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Engel Burman
Engel Burman has been an ongoing supporter of Vision Long Island and Smart Growth principles.
Become a Supporter of Smart Growth Vision Long Island prides itself on having a broad range of supporters. Become one today. A donation as small as $50 buys outreach materials to help a community build support for their vision. $500 sponsors an entire newsletter. $5,000 makes you a lead sponsor of our Smart Growth Summit, buying 10 tickets and a key branding opportunity for your organization.
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As a privately owned business with origins proudly rooted in Long Island, The Engel Burman Group owns, develops and manages prime properties up and down the Eastern Seaboard. They work on projects from development and zoning to planning and construction.
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The 7th Annual Smart Growth Summit is Coming
Thursday, November 13th, 2008
The 2008 Smart Growth Summit will focus on the policies, challenges and Smart Growth projects that need to be implemented. It brings together the broadest Long Island leaders from community, civic, professional and governmental sectors to educate and formulate strategies to move these policies and projects forward. We need you to be a part of these solutions.
Worksessions Include:*
Technical sessions Include:*
*subject to change More Details Coming soon!
Sponsorship Packages are Available! • Visionary package includes: Logo in materials and advertisements, special recognition at event and on website, banner display, table for 10 at breakfast and lunch plenary sessions
Registration is now open! A downloadable registration form is available here.
__Visionary - $15,000 __Leader - $10,000 __Gold Sponsor - $5,000 __Sponsor - $2,000 Registration forms may be mailed to our office at 24 Woodbine Ave., Suite One, Northport, NY 11768 or faxed to 631-754-4452. Leadership Sponsor
Gold Sponsors
Sponsors
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Please join us for the 2008 Smart Growth Summit. This event represents the culmination of six successful Summits and promises to be the greatest yet. Its format includes improved networking opportunities and a variety of informative workshops on the best practices in Smart Growth and land use planning.
The Summit addresses a range of topics including transportation, 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. The Summit also updates the regional Blueprint for Smart Growth, which was developed from our previous summits. The Blueprint continues to be a platform towards advancing a Smart Growth agenda for Long Island and your participation in the event helps to shape it.
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Long Island Business News Top Projects of 2008
Rather than agonizing over the impediments to development, some panelists offered helpful approaches that Long Island developers can build upon. "Kick the Bottled Water Habit," says Suffolk County Water Authority
Over 17 million barrels of oil are used each year to produce the bottles. This could fuel over 1 million US cars for a year. The freight vehicles that distribute them cause even further environmental harm through carbon emissions. Neighborhood Network Executive Director Neal Lewis said, "the energy used every year in the US to fill, transport and cool bottled water and then dispose of the single-use bottles is equivalent to almost 49 million barrels of oil a year. That's like filling each bottle sold one-quarter of the way with oil and throwing it away." The Suffolk County Water Authority is taking a proactive step toward rectifying this problem: they will now offer free reusable water bottles to residents. The bottle will be made with safe, durable, and previously recycled materials, and will be recyclable if owners ever choose to throw them out. They are even produced in New York State to save money on transporting them from other states. Although tap water is incredibly safe in Suffolk County and currently exceeds federal and state water standards, and although many plastic water bottles are actually filled with tap water, wary residents can always rely on trusty water filters for additional water quality assurance. If you live in Suffolk County, you can pick up your free water bottle now at the Coram Customer Center, 2045 Route 112, with additional pick-up sites coming soon. If you can't make the trip, do yourself and the environment a favor and pick up a reusable bottle at any drug store or supermarket. This is one of the cheapest, easiest ways to do your part for a sustainable future. For more, see the article in the Beacon Record. Support Grows for Proposed Erie County Planning Board
''We need to work together and not have a parochial approach to land use management,'' said Partners for a Livable Western New York funder and real estate lawyer George Grasser at a Hamburg Town Hall meeting on the prospective legislation. According to the article in the Buffalo News, the planning board would not be dependent on local politics and it would include nine voting members from all of the county's geographic sections, six non-voting members from planning and development agencies, and at least two appointed professional planners. The proposed countywide planning board would coordinate and steer development, review and assess projects, and provide expertise to local jurisdictions in upstate New York where sprawl has largely reined wild. For more on this article visit smartgrowth.org. |
As part of their release of the “Top Projects of 2008: The Best of Long Island’s Newest Commercial Construction,” Long Island Business News held a panel on developing the future of Long Island at Carlyle on the Green in Bethpage on October 2nd. Vision Long Island Executive Director Eric Alexander participated on the panel with Michael White, Executive Director of the Long Island Regional Planning Board; Mayor Paul Pontieri of the Village of Patchogue; Scott Recheler, CEO of Rexcorp; Douglas Manditch, the Chairman and CEO of Empire National Bank; Steve Schlesinger of Jaspan Schlesinger Hoffman LLP; Peter Goldsmith or LISTnet; and Richard Salute of JH Cohn LLP. Moderated by Ted Sasso, President of Renaissance Realty Services LLC and John Kominicki of LIBN, the panelists were questioned on the challenges to development on Long Island. 
