20 LONGISLANDPRESS.COM • MARCH 2019
PRESS BUSINESS
THE NASSAU HUB TO BE REDEVELOPED. FOR REAL THIS TIME, SUPPORTERS SAY
continued from page 19
But in December, the Nassau Legislature
approved a plan giving the
coliseum’s operator, BSE Global, and
Rechler’s RXR Realty exclusive rights
to redevelop the land.
Fueling the excitement, in early February,
Gov. Andrew Cuomo proposed
to spend an additional $40 million
for pedestrian bridges and a medical
research center at the Hub.
“This is the closest we’ve ever come
to make this happen,” Nassau County
Executive Laura Curran says.
Brett Yormark, BSE Global’s CEO, says
that this may be “the last chance” to
redevelop the Hub.
Supporters feel confident, in part
because the Hub has acquired its first
long-awaited anchor tenant. Northwell
Health last year agreed to build
a 225,000-square-foot research and
development center on land across
from the Zucker School of Medicine at
Hofstra University/Northwell.
As a result, LI business leaders are
breathing easier.
“We’re pleased to see this proposal
come forward,” says Eric Alexander,
director of Vision Long Island, a nonprofit
that promotes smart growth. But,
he adds, “Nothing is ever a done deal.
The deal is open to outreach from the
community.”
Developers are meeting with
residents to discuss their concerns.
As it stands now, the developers
propose to build a $1.5 billion project
that is to include 500 housing units,
600,000 square feet of office and biotech
research space, two hotels and
200,000 square feet of entertainment
venues, and retail outlets. New York
State has committed about $131 million
to the project.
Rechler says the current plans differ
from those of the past. Under the
Lighthouse proposal, he says, the
coliseum was to be rebuilt. That’s
now unnecessary since it was renovated
by BSE Global. Rechler says
BSE Global and RXR have accepted
the “low-density zoning requirements”
of Nassau, requiring more
open space, adequate parking, and
walkways.
And, Rechler says, the project has
bipartisan support. The Nassau Legislature
voted 19-0 late last year to approve
the Hub plan.
“We should have the first shovel in
the ground in the next 18 months,”
Rechler says.
Not everyone is happy. Richard Cardozo,
president of the Carman Community
Organization in Westbury, says the
organization’s members are uneasy.
“Nobody wants to make this the sixth
borough,” Cardozo, says. “And nobody
wants the traffic. But it’s going to happen.
The powers that want to do it are so big.”
He acknowledged that Nassau would
benefit from the jobs. But, he says, “The
philosophy seems to be that open space
is a bad thing.”
The deal still has a way to go.
Developers must enter into a labor
agreement with local building trade
unions. They must also submit
quarterly project updates. Still to be
worked out are financial details for
Northwell Health’s so-called Innovation
Center. And, the developers say
they will need subsidies from Nassau
to offset taxes in the building of residential
units.
That is something county legislators are
not anxious to approve, as residents pay
some of the highest taxes in the country.
The question remains: Will this time be
different?
“This is the closest we’ve ever come,"
says Nassau County Executive Laura Curran.
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