing of the past. This doesn’t have to be. Garden City has always had a successful operating model and balance between residents and business that is based on sound principles of planning to which we have consistently adhered.

Which brings me to my point. - In its present form the Lighthouse is a development that could suck office and retail business alike to it’s center, leaving Garden City and other towns as a second rate, half empty shell that can’t compete with the glamour of this project.

The planning of the Lighthouse Project has been detailed and thorough, but it has been largely self contained to the 150 acre empty space surrounding the Coliseum.

I would urge Mr. Rechler and Mr. Wang to consider a more modest and scaled down version, especially in the office and retail segment of the plan. You need to factor in the needs and economics of Garden City, Hempstead, Mineola, Carle Place, Westbury, East Meadow and Uniondale so that we all can continue to thrive and grow. A complimentary but not dominating plan makes more sense for us all.

The increased tax revenues from the Lighthouse won’t help Nassau County if the surrounding businesses are second rate and half empty, paying no taxes and generating no jobs.

If Mr. Wang’s project bordered next to his beloved Hamlet of Oyster Bay then perhaps he might think more as we do. And – just maybe, the water and traffic issues might be easier to resolve if a more modest plan exists.

I urge the Hempstead Town Board to be diligent yet expeditious in making the Lighthouse something that works for everybody. Let’s Build it Now but Let’s Build it Right!

Roger Eltringham

Comments by Roger Eltringham, President
Garden City Chamber of Commerce
At the Public Hearing on the Draft
Generic Environmental Impact Statement
For the Lighthouse at Long Island Project

Supervisor Murray and Members of the Board:
Thank you for the opportunity to speak before you today. I first want to congratulate Mr. Wang and Mr. Rechler on the scope and vision with the Lighthouse Project. You have my respect and admiration for your work.

Contrary to what Mike Francesa on WFAN thinks, Garden City is not opposed to the Lighthouse Project. The benefits of construction jobs, tax base increase, worker housing, Coliseum upgrade, keeping the Islanders on Long Island and adding permanent support jobs are obvious.

Speaking for the Garden City Chamber of Commerce, I want to comment on the less obvious and on a path that this development is taking us that could well deteriorate the town and village structure around the Lighthouse. When I look at 1,000,000 sq. feet of office space and 500,000 sq feet of retail space, and yet another hotel, the overpowering feeling I get is a queasy apprehension about our future.

As things stand today, we can’t even support the retail space that already exists. Glen Cove Road, Old Country Road, The Source, the former Avis property and even Roosevelt Field have gaping vacancy problems that are still growing.

The office vacancy rate is 16 to 17 percent in the Garden City area and our own Village retail vacancy rate is teetering. I don’t think we’re so different than surrounding villages and towns.

So - given a dreary business environment that’s not getting better anytime soon, I see the looming glitter and promise of the Lighthouse and wonder if we’re about to experience another “malling” of Nassau County that did so much to decimate our towns and villages twenty and thirty years ago.

To me, right now Tom Suozzi’s NEW Suburbia looks like it would make his recent vision of “Cool Downtowns” a thing of the past. This doesn’t have to be. Garden City has always had a successful operating model and balance between residents and business that is based on sound principles of planning to which we have consistently adhered.

Which brings me to my point. - In its present form the Lighthouse is a development that could suck office and retail business alike to it’s center, leaving Garden City and other towns as a second rate, half empty shell that can’t compete with the glamour of this project.

The planning of the Lighthouse Project has been detailed and thorough, but it has been largely self contained to the 150 acre empty space surrounding the Coliseum.

I would urge Mr. Rechler and Mr. Wang to consider a more modest and scaled down version, especially in the office and retail segment of the plan. You need to factor in the needs and economics of Garden City, Hempstead, Mineola, Carle Place, Westbury, East Meadow and Uniondale so that we all can continue to thrive and grow. A complimentary but not dominating plan makes more sense for us all.

The increased tax revenues from the Lighthouse won’t help Nassau County if the surrounding businesses are second rate and half empty, paying no taxes and generating no jobs.

If Mr. Wang’s project bordered next to his beloved Hamlet of Oyster Bay then perhaps he might think more as we do. And – just maybe, the water and traffic issues might be easier to resolve if a more modest plan exists.

I urge the Hempstead Town Board to be diligent yet expeditious in making the Lighthouse something that works for everybody. Let’s Build it Now but Let’s Build it Right!