Considering the past few weeks' tumultuous economic news, much of the responses drew on the current state of affairs, in addition to the expected reproach of community opposition and the red tape from superfluous municipalities. While many panelists agreed on the challenges facing LI, heated opposition arose over regional planning versus more localized planning. Contrary to many panelists, Paul Pontieri and Eric Alexander both recommended moving towards a localized approach with small projects that acted locally but addressed regional issues, such as sewers, affordable housing and public transportation. Emphasizing an open, transparent process with civics and residents, Scott Rechler also recommended identifying resources, stakeholders and assets of the community to build upon when proposing projects. A process-oriented approach in conjunction with well designed density, a sense of place, transit-oriented development, and Smart Growth principles answers the demands and needs of many Long Islanders, including those who are leaving in droves such as young professionals, families, and empty nesters. 
Next time you spend $1.50 for a bottle of water, consider that you could have had 1000 gallons of tap water for the same price. While the price of bottled water is the issue that most visibly affects our individual lives, the production and disposal of plastic bottles is an enormous drain on the environment. It is time that people recognize the devastation that these little bottles of convenience can cause. Last year, Americans consumed 50,000,000,000 plastic water bottles. A whopping 85% of these were not recycled. 
According to Smart Growth Online, Erie County, New York is proposing an independent countywide planning board - the subject of legislation first proposed by County Legislature Democratic Majority Leader Maria R. Whyte currently in the Energy and Environmental Committee – “urging its creation as necessary to curb sprawl without affecting local autonomy and likely to help the county save some $800 million on infrastructure extension over 25 years.”|
Friday, October 17 7:00 pm – 9:30 pm Saturday, October 18 10:00 am – 4:00 pm Tuesday, October 21 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm Mark your calendar for these important dates! Be sure to visit www.brookhaven2030.org for more information on the Comprehensive Plan, updated news and events, and to view results from past Brookhaven 2030 public workshops. While registration is not required, it is highly recommended. To register by phone call 631-451-(TOWN) 8696 or go to the website and register online. |
According to Matthew Bigg’s Reuters article from September 30th, a sever fuel shortage has parts of the southeastern United States running on empty. Hurricane Gustav and Ike shut down oil refineries on the Gulf Coast, and cities like Atlanta and parts of Georgia, North Carolina, and Tennessee are feeling the pinch hardest with empty gas stations and soaring prices. In addition to the financial impact, many motorists are feeling a psychological impact, especially in car-dependent cities like Atlanta. Bigg’s article finds that as a result, there is less traffic on the streets and highways, residents are sharing rides and reducing their VMTs. Many residents view these measures as inconvenient but some are also recognizing the connection between cars, the economy and the pattern of most American cities and suburbs.
