Serota Properties

For over 50 years, Serota Properties has been a developer of first class retail, office and residential property in the greater New York metropolitan area. Founded in 1952, the company initially began as a builder of residential homes. Since then, Serota Properties has evolved into a full service real estate company.

Today, the Serota organization specializes in the management and development of a complete commercial property portfolio that runs across multiple property types. Along with a seasoned team of real estate professionals, Serota is focused on the continued growth and expansion of its original vision of excellence.

Visit their website for more.

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.
 
Your tax-deductible donation goes directly to Vision and lets you help strengthen efforts to put Smart Growth principles into action.

Safe Streets Funding in Jeopardy

The Region 10 DOT has essentially terminated funding for its Local Safe Streets and Traffic Calming Grant Program. The region's transportation advocacy group Tri-State Transportation Campaign did a little digging after not hearing an announcement about the program since 2006. A spokesperson from Region 10 replied that the program was "under review" and that the program had succeeded in "providing examples for municipalities to emulate on their roads." The translation? The program has been eliminated and local municipalities should pay for pedestrian and bicycle projects themselves. According to TSTC's blog, "the program, established in 2000, provided $2.7 million a year for pedestrian and bike projects throughout Nassau and Suffolk Counties. It has paid for over 40 projects in towns including Oyster Bay and Great Neck."

According to another DOT spokesperson, as quoted in Long Island Business News, "the safe streets program hasn’t been eliminated and there are 20 active projects funded through the traffic calming initiative, which the DOT’s Long Island office created in 2000 as a pilot program to increase biking and walking safety." According to TSTC's Kate Slevin, these projects were all funded through the safe streets program prior to 2006 and little progress has been made on new projects since then. Some of the mix up seems to stem from a misunderstanding of the amount of required local and federal funding match.

Vision Long Island has partnered with TSTC and several other organizations to write a letter to acting NYSDOT Commissioner Stanley Gee in support of this critical program. If we are diligent in bringing back the program, Long Island could see up to $15 million of addition federal funding for safer streets.

Vision's Awards Highlighted in Smart Growth Online

The National publication Smart Growth Online featured Vision Long Island in its most recent news blast, in an article titled "Sen. Schumer Is Surprise Speaker at 2009 Vision Long Island Awards." Here is an excerpt from the article:

''Smart growth is the future,'' said New York Democratic Senator Charles Schumer, a surprise guest speaker at Vision Long Island's 2009 Smart Growth Awards presentation luncheon in Woodbury, commending smart growth advocates and pledging his continued support for their immediate and long-term sustainability goals, especially for expansion of mass transit.

''All of the investment we've made in the quality of life and education on Long Island will be seen in the next 50 years,'' he told about 600 officials, planners, conservationists, developers and other luncheon participants, stressing the importance of dense mixed-use projects like the planned 150-acre Lighthouse redevelopment in Uniondale, Nassau County, for which he seeks federal funds to improve roads, sewers and other area infrastructure.

Read the rest of the article here.

Vision has posted the video of Senator Schumer's speech at the Awards on Youtube. Visit our channel to watch his speech and interviews with the 11 honorees.

Consolidation Law Promises Greater Efficiency

The long-standing effort to reduce the size of New York government has hit home.  On June 25th, Governor David A. Paterson signed into law legislation that will facilitate the streamlining of local governments.  Governor David A. Paterson hails, "This bill is a major step forward in our efforts to cut waste, lower the cost of doing business, and reduce our property taxes".

New York has more than 10,000 local government entities, which Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver describes as being "expensive, at times confusing, inefficient and susceptible to waste, fraud, and abuse".  The New York Government Reorganization and Citizen Empowerment Act, crafted by Attorney General Andrew Cuomo, hopes to decrease these costly layers of government. 

The bill simplifies how citizens and government officials can choose to dissolve or consolidate local government entities.  For example, in most jurisdictions, signatures from only 10 percent of voters will be needed to put a consolidation proposal on the ballot.  And with majority support from residents, county governments will be able to initiate their plans for consolidation and dissolution. 

Proponents of the bill believe that the streamlining of local governments will provide relief to New York's overburdened taxpayers, creating a more efficient and competitive New York.  But not everyone believes in this promise of greater efficiency. 

