Between his slow movement in acquiring land for preservation, now this, county Executive Steve Levy has been a real dissapointment.
I better start contacting the Pine Barrens Society over this, hopefully they can save these woods...
(a photo I took this past summer of the woods on county owned land in Yaphank)
The future of approximately 250 acres of county-owned property in Yaphank may soon be decided, as Suffolk officials are scheduled to release an outline of what they would like to see on the site.
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]"For too long, this land has been ignored," said Suffolk County Executive Steve Levy, who noted he is hoping to see a mixture of workforce housing and sports and recreational venues developed on the parcel. "We're a county of 1.5 million, and we deserve a place to play. I believe we can also make this a hub of our economic engine."
A number of public meetings were held in late 2005, with the county issuing its request for expressions of interest nearly a year ago. In all, 11 businesses responded to the RFEI, with the county looking over those submissions prior to finalizing their request for proposals. The RFP, according to Jim Morgo, commissioner of Suffolk's Department of Economic Development, will incorporate some of the ideas that were given during the RFEI process, as well as the "extensive research" that was done along the way.
"We wanted to get the creative juices flowing in the private sector," Levy commented. "The original proposals were great in giving us an idea of what we could pitch ... but there was no one proposal that, in and of itself, was the end-all. The ultimate project will be something of a mixture."
The county hopes to send out the RFP by January 15, according to Morgo. "We received a full range of ideas, and the good thing is they all came from substantive folks," Morgo said about the RFEI responses. "We wanted to know who was interested, capable and qualified to undertake a [project] like this. This really came from Steve Levy's vision that he articulated in the State of the County address in January 2005."
Several of the ideas submitted to the county during the RFEI process included both a housing and recreation element. One proposal that has been discussed from the very beginning, and embraced by many racing enthusiasts, is Top Gun Sports and Entertainment's plan. The project would be comprised of indoor and outdoor facilities for sports and recreation; a NASCAR-type oval track; a quarter-mile drag strip; and a "family zone" that would include mini-golf, batting cages, paint ball and an outdoor concert venue. Hotels, a conference center, restaurants and other amenities are also slated, as well as 300 units of workforce housing.
"We're anxious to see what the findings and recommendations [of the RFP] are," said Kathleen Giamo, a private consultant to Top Gun Sports and Entertainment. "Our hope is to be able to provide a venue for everybody. The idea is to have a place that the whole family can enjoy, where all three generations are doing something together. We need something on the Island that provides entertainment and, at the same time, has an economic benefit."
Other proposals include the Beechwood Organization's plans to build 1,110 residential units, along with a "family entertainment complex" that would include car and horse racing, as well as a day care and a small hotel. Pulte Homes is looking at a plan to construct 3,250 residential units, as well as a 6,000-seat sports and entertainment arena, commercial space, and restaurant and retail establishments. A "life center" that would encompass sports, entertainment, retail and restaurant uses, along with plans for residential construction, is being proposed by Renaissance Property Associates.
Some of the projects already have names, including Heatherwood Community's proposal for "The Lakes at Yaphank," which would create 1,020 residential units, as well as athletic fields and parkland. The area could also become known as "The Villages at Carmans River," a plan proposed by Avalon Bay/Damianos that has three different options - a YMCA facility, residential and commercial uses and a performing arts center. A sports and entertainment center, featuring a 180,000-seat arena, dual ice rink, tennis, basketball and outdoor recreation facilities, is slated for the Benjamin Katter Development's plan, called "Legacy Village." This proposal also includes 1,250 residential units, a 20-acre farm and a community center.
Other applicants include Tritec Real Estate Co., which proposed a 2,000-seat stadium, a hotel, and 1,500 residential units; the Parr Organization, which would build 400 workforce housing units and include recreational uses and 150 acres of industrial development; Prodigy Management Group, which would leave 100 acres for residential use and construct an 8,000-seat arena on 55 acres, with the rest being used for office space, restaurant and retail purposes; and Stern/McCarthy Starwood Capital, which would create a 6.5-acre village square, 1,000 residential units, a 20-acre park with athletic fields and an 11.5-acre elementary school site.
While the county owns 800 acres in total at the site, only approximately 400 are vacant, according to Levy. With about 150 acres slated to be reserved for future county use, the overall size of the parcel that is available for this project is 250 acres. One of the issues involved in constructing on the Yaphank site is the existing county facilities. While some, including the John J. Foley Nursing Home and the jail, cannot be moved, other county buildings, including police headquarters and the Department of Public Works, could be relocated.
In regard to traffic concerns, Levy said the site is "perfectly situated," as it is located right off exit 67 of the Long Island Expressway. "This is the ultimate implementation of smart growth," Levy commented. "I want this to be a destination site for families and a place Suffolk County can be proud of."
