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Vision Long Island |
After a week of very difficult land-use issues, please allow us to indulge you in some "reports" from the battlefield. Below is a post we placed on a Long Island Business News blog on Brain Drain that we thought was worth reprinting.|
6th Annual Smart Growth Summit Coming November 16th - Register Today!
Join Vision Long Island for the 6th Annual Smart Growth Summit to be held on Friday, November 16th from 8:00am to 3:00pm at the Melville Marriott. This comprehensive land-use conference brings Long Island's leaders and experts together to address issues of Smart Growth and Livability. Workshop topics include: Transportation & Congestion Pricing, Clean Energy & Green Building, Sewers & Infrastructure, Codes & Regulations, Commercial Corridor Redevelopment, Community Planning & Public Process, Regional Planning, Housing & Gentrification, Downtown Revitalization, and Projects of Regional Significance. Sponsorships are available. Register today! Click here for the full brochure about the event or here for the registration form.
Rocky Point Visioning Begins October 10th
A public participation workshop, sponsored by the Town of Brookhaven and the Rocky Point Civic Association, will work on revitalizing the downtown business district. The visioning process is expected to result in conceptual plans and renderings that will guide redevelopment. Importantly, all stakeholders will be involved and will work together with civic leaders, Town officials, local businesses, residents, and the community at large. The event will be held the week of October 10th-17th. For more information, click here for the flyer.
UrbanAmerica Plan Rejected by Hempstead Village Board
Controversy Surrounds Tour of Former Kings Park Psychiatric Center
At the end of the Pataki Administration, 330 acres of the hospital property were turned over to the parks agency. The Parks Commissioner has seemed unsure of plans for the land and even began a study in January to consider its reuse. The first guest list for the organized tour was perceived as indicative of the state’s interest in developing the park site. In response to criticism of the tour, scheduled for Thursday October 4th, Carol Ash extended the invitation list to local officials and civic leaders. According to a recent Newsday article on the issue, members of the updated guest list include Senator John Flanagan of East Northport, Assemblyman Michael Fitzpatrick of St. James, Smithtown Supervisor Patrick Vecchio and leaders of the Kings Park Civic Association. While the extended invitation was appreciated by local leaders, the damage was already done. Senator John Flanagan was quoted in Newsday for declining the invitation due to a prior commitment, but added, “I think it was an afterthought, and frankly, that’s how I think they view the community.” By the day of the tour, the guest list had changed again. Members of the LIA and Newsday’s editorial board, those who had initiated the tour, pulled out because it had become “too political.” Newsday’s article from October 4th, by Bill Bleyer and Stacey Altherr, quoted Long Island Association Communications Director Gary Wojtas saying that, "considering the misinformation that's currently prevalent in the community, we just don't believe that the meeting as it's set up will be productive." Linda Henninger, president of the Kings Park Neighbors Association, viewed the Long Island Association's decision not to attend as "another victory for the community." The community preference that seems to have emerged includes preservation, clean-up, and the potential for limited development options that include a restaurant, hotel, and recreational uses. Currently, the future of the park is in the hands of the State Parks Department. Sen. John Flanagan has secured $25 million for future clean up. However, according to NYS Parks, maintenance and operations of the Kings Park facility is not currently in the $650 million State Capital plan. Stay tuned.
A Denser Nassau Uses More Public Transport than Suffolk
In Nassau, where residents have easier access to bus and railroad stations, use of public transit to work increased from 16.5% to 16.7%. On the other hand, the percentage of Suffolk workers taking public transit fell from 6.3% to 5.9%. It makes sense that in sprawling Suffolk, it is inefficient to take public transportation to work. Compared to Nassau County, where many residents work in New York City, workers in Suffolk County generally work in the county or in Nassau and the commuting routes are convoluted and inefficient.
