Anyone Else Concerned?????

Okay, so I've unfortunately had to revert back to being a lurker here lately because things have been so hectic .. but this is something that I really find troubling, and I don't think I've seen anyone mention it here yet .. so, here it goes ..

Is anyone else concerned about the proposal to build a $4-billion densely populated community called Heartland Town Square on the old Pilgrim State land?? They are building 9,000 apartments, plus office buildings and shops .. aparently all 'luxury' HOWEVER they are wrapping it around the remaining buildings of the psychiatric center, which still is the home to something like 750 patients! First, how are they going to sell this plan that has a psych center as it's nucleus?? Second, they are developing this in the Brentwood School District area. No offense to Brentwood, seriously I mean that, but the school district is not a positive selling point in the real estate market.

I see so many things to fear about this .. with environmental concerns topping the list. I also worry that this idea might get built, but never get off the ground, so they will have to drop their rents and will end up adding to the already troubled areas that are a part of Brentwood. (Again, this is not a bashing of Brentwood .. just feeling that this could become a 'bad' part of town).

It upsets me that the land was sold off, instead of keeping it state-owned. I know land on Long Island is valuable, but when are the 'powers' going to start realizing we need to think about our future here?? Don't they realize Suffolk and Nassau rank 6th and 7th in the nation for breast cancer, according to a Newsday study??

Any thoughts, anyone??



Pilgrim Plan

LI Cancer

Kel;

Hubby's first response was 'great - another ghetto' although my first thought was that all those apartments, stores and offices would help with the tax base of Islip township.

I guess execution is the key. If you live in Islip you could always look into getting involved in the public hearings and political opposition if it's not taking the right direction. Hubby used to do that all the time when we were living in MA, and he's looking into his options here in NY now. Forum mail me if you want more info.

not for nothing and again just my opinion but that has been part of the bad side of town for quite some time-- I grew up in Brentwood and it has/had plenty of bad areas -- I agree that the issue with the hospital is a large one but the reality is that the real estate in Brentwood began to decline years and years ago--of course Brentwood is a huge area and some parts went bad in the mid 80's with others waiting till the 90's --
My family moved to Brentwood when it was a brand new town- new developments, etc-- that was in 1965-- all my brothers went to public high school (they were older than I ) but I went to private--there was always a cultural mix in the town so it has nothing to do with that (ie our catholic church had spanish and haitan masses since late 70's) so it is not an issue of race --I had more diveristy in my grammar school (in town catholic) then when I went to high school (out of town catholic) and I worked in a local 7-11 for 5 years growing up so I had a good idea of the types of people and let me tell you race had nothing to do with it---but that all changed quite some time ago
ok I will stop rambling and in no way did I mean to offend anyone--but unfortunately all of LI has become over populated and unfortunately it seems to be gettin even worse--my brothers moved out east in early 90's and it is amazing to see how many developments have sprung up since then-- DH and I laugh everytime we drive out on the LIE we see new construction almost every time we go out there---
Maybe that's why we moved to the boonies where they cant develop the land (watershed property) but who knows what it will look like in 30 years
Laura

That land has been vacant for soooooooo long.,....its about time they did something with it.
Maybe if they start building up that area again it will become a thiving community again. I do not like to see them clearing land to make a development but this land is cleared ( and has been for too long) and they need to do something with it.

Thanks for all your input .. I thought maybe this topic would have generated more opinions .. but anyway .. Laura, I am very familiar with Brentwood .. I went through the school system there in the 80s

Among my concerns is that I haven't heard anyone answering the real hard questions about this proposed project .. like how they can possibly make luxury living work wrapped right around a psych center. This is not just your average development like those that keep springing up like weeds on the Island .. this is a completely different type of project. There is a map of the plan on the Pilgram Plan link I previously posted .. and there on that map you can see just how close they are making the residential living .. it is literally in the shadows!

I have not seen or heard anyone talk about the possible environmental impact this will have on the future of the Island, either. Yes, Long Island is overpopulated, but we're talking about craming lots of living in the form of 9,000 apartments, along with office buildings and shops in a relatively 'small' section .. it is not going to be a whole new town as we know towns .. it's going to be a whole town crammed into a small area for what it holds. This guy is dreaming if he believes those who live there will be working there so there will be no need to commute and no additional traffic to the surrounding areas.

And about the land having already been cleared .. They are not simply building on land that was previously cleared .. there was plenty of untouched land that they will be clearing, or have cleared since the land was sold to this guy .. PLUS .. I'm worried that the buildings they have been tearing down in recent weeks/days were filled with asbestos .. and maybe they haven't been following proper procedure. And in the future, what's to say they don't decide they need to cut into the land that in their plan was untouched, uncleared land?? Why not just let the land revert back to its natural state .. let it fall back into the pine barrens .. or what about a bike part/dog part/equestrian park??

Development is not always a good thing .. especially when the right questions aren't being asked, or when the answers aren't being given. I worry that too many people are looking at this through rose-colored glasses, expecting it to be some kind of savior .. and how often do those plans turn into reality?? Sorry for being gloom and doom .. but honestly, in business, it's all about the money .. not what's truly best.

Maybe it sounds like I'm trying to change minds here .. but everyone is entitled to their opinions .. however, I am surprised that there aren't more people who feel this plan needs to be looked at and scrutinized more harshly. I'm surrpised at how many people are quick to say how wonderful to have it finally developed.

Kel it is amazing how passionate you are over this issue. It always makes me think about my own focus when I come across somebody with such drive and concern! I am sure that the girls on this board are just as conscientious as you are about issues that are crucial to them, but I think maybe your tone is a little harsh for this type of forum?!