Roger Eltringham

Comments by Roger Eltringham, President
Garden City Chamber of Commerce
At the Public Hearing on the Draft
Generic Environmental Impact Statement
For the Lighthouse at Long Island Project

Supervisor Murray and Members of the Board:
Thank you for the opportunity to speak before you today. I first want to congratulate Mr. Wang and Mr. Rechler on the scope and vision with the Lighthouse Project. You have my respect and admiration for your work.

Contrary to what Mike Francesa on WFAN thinks, Garden City is not opposed to the Lighthouse Project. The benefits of construction jobs, tax base increase, worker housing, Coliseum upgrade, keeping the Islanders on Long Island and adding permanent support jobs are obvious.

Speaking for the Garden City Chamber of Commerce, I want to comment on the less obvious and on a path that this development is taking us that could well deteriorate the town and village structure around the Lighthouse. When I look at 1,000,000 sq. feet of office space and 500,000 sq feet of retail space, and yet another hotel, the overpowering feeling I get is a queasy apprehension about our future.

As things stand today, we can’t even support the retail space that already exists. Glen Cove Road, Old Country Road, The Source, the former Avis property and even Roosevelt Field have gaping vacancy problems that are still growing.

The office vacancy rate is 16 to 17 percent in the Garden City area and our own Village retail vacancy rate is teetering. I don’t think we’re so different than surrounding villages and towns.

So - given a dreary business environment that’s not getting better anytime soon, I see the looming glitter and promise of the Lighthouse and wonder if we’re about to experience another “malling” of Nassau County that did so much to decimate our towns and villages twenty and thirty years ago.

To me, right now Tom Suozzi’s NEW Suburbia looks like it would make his recent vision of “Cool Downtowns” a thing of the past. This doesn’t have to be. Garden City has always had a successful operating model and balance between residents and business that is based on sound principles of planning to which we have consistently adhered.

Which brings me to my point. - In its present form the Lighthouse is a development that could suck office and retail business alike to it’s center, leaving Garden City and other towns as a second rate, half empty shell that can’t compete with the glamour of this project.

The planning of the Lighthouse Project has been detailed and thorough, but it has been largely self contained to the 150 acre empty space surrounding the Coliseum.

I would urge Mr. Rechler and Mr. Wang to consider a more modest and scaled down version, especially in the office and retail segment of the plan. You need to factor in the needs and economics of Garden City, Hempstead, Mineola, Carle Place, Westbury, East Meadow and Uniondale so that we all can continue to thrive and grow. A complimentary but not dominating plan makes more sense for us all.

The increased tax revenues from the Lighthouse won’t help Nassau County if the surrounding businesses are second rate and half empty, paying no taxes and generating no jobs.

If Mr. Wang’s project bordered next to his beloved Hamlet of Oyster Bay then perhaps he might think more as we do. And – just maybe, the water and traffic issues might be easier to resolve if a more modest plan exists.

I urge the Hempstead Town Board to be diligent yet expeditious in making the Lighthouse something that works for everybody. Let’s Build it Now but Let’s Build it Right!

Roger Eltringham

Comments by Roger Eltringham, President
Garden City Chamber of Commerce
At the Public Hearing on the Draft
Generic Environmental Impact Statement
For the Lighthouse at Long Island Project

Supervisor Murray and Members of the Board:
Thank you for the opportunity to speak before you today. I first want to congratulate Mr. Wang and Mr. Rechler on the scope and vision with the Lighthouse Project. You have my respect and admiration for your work.

Contrary to what Mike Francesa on WFAN thinks, Garden City is not opposed to the Lighthouse Project. The benefits of construction jobs, tax base increase, worker housing, Coliseum upgrade, keeping the Islanders on Long Island and adding permanent support jobs are obvious.

Speaking for the Garden City Chamber of Commerce, I want to comment on the less obvious and on a path that this development is taking us that could well deteriorate the town and village structure around the Lighthouse. When I look at 1,000,000 sq. feet of office space and 500,000 sq feet of retail space, and yet another hotel, the overpowering feeling I get is a queasy apprehension about our future.

As things stand today, we can’t even support the retail space that already exists. Glen Cove Road, Old Country Road, The Source, the former Avis property and even Roosevelt Field have gaping vacancy problems that are still growing.

The office vacancy rate is 16 to 17 percent in the Garden City area and our own Village retail vacancy rate is teetering. I don’t think we’re so different than surrounding villages and towns.

So - given a dreary business environment that’s not getting better anytime soon, I see the looming glitter and promise of the Lighthouse and wonder if we’re about to experience another “malling” of Nassau County that did so much to decimate our towns and villages twenty and thirty years ago.

