old news, but if you follow this shopping center let us know what is going on?
http://merricklife.com/issue/september-29-2011/article/plans-to-develop-freeports-economy-revealed-at-forumr
September 29, 2011, Freeport-Baldwin Leader
Plans to develop Freeport’s economy revealed at forum
A shopping center on the northwest corner of Sunrise Highway and Meadowbrook Parkway was under development.
ARTIST’S CONCEPTION of the proposed museum on the Nautical Mile.
“Our only way out of tax increases is economic development,” said Freeport Mayor Andrew Hardwick. He told about 100 residents who had gathered at a community forum held on Thursday, September 22, at Congregation B’nai Israel, that “we now have a two percent tax cap and we have to watch our pennies.”With this in mind, the village announced several projects are under development, including a natural history museum, a new Target shopping center, and the revitalization of the Freeport Shopping Plaza.
Ralph Ashova and Kimberly Oroyo of American Transit, an insurance company, also spoke about its new and revitalized office facility at 5 Broadway, also known as the former Pennysaver building, that will employ about 30 people in data processing and other back office operations.
Dr. Ray Ann Havasy, director of the Center for Science Teaching and Learning, announced that a new natural history museum for families called the Long Island Museum of Science and Natural History would open on Woodcleft Avenue in late spring.
“This project required no tax dollars and we will be hiring between 30 to 50 people,” said Dr. Havasy, who added that Freeport residents would have the opportunity to apply for jobs before the general public. Investment into the facility comes from private contributions and corporations.
The building is owned by the Community Development Agency and the museum will not pay taxes. However, the museum will provide special programs and exhibits for the Freeport community. Additionally, Dr. Havasy believes the museum will bring in about $80 million in revenue to the community because of increased pedestrian traffic along the Nautical Mile patronizing the restaurants and other businesses.
While other museum projects have failed at this site, Dr. Havasy is confident that this museum will be a success. “We are growing about at 20% a year,” she said, referring to the Tanglewood Preserve in Lakeview/Rockville Centre, where Dr. Havasy runs another science program. “Everything we do is tied into the school curriculum – from dinosaurs to forensics.”
Andy Brenner, representing Prime Realty, told residents the project to revitalize the Freeport Shopping Plaza is moving forward. Architect Anthony Baker told residents that the new design includes “a brand new facade and brick work as well as new sidewalks, stairs, a new parking lot and new sidewalks adjacent to the shopping center,” he said.
Mr. Brenner added that “We are trying to keep the ball rolling, but there is still work to do. IHOP opened last year as well as Pay-O-matic and Metro PCS. Subway opened. We are trying to attract a large tenant for a 14,000 square foot space, hopefully a supermarket. We want to beautify.”
One man complained about traffic on the surrounding streets. Several residents complained about the OTB in the shopping center.
Mayor Hardwick said he would look into doing a traffic study in the area. He also said that removing the OTB from the shopping center “is the last step in cleaning it up. The OTB is a county facility and we hope to get them out of there. It’s not in our plans [to keep them in the shopping center].”
Finally, Greg Saunders, representing Phillips International, told residents a shopping center on the northwest corner of Sunrise Highway and Meadowbrook Parkway was under development. “The community wanted a Target; they are committed and we’ll have a Starbucks within the property,” said Mr. Saunders.
“Target will invest $30 million. There will be 200 jobs and they will pay a lot of taxes. Target also has a policy where they donate directly back to the schools in the community where they are located,” he said.
In other news, Mayor Hardwick told residents he was working with Nassau County to find out if any of the Environmental Bond Act money could be used to buy the Water Works property on North Brookside in order to turn it into a nature preserve. “I have spoken to the owner,” said Mayor Hardwick. “But that will take $1 million off the tax rolls and we must find something else,” he said.
Several residents spoke about possibly developing the Triangle bank building and the lot behind it on Sunrise Highway but Mayor Hardwick said the property was in the middle of litigation. However, he added that “if you want to do something else with the Water Works property then we have to try and find other property to develop. It’s not for free.”
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