Freeport Officials meet with Federal and State Representatives
on Dredging of Local Waterways
Freeport Mayor Bill Glacken and
Trustee Don Mauersberger recently
showed Congresswoman Carolyn
McCarthy and Jack Kilbride from
Congressman Peter King's staff, Hudson
Channel, Freeport Creek and adjacent
waterways entering the village.
They were joined by representatives
of the Army Corps of Engineers and the
New York State Department of
Environmental Conservation, along with
Freeport Chamber of Commerce President
Wes Carman, Sr., and local businessman
Left to right, Jack Kilbride representing Congressman Peter King, Congresswoman Carolyn McCarthy
and Mayor Bill Glacken.
_.
Both Members of Congress worked
together to obtain a $100,000 appropria-tion
whidTwill be used by'the Corps of
Engineers to conduct a reconnaissance
study. The study will perform a
benefit/cost analysis of dredging these
waterways, and is the first step in the
process, which will ultimately lead to their
dredging. Congresswoman McCarthy
agreed with Mayor Glacken and local
business people that there is a critical
need to maintain their navigability and
accessibility. Dante Grover, of Al Grover's
High and Dry Marina, explained that
these waterways need a minimum of six
feet of water at low tide, and that over
the past several decades, several channels
and creeks around Freeport have become
too shallow, making them hazardous to
commercial and recreational boating.
Following the tour, the group conducted
a working lunch at Bedell's at West Wind.
Life-long Freeport Resident Becomes
President of SPLASH Organization
Rob Weltner, a native of Freeport, has been
named president of Operation SPLASH (Stop
Polluting, Littering and Save Harbors). The vol-unteer
organization is dedicated to keeping
Freeport's waterways clean. Mr. Weltner succeed-ed
Anthony Tarantino, the longtime president of
the organization, who passed away in November.
Mr. Weltner is also the founder of Bring
Back the Bay, which is dedicated to cleaning up
the pollution on the bottom of the South Shore's
estuaries. He recently filmed a documentary
about the pollution of the bay bottom, which is
being produced by his group. Mr. Weltner also
serves as a member of the Freeport Fire
Department's Dive Squad. Rob, his wife Kim, and
their three sons, reside on,Westside Avenue.
SPLASH is running a membership drive at
this time in an effort to provide daily coverage
for its volunteer cleanup program. The SPLASH
boat collects and disposes of garbage and debris
from the local waterways. For further informa-tion,
please call 378-4770.
SPLASH member and Freeport Village Trustee Don Miller congratulates
the organization's new president, Rob Weltner.
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JANUARY/FEBRUARY, 2001 www.FreeportNY.com THE HOME OF CHAMPIONS
Developers Present Plaza West Proposals at
Freeport Village Hearings
Simone Development Companies' Plaza West Retail Center
The four proposals being reviewed by
the Plaza West Task Force, appointed by
Mayor Bill Glacken, were presented at two
separate public hearings held in Freeport
Village Hall during the month of February.
All four developers, Simone Development
Companies, Time Equities, Inc., Unicorp
National Development, Inc., and Artimus
Construction, Inc., have included in their
plans the rehabilitation of the triangle-shaped
former bank building located at the
corner of North Grove Street and Sunrise
Highway.
"I recommended to the task force
members that they use a rank and grade
method of determining the best proposal
of the four submitted by the developers,"
explained Mayor Bill Glacken. "We want a
developer who is willing to renovate the
bank building, a local landmark for almost
75 years, while maintaining its unique
architectural details. We also want to create
green space and common areas which will
attract pedestrians, as well as shoppers, to
the heart of Freeport's business district,"
added the Mayor. "The Board of Trustees
will carefully consider the findings of the
Task Force in deciding which project will
make the best possible use of Freeport's
Plaza West site."
The proposal submitted by Simone
Development Companies, recommends con-verting
the two-story lobby and mezzanine
of the former bank building into an eating
establishment and/or a banking institution.
