Avalon at Glen Cove
Glen Cove
Avalon Bay
2005

In January 200,1 AvalonBay Communities responded to an RFP from the City of Glen Cove with a proposal to implement incentive zoning based on “Smart Growth” principles. In June 2001 the City of Glen Cove’s Planning and Zoning Boards unanimously approved the proposal. Groundbreaking occurred September 5th, 2001.

Avalon at Glen Cove is a 256-unit, multi-family residential luxury rental community located on 3.5 acres in downtown Glen Cove, NY. The plan provides for an integrated transportation system that links the development to the downtown, and to other public transportation systems.

Its completion has helped spur significant efforts by the city to revitalize the downtown. Waterfront plans are moving forward at a rapid pace -- After years of successful partnership with State and Federal Environmental agencies, the cleanup is almost finished. By early next spring, 23 acres will be ready for redevelopment. The City is also working closely with Glen Isle to develop the waterfront incorporating the Smart Growth strategies of a livable, walkable, mixed-use community that complements Glen Cove’s existing downtown.

Since the completion of Avalon at Glen Cove there has been a resurgence in downtown business activity. Sales have increased 15-30%. Previously empty storefronts are filling as new businesses try to make their way into the area.

The spending power and overall positive impact Avalon at Glen Cove has brought to the community illustrates the viability and necessity of higher density housing in downtown areas. It serves as a valuable precedent for future development on Long Island.

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Jericho’s Underhill Property sits atop the first federally designated sole aquifer, It is one of two state-designated groundwater protection areas in Nassau County. In February 2004, a deal to preserve 50 acres of this land was completed with the town, state and county all coming through with promised funds.

This agreement, which has been in process since October 2002, ends decades of battle between local residents, environmental groups and land-owner Roger Tilles, who had been trying to develop the property since 1972. Much of the land will be preserved as parkland, with New York State purchasing 25.12 acres, Nassau County purchasing 16.67 acres and the Town of Oyster Bay purchasing 8.33 acres. The remaining 31 acres will be developed by The Holiday Organization, led by Gerald Monter, as 102 single-family units to be known as the Hamlet Estates at Jericho. In an attempt to lessen the initial impact on the Jericho School District, 40 percent of the homes wil be sold to people 55 and older.

Joe Lorintz, executive director and founder of the Society to Preserve Underhill first got involved with Underhill in 1996. At that time plans called for 270 housing units to be built on the 81 acres. Prior plans included 400 units. Thanks to efforts led primarily by Lorintz and his coalition of more than 50 environmental and community groups, over 61 percent of the land will now be preserved. In addition to the preserved 50 acres, Bill and Ellen Doremus will donate the development rights of an additional 19 acres adjacent to the site. Combined with the existing 25-acre Oyster Bay Town Preserve, the Underhill Preserve will encompass almost 95-acres.

The Town of Oyster Bay will be responsible for maintenance of their parcel and the land purchased by the county and state. It is in the process of developing and producing a master plan for the management and use of that 50 acres. Input from local residents is strongly encouraged.

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Beginning in 1989, the community embarked on a process to revitalize Main Street through an ambitious vision and a commitment to an incremental revitalization strategy. Community members ranging from the Chamber of Commerce and Rotary Club, to the Railroad Restoration and Beautification committees and Fire Department, to local Girl Scouts and high school student, the U.S. Department of Transportation, State of New York and HUD were all involved. Problems were identified, including dimly lit streets and sidewalks; landscaping and curbside trees in need of replacement; over a mile of sidewalk in disrepair; inadequate parking facilities; job displacement; institutional uses, such as a turn of the century school and library, moved; and competition from mega retail and big-box establishments.

The result of this ongoing effort is a lively Village-center alternative to the mall that truly serves its people without depending on upscale consumers and tourist attractions. Establishments such as The Downtown and The Library Cafe create a nightlife environment that contributes to a sense of excitement and vitality. Over 125 retail establishments and dozens of restaurants and service businesses line Main and Conklin Streets. The Long Island Rail Road station, a National Landmark within walking distance of almost any place in the village, has been completely restored to its original late-1800’s likeness. The local paper, the Farmingdale Observer, covers all that is happening and provides listings of meetings and events for the broad variety of recreational and cultural organizations the area now boasts, many of which are within walking distance of the town center.

The investment has had significant economic benefits. The bottom line is that a 20% vacancy rate has declined to 2%. Main Street property values have increased an additional 15% (est.) and 10% Village-wide over inflationary market value increases. Businesses have experienced an estimated 10% increase in sales and job retention and creation have added and retained roughly 1,370 jobs. Incredibly, new business supplemented the tax base resulting in a stable tax rate for 12 consecutive years, constituting a New York — and possibly National — record.

The Oyster Bay Western Waterfront includes Beekman Beach, the former Jakobson Shipyard and the former Capone property. The Town owns all of this and the adjacent Theodore Roosevelt Park except for five acres of the former Jakobson Shipyard owned by New York State. A study was jointly commissioned and funded by the NYS Department of State (NYSDOS) and the Town to take a comprehensive look at the Western Waterfront properties, gather public input, and develop a Conceptual Land Use Plan.

NYSDOS required the formation of a Steering Committee to oversee the project. Chaired by State Senator Carl Marcellino, the diverse Committee also facilitated public outreach and coordinated interaction among the many municipal, agency, business, environmental, historical, and community group interests. The Committee guided the project and provided valuable input to the final Conceptual Land Use Plan.

The Public Outreach Program provided opportunities for public comment throughout the process and allowed meaningful, comprehensive public participation in development of the plan. This resulted in a consensus based plan that reflects the community’s goals and objectives. The public will continue to have opportunity to comment as the project progresses through the environmental review and approval process.

The final Conceptual Land Use Plan includes:

• Demolition of buildings north of West End Avenue
• Removal of dry dock facility
• Access to the Western Waterfront via an extension of West End Ave.
• Restoration of the pier, bulkheads, roads and utilities
• Construction of State Launch Ramp for small boats
• Off-loading area for baymen
• Town Boat Launch Parking safety enhancements
• Wetlands creation and enhancements, along with uplands plantings to provide shoreline stabilization, stormwater runoff filtration and stormwater outfall treatment
• Renovation of three Jakobson Shipyard buildings for use by government agencies, the Oyster Bay Sailing School, the Sagamore Rowing Association, the Christeen Ship Restoration and a Maritime Museum.
• A new 15,000 square foot Community/Environmental Education Center with indoor and outdoor displays incorporating water aquaculture activities
• Paths, landscaping, benches and scenic overlooks
• A new 2,500 square foot Building with nearby water access for the Town of Oyster Bay’s Bay Constable and the Atlantic Steamer Fire Co. Dive and Rescue Operations
• Finger piers for safe operation of sailing school, local bayman, education and regulatory agency vessels
• Tall ship dockage on the pier
• Renovation of Beekman Beach including new restrooms, picnic shelters, nature overlook, reduced paved area and increased natural vegetation and wetlands

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation has already obtained a $600,000 Federal Grant toward the Conceptual Land Use Plan, which is estimated to cost $12 to $13 million dollars. Other funding sources are being investigated. Prior to implementation, the Town of Oyster Bay and the State of New York, are expected to negotiate an agreement for the joint operation and maintenance of the site.

Once funding is obtained, it is anticipated that the Western Waterfront Conceptual Land Use Plan will be implemented quickly. The site is in public ownership and the consensus-based plan is supported by the community and government interests.