At the New Jersey Governor's Conference on Housing and Community Development in Atlantic City on September 23rd and 24th, agreement was reached that "the greatest economic advantages" would come from honing Smart Growth principles of density, walkablility, mixed-use, and transit-oriented development. A key inhibitor to progressive redevelopment is that many municipalities retain outdated zoning codes. New Jersey Future's proposed Smart Housing Incentive Act will encourage this type of change. The act and other Smart Growth initiatives will recognize that massive population growth is coming, and new housing and jobs must be built to accommodate this growth. 
California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger passed legislation Tuesday that will help curb sprawl and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Linking land-use, transportation, and climate change, the bill is expected to help reach California's goal of a 30% reduction of emissions by 2020. In a statement quoted in the LA Times, Schwarzenegger said: "What this will mean is more environmentally friendly communities, more sustainable developments, less time people spend in their cars, more alternative transportation options and neighborhoods we can safely and proudly pass on to future generations." The bill creates incentives for communities to develop using Smart Growth principles. For example, denser areas will be rewarded with more money to work on transportation. Some environmentalists were angered by a political provision in the bill that exempts many building interests from strict environmental reviews. There is hope that this legislation will act as a precedent for other states to follow.|
New Grants Available for TOD and Main Street
Tri-State Transportation Campaign Introduces Community Assistance Grant
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While Wall Street scrambles to find money and many banks have empty safes, the New York State Office of Community Renewal announced the availability of $6.4 million in New York Main Street Program funds. The 2008-2009 New York State budget included historic increases in funding for housing and community development programs. It provided $5 million in bonded capital to the NYS Housing Trust Fund Corporation and they in turn added $1.4 million for the fall of 2008 funding round. All municipalities are encouraged to apply before the deadline of November 13, 2008 at 5PM EST. Follow the attached link to view the New York Main Street Program Fall 2008 Request for Proposals and Program Guidelines. Contact the Office of Community Renewal at 518-474-2057 if you have any questions. Read the 
The Tri-State Transportation Campaign formally introduced a new community assistance grant program that encourages transit oriented development in New York State. The new grant program is the result of a partnership between TSTC, One Region Funders’ Group (including Fairfield County Community Foundation, Long Island Community Foundation, New York Community Trust, Rauch Foundation, Surdna Foundation, Emily Hall Tremaine Foundation, and Westchester Community Foundation). According to a statement from TSTC, up to ten small grants will be awarded across downstate New York and Connecticut; two to five grants will be awarded in New Jersey. All municipalities are encouraged to apply for the grants that will help fund visioning sessions, technical expertise, or other efforts that promote equitable, walkable development near transit. Furthermore, the Tri-State Transportation Campaign also announced an online transit-oriented development “clearinghouse” with resources and tools to help guide transit oriented development projects and supplement the grant program. For more information about the program and to the view the clearinghouse, please visit TSTC’s website |
The conflict began three years ago, when the owner of a 1.5 wooded acre parcel on Portion Road sold it to Commerce Bank, despite community and Town of Brookhaven plans to preserve the bucolic area for a 9/11 memorial. Community members pleaded with the bank to relocate from the site, but the Town Planning Board approved the construction plans in March, and soon after the bulldozers broke ground. Bank spokeswoman Rebecca Acevedo maintains that the bank worked “closely with the township and the community” in the planning process and will continue to do so in supporting a new plan for the memorial. Freedner and others in the community are duly skeptical of this claim, especially after the bank rejected any alternate bank sites and the Town Planning Board approved the plan, despite community opposition. “It’s a very sore issue in the neighborhood. The government and these corporation combined can really hurt a community.” Vision's Board of Directors has yet to take a formal position on this matter, yet we firmly believes in the rights of community organizations to fight for good planning, better building design, and proper community outreach. To boycott the bank, call 1-888-751-9000 and tell Commerce Bank about your plans to boycott. More information can be found on the Civic Association's website. |