The former Meadowbrook Bank Building,
would be rehabilitated in a manner
designed to increase its value while main-taining
its exterior facade. In addition, the
proposal calls for the construction of a
27,100 square foot single-story building
designed for retail space adjacent to the
eastern side of the bank building. The pur-chase
price proposed by Simone is $635,000
with construction costs estimated at
$3,810,000.
The Time Equities, Inc. proposal calls for
the renovation of the former bank building,
using the lobby and mezzanine as a high
quality restaurant with the remaining four
floors providing office space. In addition, the
(continued on page 3)
Artimus Construction, Inc. The Freeport Bonk Development
When we first began soliciting bids for
development of the Plaza West site three
years ago, we were determined to bring in
only the highest quality project which
would-Mncorporate • retail-'space,--'restau-rants,
a park-type green space and the sort
of atmosphere that would attract both
shoppers and pedestrians. Similar to our
plan for Woodcleft Ave., we wanted to
encourage visitors to shop, visit art gal-leries,
book and music stores, or just stroll
by and enjoy being in Freeport.
The Plaza West site is ideally situated
for such a development. It is close to public
transportation, with both the Long Island
railroad station and the MTA bus depot
within walking distance. Local parkways
and highways make the site easily accessi-ble
to communities located in all directions,
and the village has excellent access to
Jones Beach and our own traditional work-ing
waterfront on Woodcleft Avenue.
Similar to the revitalization of the 'Nautical
Mile', we believe this location will attract
not only consumers but also employees to
the new retail spaces, as well as the busi-ness
and professional offices planned for
the complex.
Among the objectives we had hoped
to achieve was the renovation of the for-mer
Meadowbrook Bank building. We feel
this structure will provide an ideal setting
for a ground floor restaurant and business
or professional space on the upper levels.
This six-story local landmark has been asso-ciated
with Freeport for nearly 75 years,
and we wanted to see it restored to its
original architectural detail and integrity.
We also wanted to avoid the free
standing big box-type stores that have
become a major part of so many other sub-
-urban commercial ^projects -lately.—While—
these stores certainly serve a need, we
wanted the center of our business district
to present a cohesive, coordinated look
that complemented the former bank
building and which looked as attractive
from the back, the view facing the train
station, as it did from the front of the site
which faces Sunrise Highway.
We believed these requirements were
both reasonable and attainable and we
were determined to find the right devel-oper
to build a complex that is in the best
interest of Freeport. That is why we reject-ed
proposals received in 1998 and 1999,
and why we solicited proposals again in
November of 2000. Our patience has been
rewarded, for by the December 15, 2000
deadline, we received four solid proposals,
which are currently being evaluated by the
Plaza West Task Force. The Task Force will
rank and rate each proposal using profes-sional
standards, and will make its final rec-ommendation
to the Board of Trustees in
the near future. The Board will then care-fully
review the Task Force's recommenda-tion
and make a final decision.
We want the development of this site
to create a high-quality environment that
will act as a catalyst for the continued revi-talization
of downtown Freeport. The ren-ovated
public and private space will sup-port
existing retail activity in our down-town
business district, while attracting
increased use of the common areas in the
heart of our village.
The development of the Plaza West
site;-like-the-revitalization.of the 'Nautical:
Mile', is too important to the economic
health and aesthetic appeal of our village
to be handled in a casual manner. It has to
be accomplished carefully and thoughtful-ly.
Once this project breaks ground, I
believe you will see an explosion of further
development of commercial, business and
professional space in Freeport, as others
realize what Freeporters have always
known: Freeport is the best community on
Long Island to live, work, play and raise a
family.
Freeport PTA Honors Outstanding
Members
Judge V. Roy Cacciatore presenting the Mayor's Proclamation to PTA Second Vice
President Organtress Sawyer.
Village Justice V. Roy Cacciatore
.addressed the .parents, teachers, and stuj
dents who attended the annual Parent
Teachers Association Council's Founder's
Day event. The PTA awarded Honorary Life
memberships to those individuals who have
done an outstanding job supporting the
students, faculty or staff of the Freeport
Schppl.pistr.ict. >11.^li.1 „,.,„,.„ ilMMl-MGa
Judge Cacciatore commended the PTA
on its commitment to the students and
pledged to support the members in provid-ing
the very best education possible to
every student in the Freeport school district.