One argument is that consolidation hinders the services that our state relies on, like fire departments and garbage disposal.  If the special districts that provide these services are consolidated, New York resources could become less effective.

Others oppose the bill on the basis of constitutionality.  Bayville Village Mayor Victoria Siegel believes the bill violates the state constitution, which permits the existence of villages.  She calls the bill, "the biggest mistake the state has ever made".

Southampton Village Mayor Mark Epley adds a different side to the argument.  He says that if state is so determined in providing relief to taxpayers, they should focus on the cost of education, which is greater than the cost of local governments. 

Ultimately, the opponents weren't large enough in numbers.  The bill passed by a landslide--a vote of 46 to 16 in the state Senate.  But with the growing debate, we'll wait to see if any amendments will be made.

NY Times Reports LI Luxury Condo Market Still Alive

This Sunday’s New York Times Real Estate section reported that despite the current real estate market, the luxury condominium market on Long Island is still alive. The featured building, The Aqua on the Ocean in Long Beach offers ocean views as well as easy access to the railroad. Steve Kreiger, a principal for the project says that because the building is within walking distance of the Long Island Rail Road station, the Aqua is attracting Manhattanites “who love the ocean and don’t want to sit in traffic to the Hamptons.” It would also be attractive to those who like to live near the water and want an easy commute to Midtown, adding that “in a normal market the building would be sold out.”

Other upcoming projects mentioned are the Glen Isle waterfront redevelopment in Glen Cove and two nine story buildings in Mineola near the Mineola Intermodal Center. Both the Winston and the project at the former Keyspan building on Old Country Road provide housing attractive to Manhattanites, empty nesters, and doctors at the local hospital. The Glen Isle project surrounds a proposed ferry terminal that will provide residents with service to Manhattan as well as other destinations and the development will also offer shuttle service to the two closest LIRR stations.

Riverhead Revitalization Continues

In Riverhead, revitalization plans are underway that will turn the downtown into a vibrant destination where people can live, work, and play. Two projects were highlighted in the Riverhead News-Review.

First, some controversy has arisen over the future of one building. Katter Development Company and Apollo Real Estate Advisors have put forth a proposal to build 300 affordable housing units and retail space on the south side of East Main Street in one of Riverhead's many abandoned buildings. However, businessmen Ray Pickersgill and Anthony Coates had planned to build an indoor farmer's market on the site, which would include locally grown produce, a small fish market, a farm museum display, and possibly a small brewery and restaurant. The men are confused as they had a verbal agreement to develop the site, and had even hired lawyers and architects. No lease was ever officially signed for the property. Riverhead Town Supervisor Phil Cardinale is encouraged about the mixed-use project, but would also like to see the market come to the downtown: "I'm excited about the [market] myself. We would be very happy to assist it in any manner that we could to help it come to fruition as quickly as possible." The third-party property owner has not heard from anyone who wants to purchase the property, but said "We would be receptive to complete a deal with either party...And we have enough space to accommodate both projects, quite frankly." In the conceptual stages, both projects sound great.

The next update was regarding the Summerwind apartment project, which Vision covered several weeks ago. Summerwind will be a 5-story, 45,000 square foot mixed-use apartment building overlooking the river off Peconic Avenue, at the site of two current aging buildings. 52 one-bedroom units will all be affordable at $1,100 monthly rent, and the first floor will include a 100-seat restaurant and 5,700 square feet of retail space. At a press conference in mid-June, hosted by Supervisor Phil Cardinale, Legislator Ed Romaine, and County Executive Steve Levy, Suffolk County announced $2.5 million in subsidies to ensure that Summerwind gets built and that the units are able to remain affordable for the next 30 years. The Suffolk County Legislature approved the funding last week, and with the Town's blessing in place the construction is ready to begin. It is expected to take about 10 months to complete. Councilman John Dunleavy said "I'm glad it's local people that are going to start the revitalization of downtown. It takes local people to have the kind of foresight to do something like this." Suffolk County Executive Steve Levy added, "This project is going to revitalize this corner, and let me tell you, it's contagious. When people see these great things coming to a downtown it raises everyone's expectations and hopes for that community and brings in more investment." The County will also allocate $313,000 toward infrastructure improvements in the surrounding area, including the construction of sidewalks, lighting, and crosswalks.