While Lake Ronkonkoma residents resign themselves to the fact that Commerce Bank will open its branch next year at their proposed 9/11 memorial site, they have also chosen not to end the resistance. According to 
Learn How to Go Green at RELI's Solar Tour and Green Buildings Open House on October 4th
To register, see Renewable Energy Long Island's website. Upcoming Public Workshops for NYMTC’s 2035 Regional Transportation Plan Come To LI October 6th and 7th
For more information, contact Jan Khan at 212-383-7251 or by email at jkhan@dot.state.ny.us. Hempstead Chamber of Commerce Auto Show on October 12th On Sunday, October 12th, head to the Hempstead Auto Show and Fair, sponsored by the Hempstead Chamber of Commerce. Franklin Street from Second Street to Bedell Street will be closed from 11AM to 4PM for dealers to display their automobiles, both new and used on the street. There will also be activities for the whole family, from free snacks and goodies to antiques cars and new fire engines on display. Live radio coverage will be on site for the whole event. To set the record straight, we’re not lauding automobiles nor encouraging families to go out and buy another car. However, as a downtown and Chamber of Commerce sponsored event, the Hempstead Auto Show is a great community gathering and an opportunity to view the evolution of the automobile and witness its significance in American society. Parking is always a concern in a downtown, and plenty will be available in the Town of Hempstead parking lot that is accessible via Main Street. Don’t miss this great community event! For more information, email or call the Chamber of Commerce office at president@hempsteadchamber.org and (516) 483-2000. Housing Long Island's Young Adults event on October 16th
For more information see the event's Facebook group. Free Seminar on the Mortgage Crisis from Housing Help on October 21st
Housing Help’s programs are supported by: NYS Division of Housing And Community Renewal; Long Island’s United Way; Astoria Federal Savings; Citigroup Foundation; Bank Of America Foundation; Wells Fargo; Suffolk County Community Development Agency; NYS Affordable Housing Corp.; St. Johns Church, Cold Spring Harbor; Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Huntington; Kehillath Shalom Synagogue, Cold Spring Harbor; Congregational Church of Huntington; St. Elizabeth’s Church Melville; Our Lady Queen Of Martyrs, Centerport; United Methodist Church of Huntington – Cold Spring Harbor; Gloria Dei Evangelical Lutheran Church, Huntington Station; Women Aide; and many private donations. Housing Help Inc. is located at 91 Broadway, Suite 6, Greenlawn, NY 11740. |
Renewable Energy Long Island is hosting their 5th annual Solar Tour and Green Buildings Open House on Saturday, October 4th from 10am until 4pm. This self-guided tour will feature 75 open houses all across Long Island, and aims to educate Long Island residents about the economic and environmental benefits of going green. The tour will show how to save energy in a home or commercial building, use green technologies like solar to cut electric and heating bills, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, find green building professionals and contractors, and receive LIPA rebates and tax credits of up to $42,000. The tour is free, but attendees must register for a visitor's pass. Registrants will gain access to an online map and description of all house locations, and will also receive a copy of LIGreenGuide, a consumer resource guide with a directory of green businesses and professionals on Long Island. 
Affordable housing is a well-known problem in Long Island, and no demographic is hit harder than young adults. It is time that young people stand up and demand change in their housing options. Long Island is a great place to live, and our housing stock cannot continue to refuse young adults, or else the consequences for the Island's economy will be grim. To discuss these matters and to work on reversing this trend, Action Long Island is hosting an event on Thursday, October 16th at 5:30pm at SUNY Farmingdale's Roosevelt Hall, Little Theatre. This rally will encourage young people to get educated on their options, and then to get their voices heard. The event is free but registration is required. Visit Action Long Island's 
Concerned about your mounting payments or adjustable rate mortgage? If so, then attend Housing Help’s free seminar on “How to Avoid the Mortgage Crisis.” Housing Help Inc. is a HUD Certified Housing Counseling Agency that has provided free housing counseling services since 1966. On October 21st, they are offering a free seminar from 6-8PM at the Huntington Station Public Library, located at 1335 New York Avenue, on the key steps to avoiding foreclosure. The seminar will answer key questions regarding mortgage scams, late payments, interest only loans, loss mitigation and much more. To register, call 631-754-0373.|
Job Opening with the Long Island Immigrant Alliance (LIIA)