Deputy Mayor Congratulates Members
at Dodd Jr. H.S. Awards Ceremony
Ms. Frierson told the Junior High School Honor Society honorees
that she too had attended Dodd Junior High School. She added that
she went on to Freeport High School, Hofstra University and eventu-ally
earned a law degree from Boston University. She challenged the
youngsters to put their best effort into everything they do, whether it
is academics, sports, music, art or some other interest or talent. Ms.
Frierson explained that this is the formula she uses to achieve success,
adding that she is the first African-American woman to be elected a
Trustee and the first to be appointed Deputy Mayor in the history of Deputy Mayor Renaire Frierson, (second right) congratulates Aisho Rouse, (center) a Dodd Junior Nigh School Honor Society
the Village of Freeport. member along with her parents, Diane Rouse (second left), and Emory Rouse (right), and Aisha's younger sister, Rakiya.
(continued from page 1)
developer is suggesting building an adjacent
complex which would provide a live/work
environment in a village/small town setting
house/cafe and/or upscale shops and the
remaining floors designed to be used as
office space. Construction of approximately
5,000 square feetof additional upscale retail
\—•
Unicorp National Development, Inc. Church Street Station
with the construction of five stories of luxu-ry
rental units above a two-story base of
retail and parking. Among the luxury addi-tions
offered in some of the 200 residential
units will be high ceilings and windows, fire-places,
balconies and individual washer/
dryer equipment. The plan also suggests a
landscaped recreational deck in a court-yard
setting, as well as a health club and a
pool. The proposed building would not
exceed the height of the bank building.
The project is designed to appeal to the
growing regional population which is self-employed
and seeks space with both resi-dential
and business amenities and that is
also accessible to public transportation and
downtown environments. Time Equities
would pay $2.1 million for the property
and estimates construction cost would be
approximately $36.8 million.
The Unicorp National Development,
Inc. proposal calls for the renovation of the
existing bank building with the main floor
and mezzanine converted into a coffee-and/
or restaurant space would be added to
the eastern facade of the bank building. In
addition, the proposal suggests construction
of a 10,908 square foot freestanding build-ing
housing a national chain drug store with
a facade matching the bank building.
Unicorp plans to create a landscaped park-like
setting between the buildings with
benches, pavers, lighting and a fountain. The
proposed purchase price is $2,025,000 and
the total construction cost is estimated at
$4,985,312.
The proposal submitted by Artimus
Construction, Inc. includes the renovation of
the existing bank building with an enter-tainment
retail operator occupying the main
floor and mezzanine level. The remaining
floors will be designed for prime office
space. The plan provides for construction of
a three-story building on the vacant land
adjacent to the bank building with 33,000
square feet of major retail space dedicated
to a single operator on the ground level, and
72,000 square feet of moderately priced
small--to -mid-sized-office and-:professiorial
space on the second and third floors com-bined.
The Artimus plan calls for installing
fiber optics and secure wiring to attract
telecommunications and high-tech entrepre-neurs.
The project would be designed to
complement the bank building, with exten-sive
decorative brickwork, landscaping and
wrought iron fencing. The purchase price is
$2,100,000, and the total project cost is esti-mated
to be $16,280,000.
Artimus Corporation, Inc.
Freeporfs Fire Department Looking for Good
Men and Women
Individuals interested in join-ing
Emergency Rescue Company
# 9 are invited to attend an Open
House Membership Drive at Fire
Department Headquarters at 15
Broadway on Sunday, March 18,
2001 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
The department is seeking
paramedics, emergency medical
technicians (EMT-CC's, and EMT-D's)
and persons interested in
being trained as EMT-D's in order
to serve as volunteer fire medics.
"We need people interested in vol-unteering
to help their communi-ty,"
explained Fire Chief Paul
Hashagen. For further information
call 516-377-2190.
Freeport Memorial Library-Village of Freeport Newsletters