Businesses will most likely have until May to respond to the RFP, Morgo said, adding that the county would then begin the selection process.
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I better start contacting the Pine Barrens Society over this, hopefully they can save these woods...
(a photo I took this past summer of the woods on county owned land in Yaphank)
The future of approximately 250 acres of county-owned property in Yaphank may soon be decided, as Suffolk officials are scheduled to release an outline of what they would like to see on the site.
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]"For too long, this land has been ignored," said Suffolk County Executive Steve Levy, who noted he is hoping to see a mixture of workforce housing and sports and recreational venues developed on the parcel. "We're a county of 1.5 million, and we deserve a place to play. I believe we can also make this a hub of our economic engine."
A number of public meetings were held in late 2005, with the county issuing its request for expressions of interest nearly a year ago. In all, 11 businesses responded to the RFEI, with the county looking over those submissions prior to finalizing their request for proposals. The RFP, according to Jim Morgo, commissioner of Suffolk's Department of Economic Development, will incorporate some of the ideas that were given during the RFEI process, as well as the "extensive research" that was done along the way.
"We wanted to get the creative juices flowing in the private sector," Levy commented. "The original proposals were great in giving us an idea of what we could pitch ... but there was no one proposal that, in and of itself, was the end-all. The ultimate project will be something of a mixture."
The county hopes to send out the RFP by January 15, according to Morgo. "We received a full range of ideas, and the good thing is they all came from substantive folks," Morgo said about the RFEI responses. "We wanted to know who was interested, capable and qualified to undertake a [project] like this. This really came from Steve Levy's vision that he articulated in the State of the County address in January 2005."
Several of the ideas submitted to the county during the RFEI process included both a housing and recreation element. One proposal that has been discussed from the very beginning, and embraced by many racing enthusiasts, is Top Gun Sports and Entertainment's plan. The project would be comprised of indoor and outdoor facilities for sports and recreation; a NASCAR-type oval track; a quarter-mile drag strip; and a "family zone" that would include mini-golf, batting cages, paint ball and an outdoor concert venue. Hotels, a conference center, restaurants and other amenities are also slated, as well as 300 units of workforce housing.
"We're anxious to see what the findings and recommendations [of the RFP] are," said Kathleen Giamo, a private consultant to Top Gun Sports and Entertainment. "Our hope is to be able to provide a venue for everybody. The idea is to have a place that the whole family can enjoy, where all three generations are doing something together. We need something on the Island that provides entertainment and, at the same time, has an economic benefit."
Other proposals include the Beechwood Organization's plans to build 1,110 residential units, along with a "family entertainment complex" that would include car and horse racing, as well as a day care and a small hotel. Pulte Homes is looking at a plan to construct 3,250 residential units, as well as a 6,000-seat sports and entertainment arena, commercial space, and restaurant and retail establishments. A "life center" that would encompass sports, entertainment, retail and restaurant uses, along with plans for residential construction, is being proposed by Renaissance Property Associates.
Some of the projects already have names, including Heatherwood Community's proposal for "The Lakes at Yaphank," which would create 1,020 residential units, as well as athletic fields and parkland. The area could also become known as "The Villages at Carmans River," a plan proposed by Avalon Bay/Damianos that has three different options - a YMCA facility, residential and commercial uses and a performing arts center. A sports and entertainment center, featuring a 180,000-seat arena, dual ice rink, tennis, basketball and outdoor recreation facilities, is slated for the Benjamin Katter Development's plan, called "Legacy Village." This proposal also includes 1,250 residential units, a 20-acre farm and a community center.
Other applicants include Tritec Real Estate Co., which proposed a 2,000-seat stadium, a hotel, and 1,500 residential units; the Parr Organization, which would build 400 workforce housing units and include recreational uses and 150 acres of industrial development; Prodigy Management Group, which would leave 100 acres for residential use and construct an 8,000-seat arena on 55 acres, with the rest being used for office space, restaurant and retail purposes; and Stern/McCarthy Starwood Capital, which would create a 6.5-acre village square, 1,000 residential units, a 20-acre park with athletic fields and an 11.5-acre elementary school site.
While the county owns 800 acres in total at the site, only approximately 400 are vacant, according to Levy. With about 150 acres slated to be reserved for future county use, the overall size of the parcel that is available for this project is 250 acres. One of the issues involved in constructing on the Yaphank site is the existing county facilities. While some, including the John J. Foley Nursing Home and the jail, cannot be moved, other county buildings, including police headquarters and the Department of Public Works, could be relocated.
In regard to traffic concerns, Levy said the site is "perfectly situated," as it is located right off exit 67 of the Long Island Expressway. "This is the ultimate implementation of smart growth," Levy commented. "I want this to be a destination site for families and a place Suffolk County can be proud of."
Businesses will most likely have until May to respond to the RFP, Morgo said, adding that the county would then begin the selection process.
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