Responsibilities include monitoring and acting upon immigrant related developments and managing grassroots advocacy, civic education activities, organizational membership, volunteer recruitment and leadership training efforts. The successful candidate will be dedicated, self-motivated, and creative; have experience working with and organizing within immigrant or vulnerable communities on various campaigns and must be familiar with Long Island. The candidate must be comfortable building alliances and collaborating with diverse individuals. He or she must have strong communication and personal management skills, be able to think strategically, be team oriented and have excellent research and analysis skills. Proficiency in word processing, database, email, internet, blogs, spreadsheets and bilingual capabilities are required. Those interested must own a car, be able to travel, and work evenings and weekends if necessary. Salary is commensurate with experience. The LIIA seeks to fill the position immediately. To apply, send a cover letter, resume, and salary requirements via email to immigrantalliance@yahoo.com or by regular mail to: Long Island Immigrant Alliance, at 143 Schleigel Blvd., Amityville, NY 11701. Entry-level position available with New York League of Conservation Voters Education Fund
To apply, send resume and cover letter to jobs@nylcv.org. |
The New York League of Conservation Voters Education Fund (NYLCVEF) is seeking a full-time Project Manager in their New York City office. NYLCVEF is a nonprofit, nonpartisan environmental organization. The position entails coordinating a strategic outreach effort to environmentally-minded voters in New York City, as well as increasing the visibility of the organization throughout the five boroughs. Qualifications include a Bachelor's degree and 1-3 years relevant experience. The candidate must have excellent communication and time management skills, the ability to motivate others, a solid knowledge of New York City governmental structure, and an interest in the city's environmental issues. Salary is commensurate with experience, and benefits include health/dental, 401(k), and transit checks.|
Downtown Northport’s Little Shop of Horrors
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Not to give the impression that we’re on a theater kick, but there happens to be another fantastic show opening in one of Long Island’s historic downtowns. Northport’s John W. Engeman Theater presents “Little Shop of Horrors,” the dark musical by Howard Ashman and Alan Menken about an alien, flesh-eating plant and the poor sod it cajoles. Not only does the play take place in a downtown, but the presence of this out-of-world plant revitalizes the small business and the surrounding neighborhood, even if it requires a human buffet. From catchy songs, witty humor and crafty puppetry, this play is a boon to downtown Northport and perfectly fits with the frivolities of this Halloween season. “Little Shop of Horrors” is playing now through November 9th at 250 Main Street. Call 631-261-2900 for tickets and visit |
Sight for Sore Eyes
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This past weekend, the 29th annual Pickle Festival didn’t sour, despite the inclement weather. Hosted by the Greenlawn-Centerport Historical Association at the John Gardiner Farm, the festival featured a variety of pickled products and fun activities for all ages. Mmmm…pickles… Thanks, Newsday.
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Here at Vision, we talk a lot about Smart Growth and the policies that enable us to get the work done that we feel is vital to the Island's future. While we try to remain politically neutral, the simple fact is that we as individuals must make decisions as to who to elect into public offices. Those officials are the ones with the power and authority to affect what we do. We are a locally-minded organization, but it's pretty hard to forget the only thing that can top the economy in headlines right now: the Presidential election. Whether you vote for Senator Obama or Senator McCain, the next President of the United States will be uniquely positioned to pass meaningful national policies that relate to climate change, transportation, and other Smart Growth principles. It is vitally important that every eligible American vote in the upcoming election. We've all heard the depressing voter turnout percentages, and past national elections have shown us that one vote really does matter. This historic election is an important opportunity for individuals to grab on to a little piece of our representative democracy. SMART GROWTH NEWS Newsletter Editor: Michelle Dutchen, Communications Director We strive to provide continued quality publications such as this each week. If you are interested in becoming a newsletter or news blast sponsor, please call the office at 631-261-0242 for rates and opportunities. If you have any news or events that you would like to add to our newsletter, submit them to info@visionlongisland.org for consideration.
For more information about Vision Long Island, visit http://www.visionlongisland.org or contact us at: |