To me, right now Tom Suozzi’s NEW Suburbia looks like it would make his recent vision of “Cool Downtowns” a thing of the past. This doesn’t have to be. Garden City has always had a successful operating model and balance between residents and business that is based on sound principles of planning to which we have consistently adhered.

Which brings me to my point. - In its present form the Lighthouse is a development that could suck office and retail business alike to it’s center, leaving Garden City and other towns as a second rate, half empty shell that can’t compete with the glamour of this project.

The planning of the Lighthouse Project has been detailed and thorough, but it has been largely self contained to the 150 acre empty space surrounding the Coliseum.

I would urge Mr. Rechler and Mr. Wang to consider a more modest and scaled down version, especially in the office and retail segment of the plan. You need to factor in the needs and economics of Garden City, Hempstead, Mineola, Carle Place, Westbury, East Meadow and Uniondale so that we all can continue to thrive and grow. A complimentary but not dominating plan makes more sense for us all.

The increased tax revenues from the Lighthouse won’t help Nassau County if the surrounding businesses are second rate and half empty, paying no taxes and generating no jobs.

If Mr. Wang’s project bordered next to his beloved Hamlet of Oyster Bay then perhaps he might think more as we do. And – just maybe, the water and traffic issues might be easier to resolve if a more modest plan exists.

I urge the Hempstead Town Board to be diligent yet expeditious in making the Lighthouse something that works for everybody. Let’s Build it Now but Let’s Build it Right!

Roger Eltringham

Comments by Roger Eltringham, President
Garden City Chamber of Commerce
At the Public Hearing on the Draft
Generic Environmental Impact Statement
For the Lighthouse at Long Island Project

Supervisor Murray and Members of the Board:
Thank you for the opportunity to speak before you today. I first want to congratulate Mr. Wang and Mr. Rechler on the scope and vision with the Lighthouse Project. You have my respect and admiration for your work.

Contrary to what Mike Francesa on WFAN thinks, Garden City is not opposed to the Lighthouse Project. The benefits of construction jobs, tax base increase, worker housing, Coliseum upgrade, keeping the Islanders on Long Island and adding permanent support jobs are obvious.

Speaking for the Garden City Chamber of Commerce, I want to comment on the less obvious and on a path that this development is taking us that could well deteriorate the town and village structure around the Lighthouse. When I look at 1,000,000 sq. feet of office space and 500,000 sq feet of retail space, and yet another hotel, the overpowering feeling I get is a queasy apprehension about our future.

As things stand today, we can’t even support the retail space that already exists. Glen Cove Road, Old Country Road, The Source, the former Avis property and even Roosevelt Field have gaping vacancy problems that are still growing.

The office vacancy rate is 16 to 17 percent in the Garden City area and our own Village retail vacancy rate is teetering. I don’t think we’re so different than surrounding villages and towns.

So - given a dreary business environment that’s not getting better anytime soon, I see the looming glitter and promise of the Lighthouse and wonder if we’re about to experience another “malling” of Nassau County that did so much to decimate our towns and villages twenty and thirty years ago.

To me, right now Tom Suozzi’s NEW Suburbia looks like it would make his recent vision of “Cool Downtowns” a thing of the past. This doesn’t have to be. Garden City has always had a successful operating model and balance between residents and business that is based on sound principles of planning to which we have consistently adhered.

Which brings me to my point. - In its present form the Lighthouse is a development that could suck office and retail business alike to it’s center, leaving Garden City and other towns as a second rate, half empty shell that can’t compete with the glamour of this project.

The planning of the Lighthouse Project has been detailed and thorough, but it has been largely self contained to the 150 acre empty space surrounding the Coliseum.

I would urge Mr. Rechler and Mr. Wang to consider a more modest and scaled down version, especially in the office and retail segment of the plan. You need to factor in the needs and economics of Garden City, Hempstead, Mineola, Carle Place, Westbury, East Meadow and Uniondale so that we all can continue to thrive and grow. A complimentary but not dominating plan makes more sense for us all.

The increased tax revenues from the Lighthouse won’t help Nassau County if the surrounding businesses are second rate and half empty, paying no taxes and generating no jobs.

If Mr. Wang’s project bordered next to his beloved Hamlet of Oyster Bay then perhaps he might think more as we do. And – just maybe, the water and traffic issues might be easier to resolve if a more modest plan exists.

I urge the Hempstead Town Board to be diligent yet expeditious in making the Lighthouse something that works for everybody. Let’s Build it Now but Let’s Build it Right!