Source: Tom Incantalupo, “Public Transportation Gains Nassau Support,” Newsday, October 2, 2007. |
After numerous delays and postponements, the Board and Mayor of Hempstead Village rejected UrbanAmerica’s $2 billion revitalization plan for the downtown. The 10 year plan proposed 2,500 condominium units, 600,000 square feet of retail space, and a performing arts center. The developer, UrbanAmerica, estimated that the plan would have created 5,200 construction jobs, 1,200 permanent jobs and about $35 million a year in tax revenue. While these benefits would have brought a much needed economic boost to the community, numerous concerns voiced by residents and the Board, were not resolved.
A major issue was the low allotment of affordable housing offered by the developer; they offered up to 15% of the condos for moderate-income residents and seniors. Members of the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now (ACORN) and affordable housing advocates demanded 50% affordable housing. According David Winzelberg’s article in the Long Island Business News article from October 2nd entitled, “UrbanAmerica Plan Pulled,” the Mayor also cited the recent mortgage crisis and a declining housing market as other reasons for refusing the plan. Regardless whether the vote is viewed as a victory or setback for Hempstead Village, Mayor Hall is determined to fulfill his vision for revitalizing the community. 
Suffolk County Executive, Steve Levy, countered these facts in an interview with Newsday, citing data that showed an increase in bus ridership for the year of 2005 to 2006. Suffolk County is also preparing a study on traffic improvements to be released in the spring.|
Land Value Impacts of Rail Transit Services
The National Association of Realtors has partnered with the Urban Land Institute to sponsor research by the University of California at Berkeley on the effect of proximity to rail transit on property values. So far, three places in California have been studied: Santa Clara County, San Diego, and Los Angeles. The studies look at the effect of being near all types of rail transit: light rail (trolley), heavy rail (“subway”), and commuter rail. The Santa Clara study considered only commercial property values; the San Diego and Los Angeles studies included residential and commercial properties. Future phases of research will study metropolitan areas outside of California.
New Scorecard to Reward Arizona's Quality Growth Projects with Priority Funding Arizona has accommodated its first 6.2 million residents quite well, but to absorb another 6 million by 2030 and keep the same quality of life it must rethink how to plan and ''what kind of communities'' people want, stressed Democratic Governor Janet Napolitano at a City Hall event in Casa Grande, halfway between Phoenix and Tucson, saying her multi-agency ''growth cabinet'' is working on a scorecard, under which ''we will give priority for new discretionary dollars to communities that have really engaged in a smart growth planning process.'' Read more here or in the Casa Grande Dispatch.
Purdue University Study Reveals Parking Spaces Outnumber Drivers 3 to 1 And Other Effects of Vehicles on Land-Use Patterns in Midwest County In the first of several surveys of vehicle impact on land-use patterns, a team of Purdue University-West Lafayette researchers under Forestry and Natural Resources Associate Professor Bryan Pijanowski found that in its home Tippecanoe County -- a typical midsize Midwestern county of 155,000 residents -- parking lots with a total of 355,000 spaces, have taken more than two square miles of land, the equivalent of some 1,000 football fields, and this excludes private-property and multi-level garage parking. According to Professor Pijanowski and Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering Professor Bernard Engel, the land lost to parking lots could produce 250,000 bushels of corn each year. |
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AIA Peconic To Hold Public Event on The Future of the East End
Highlights of the event include a presentation by guest speaker Bill Reed AIA, founding member of LEED and Regenesis as well as a guided tour of Hubbard County Park by Assemblyman Englebright. There will also be presentations by Lance Brown, FAIA - Architecture and Urban Design, Scott Carlin, LIU Professor of Environmental Science, and Dr. Martin Schoonen, Interim Dean of Stony Brook Southampton. Presentation topics include: Five Towns Rapid Transit proposal & Sustainable East End Development Strategies study, RELI, East End Municipal planning studies, A New Town Hall and Urban Design for Riverhead, a visionary multi-family/hamlet project by Maziar Behrooz AIA, in addition to panel discussions and audience participation. Eric Alexander, of Vision Long Island, will provide a regional update on Smart Growth. Admission to this event is $30 on Friday and $45 on Saturday. There will be four continuing education credits available each day for an additional fee of $75 each day. Advance registration is required. For more information, please visit the AIA Peconic's website at: www.aiapeconic.org, or by calling 631-728-7832 to make a reservation and to obtain additional information. You can also view the flyer here.