I think your thoughts and views would be INCREDIBLY appreciated on this topic amongst others that share your extensive knowledge and concern. You should find a forum where you can shed your light and maybe turn things around!. But I think you may only continue to be frustrated if you seek out reaction on liweddings...everybody is on a different page here. We are all from different walks, with different backgrounds, politics, religions, belief systems and so on. We pretty much have a few threads holding us together (that have become some happy threads to follow!), and I think we all might feel a little 'on the spot' with your post!

That said, I do admire your oomph and wish you well in your campaign!

I believe they're discussing what used to be Pilgrim State Psychiatric Center on Commack Road - minutes away from the Deer Park train station.

Okay, I guess I just thought with all the new homeowners, or soon-to-be homeowners, that maybe there would be some people sharing my concerns regarding the future of Long Island, since this will have an impact .. and with all the variety of topics that get discussed here and the range of emotions that undoubtably go along with them, I didn't think I was out-of-line with my post.

As for where I am talking about .. it is the land that the Pilgrim Psychiatric Center still sits on, and there will be buildings of the Psych Center that remain as they develop around it. The area is on the south side of the Long Island Expressway, across the Expressway from the Commack Multiplex .. so it's south of the LIE, east of Commack Road, and west of Crooked Hill Road & Sagtikos Parkway.

Kel, I definitely do not think that your post or your concerns are out of line. You have a right to your opinion.

Personally, I wasn't feeling that strong about it until you made this post. I am concerned that the construction will increase taxes for nearby towns and I wonder what the neighborhood will become once the development is complete. However, this isn't exactly right around the corner from where we will be settling, so I am not going to lose my head over it either.

When we first started house-hunting, we looked at a lot of homes in Kings Park. We saw some really cute ranches, but everything was too small for our needs. We ended up eliminating KP from our search b/c of the uncertainty around the Pilgrim Psych development and some other environmental concerns (it seems the most home availabilities were right near the two landfills in KP). I also was not sure about the school districts there - I wanted a top-rated SD b/c of resale value.

The thing about Long Island is that it is a small place. Neighborhoods are changing rapidly now - when I was growing up, Nassau used to be more like Suffolk. Now Nassau is more like Queens. Suffolk will soon be more like Nassau and Queens b/c of all the construction (residential and commercial). It's only a matter of time that our definition of 'suburbia' will be much different than it was for our parents many years ago.

I'm not saying that we shouldn't voice an opinion, but the way I see it, money talks. If the town thinks that adding housing and an upscale shopping center will bring $$$ to the area, they will not kill the plans, despite the protests of nearby residents.
I think b/c of that, many people become apathetic.

In my mind, it's similar to the country's opinion re: the war on Iraq. Polls show that most Americans are against the war right now. But, you better believe that EVERYONE would be in favor of the war IF we had intelligence indicating that Saddam was about to drop a nuke on our a$$es!!!

Thanks Claud. So much of what you said I completely agree with and understand .. and part of what worries me is that maybe people won't be too concerned about this because it's not right around their corner .. but I worry about the future of the Island .. and I am stunned at the cancer rate not only on the Island, but also in the surrounding metropolitan areas .. that is part of what's got me really worked up about this .. I think for too long, too many people have been too concerned with the here and now, rather than long-term. I do admit though, as a homeowner, I do worry about things I never worried about before. (But isn't that just natural??)

Just to clarify one thing though .. the Kings Park Psychiatric Center and Pilgrim State Psychiatric Center are two different places .. but both have the same problems .. uncertain futures .. though I guess now Pilgrim's is a little more set.

Kel,

I'm not living down there anymore, so I don't think I can be much help really. But I work for a municipality up here in Buffalo, and see this happen all the time. I agree, it's a shame the state sold the land. There is so little open space as it is down there. But from the article you posted, I guess the land is already sold. The development of the property is inevitable, but the type and density aren't.
It sounds like they need a rezoning to build the project at the density they are proposing. There have to be public hearings throughout the planning and approval process for this. In my experience up here, the more pressure put on the local politicians from residents and county and state politicians the better. I would join you in attending those meetings, if I were local.
The mixed use they are proposing is the 'latest' in planning around here, but around a psych center?? DUH! Who would want to live there? And I'm sure if they did or when they do a traffic study, they won't be able to say the effects won't be significant.

When it comes to things like these, I'm glad I'm not living down there anymore. It would be hard to be there to witness all that's changing to the area where I grew up. The same changes are going on up here, but I don't have the same attachment here.

Thanks for posting.
JenC

Kel,

This project is in the preliminary planning stages. There is much evaluation that will need to be done by the municipalities before this development will be constructed.

Before it receives approvals, it will need to complete various detailed environmental impact studies that will be evaluated by the Town prior to any approval being granted. To the best of my knowledge, only an economic study has been published.

As a citizen you have a right through the Freedom of Information Act to request copies of whatever filings are made on the project (including the environmental studies). You may need to pay for copying fees. Additionally, there will eventually be a public hearing - at which - you will be able to speak publically to the Town Board regarding your concerns. You may want to consider reaching out to the Town Planning Division and express your concerns. I think it would be a good avenue for you to pursue to have your voice heard and taken into consideration.

On a side note...affordable housing on Long Island is a significant issue. (Affordable should not be confused with Section 8 housing). HUD estimates are that the average person should spend approx 30% of their monthly income on housing. I attended a smart growth seminar late last year and learned the average renter on LI spends closer 50%! These aren't folks who live in 'ghettos' as most folks may believe...they are support and lower management staff that help our businesses grow and develop on Long Island...people that help keep our economy strong. If citizens in these positions can't afford to live on LI, they will eventually move and it will have an adverse affect on our economy.

I think it is good that folks are focusing on addressing these issues however - as you clearly pointed out - it will need to be done in an intelligent manor that does not negatively affect our enviornment.

I think you have many valid points and should really reach out to the Planning Department.

Good luck!