National Solar Tour and RELI To Hold Free Energy Conservation Open HOuse October 6th.
Come see and hear about all these things and more this Saturday, October 6, 2007 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. by participating in RELI's free National Solar Tour and Home Performance with EnergyStar Open House on Long Island. Talk to nearly 100 home and business owners who have already made the investment in solar panels and are saving money and the environment each and every day. LIPA now provides cash incentives to homeowners that choose to get recommended efficiency upgrades. Plus, if you are interested in learning how you can save energy and money and help the environment through energy efficiency, check out the live demonstrations at our seven Home Performance demo sites on Tour Day. Building science professionals will be available at these sites and can show you ways that air leakage and other under-performing systems in your home can contribute to high electric bills and may also affect your health and safety. For more information and free visitors passes for the Solar Tour, visit Renewable Energy Long Island's website.
Nassau-Suffolk Coalition For the Homeless Presents "An Island United to End Homelessness" On October 12th
The Nassau-Suffolk Coalition for the Homeless's 19th Annual Conference, "An Island United to End Homelessness," will be held on Friday, October 12th at the Touro Law School in Central Islip from 8:00am to 3:45pm. The conference is devoted to the issue of homelessness. Providers of housing and services, the business/banking community, community leaders, grassroots organizations, homeless persons, and other concerned persons are invited to join us at this important event. This conference encourages collaborations and information sharing aimed at reducing homelessness on Long Island. Click here for the registration form.
Sierra Club To Hold Seminar on Schools Choosing Renewable Alternatives
In an effort to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels and in the interest of teaching the next generation social and environmental responsibility, the public is invited to attend this important event. It will be held on Wednesday, October 24th, at 7:30pm at Babylon Town Hall (200 East Sunrise Hwy. in Lindenhurst). Topics to be discussed will include how energy performance assessments of schools can help reduce energy consumption and how installing renewable energy can reduce energy bills while helping to reduce the cost of operating a school district thereby, reducing the tax burden to the taxpayers. Speak to the experts who work in the industry and have helped schools save millions of dollars in energy and operational costs. How is this accomplished? By conducing energy audits of building operations - electrical, lighting, heating, cooling, security, fire and life safety - while guaranteeing savings which school districts can then use to finance renewable energy installations and improvements to facilities. Speak to the Carle Place School District Facilities Director who has implemented an energy assessment program in his school. RSVP is respectfully requested to 516-826-0801 or http://newyork.sierraclub.org/longisland.
Hofstra University To Host "Safer Homes, More LIvable Communities: Design Strategies for Aging In Place" Conference
Speakers include Howard Foster, director of adult services at the Mid-Island Y JCC and adjunct professor of social work at Adelphi University; Elissa Friedman, assistant director of adult services at the Mid-Island Y JCC; Edward M. Hennessey, Suffolk County Executive’s Office for the Aging; Joseph D. Monticciolo, regional administrator/regional housing commissioner for the Department of Housing and Urban Development, Region II, New York (1981-88); Michael O’Neal, former Minneapolis Empowerment Zoning Executive Board; Ron Stein, Vision Long Island; and William Stoner, Associate State Director, AARP. Register before October 10th to Martin Blum. Click here for the flyer and registration form.
It Takes a Village: Intergenerational Programs That Work Conference
While many young people are leaving Long Island in pursuit of affordable housing elsewhere, many older people are leaving for southern retirement communities or choosing to remain on the island, but moving into age-restricted communities. The unfortunate result is a separation of the generations. These circumstances pose real challenges to the normal balance, and urgently call for new and creative ways to encourage generational groups to communicate with one another, care for one another, and support public policies that don't divide them by age. It Takes a Village: Intergenerational Strategies That Work is designed to bring together Long Island's community organizations and its business community to create effective intergenerational programs and promote public policy that meets the needs of all generations. The conference takes place on Monday, November 12, 2007 from 9:00am to 4:00pm at the Charles B. Wang Center at Stony Brook University. Click here for a registration form, or visit Intergenerational Strategies' website here. |
The AIA Peconic Chapter is holding a public event on Friday, October 12th and Saturday, October 13th from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm each day. Entitled "The Future of the East End:" Sprawl/The Public Realm/The Spirit of the Place, this two-day symposium will be held at Chancellors Hall at the SUNY Stony Brook campus in Southampton.
Have you ever seen an electric meter run backwards? Can you imagine LIPA paying YOU for electricity? Ever wonder how much of YOUR money is escaping through tiny holes in your WALLS?
As part of their mission statement to "Practice and promote the responsible use of the earth's ecosystems and resources, " The Sierra Club is putting together a seminar entitled, "Schools choosing Renewable Alternatives." The purpose of this seminar is to inform the community about renewable energy and cost-saving solutions that are affordable options to school districts with no impact to the taxpayer.
Hofstra University's School of Education and Allied Human Services, Department of Counseling, Research, Special Education, and Rehabilitation - Gerontology Center will be holding a conference, Safer Homes, More Livable Communities: Design Strategies for Aging in Place, on Thursday, October 25th from 8:00am to 1:00pm at the Sondra and David S. Mack Student Center. The conference is designed for professionals concerned with making homes and communities safer for older people, including architects, urban planners, interior designers, builders and contractors, geriatric care managers, home heath workers, and geriatric social workers.
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Huntington Fall Festival Takes Place This Weekend
Attractions include: four stages of entertainment, a carnival, arts and craft vendors, international food courts, wine and micro-brew beer tasting, a farmer’s market, and numerous activities designed especially for young children. This community event highlights the best Huntington has to offer – from its civic-minded businesses, cultural institutions and service organizations, to its restaurants, pubs and retailers. The festival runs from October 5th through the 8th at Heckscher Park in Huntington Village. For more information, visit the Fall Festival's website here.
Go Apple Picking on the East End
Buying local ties people into their communities and helps to slow global climate change by reducing imports and shipping costs. Newsday recently ran a feature about local apple orchards. Take the family and support local farmers! Click here for the article, which includes a list of local orchards.
Theatre Three in Port Jefferson to Show Film on Predatory Lending
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This weekend, the Town of Huntington will be holding the annual Long Island Fall Festival. The Huntington Township Chamber of Commerce and the Town of Huntington put this free event together every year at Heckscher Park, which attracts thousands of families from the region.
Early October is the best time to take advantage of Long Island-grown apples. Smart Growth embraces local economies by encouraging things like farm and open space preservation and community activities.
Theatre Three in Port Jefferson will be showing the film, “Maxed Out,” on Monday, Oct. 8, at 7:00 pm for the bargain price of $5. Janet Hanson, from Long Island Housing Services, who has worked on predatory lending prevention seminars, will be making introductory comments. The film, which deals with consumer credit problems, has gotten great reviews, calling it hilarious, shocking, and incisive. Eye Sore of the MOnth &
A New Feature For The Newsletter Each month, our Eye Sore featuring examples of visual blight from development and suburban sprawl. To provide some balance and inspiration, our monthly Sight for Sore Eyes feature will focus on examples of physical beauty. Submissions are welcome and encouraged.
Eye Sore
The inspiration for this feature comes from Mr. Kunstler and his work. You can check out his website at www.kunstler.com. Sight For Sore Eyes
Send us your nominees! We are always looking for examples of what is going right and wrong in Smart Growth in Nassau and Suffolk Counties. Send images and recommendations to info@visionlongisland.org. |
Alex Latham, of ADL III Architecture, brings us the first edition of Sight for Sore Eyes. Greenville Terrace in Forest Hills Garden is a great example of what can be done on Long Island. It incorporates great design details with quality public space.
Special thanks to Smart Growth Online, Smart Growth America, Planetizen, KnowledgePlex, and the Urban Land Institute's (ULI's) Smart Growth News for their extraordinary news sweeps, which provide substantial content to our state and National News. Check them out!! If you have any news or events that you would like to add to our newsletter, please submit them to info@visionlongisland.org for consideration. For more information about Vision Long Island, please visit http://www.visionlongisland.org or contact us at: |