Study: Walkable neighborhoods better for your health

Last year, the University of Utah published a study that found that old, walkable neighborhoods have substantially lower risks of obesity and being overweight. While the conclusion isn't groundbreaking for Smart Growth advocates (walking is healthier than driving), the methods used in the study are pretty cool. The University used drivers license records and census data of almost half a million residents of Salt Lake City to track addresses, height, and weight.

According to a New York Times article summarizing the study, "They found that men, on average, weighed 10 pounds less if they lived in a walkable neighborhood versus a neighborhood less conducive to walking. The average woman weighed six pounds less." The article concludes: "The research offers a blueprint for communities on better ways to design new developments to encourage healthful living. And for people shopping for homes, the lesson is to think about not just the house itself but whether the neighborhood is pedestrian-friendly, with sidewalks, bike and walking paths, low traffic and amenities like coffee shops or convenience stores that are within walking distance."

Read the NY Times article here.

Lockport Smart Growth Advocates Lose Bid to Block Wal-Mart Superstore

A Wal-Mart Supercenter, with its now familiarly imposing blue and white sign, has finally found a home at the corner of South Transit Road and Shimer Drive in the town of Lockport. Following a five year battle between Smart Growth officials and the town planning and zoning boards, the five-judge panel of the Appellate Division of state Supreme Court unanimously ruled against Lockport Smart Growth Inc. last month.

Smart Growth’s attorney Daniel Spitzer argued that Wal-Mart should have had to obtain zoning variances, which are more difficult to secure, rather than a series of extreme difficulty waivers. He, however, failed to convince the court that Lockport broke or bent local and state zoning laws in an effort to accommodate Wal-Mart’s design for its Supercenter. Spitzer, unsatisfied with the ruling, asserted, “Clearly they looked at all of the issues we raised ... but there’s no elaboration by the panel. They ruled [the town met] legal standards but they didn’t say why. The question is not answered: If a zoning variance and an extreme difficulty waiver (give) the same relief, how can there be different standards for each?”

Now, unless local homeowners choose to appeal the new ruling, construction for the new Supercenter is expected to begin this year.

The House Transportation Bill Needs Your Help! Call your representative's office today!

Representative James Oberstar, chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, just released the long-anticipated first draft of the Surface Transportation authorization bill to replace the expiring SAFETEA-LU legislation. The bill is a good start, but as it stands today, it leaves out a few things, including something crucial: Clear national performance targets. Adjacent to the Surface Transportation Bill, Congressman Carnahan and others have released the National Transportation Objectives Act of 2009, which defines a set of objectives and performance targets for the nation's transportation future.

With Congress moving quickly on transportation, we must go the extra mile today to make sure that Congress gets the message. Please call your federal representative's office right now. It will make a real difference, and it only takes about one minute:

1. Call the Congressional Switchboard at 202-224-3121, and ask to speak to your representative's office.

2. Tell the staff member answering the phone where you are calling from and that you'd like to urge the representative to support the National Transportation Objectives Act of 2009 (H.R. 2724). You can add that you want to make sure the billions spent on transportation help us cut down on emissions, give us real energy security, and provide you with more affordable options for getting from A to B.

3. After you hang up, the Transportation for America campaign wants to know that you made the call. Please fill out this form to help the group track how many members of Congress have been reached.

What will $450 billion in transportation spending achieve? Without over-arching goals and targets -- such as reductions of vehicles miles traveled, CO2, and household transportation costs -- there's no way to be sure billions of dollars in transportation spending will truly deliver clean, affordable and smart transportation. Oberstar's bill includes a lot of what Smart Growth supporters have been pushing for, but as it stands today, it still falls short. We can do better. We can't keep pouring tax dollars into the same flawed transportation system that leaves us stuck without options. Let's tell Congress to make transportation funding smart, clean, and accountable starting TODAY.

Booker T. Washington House is in Danger of Demolition

The Booker T. Washington house on a bluff overlooking the Long Island Sound in Northport has been neglected in recent years and is now in danger of demolition as a part of a slope stabilization project. The bluff on which it stands is slowly sliding into the Sound and the owner of the property may need to relocate the house to stabilize the slope. The house served as a summer residence for Washington during the last years of his life and he did many writings there.

Anyone interested restoring the house or is able to provide a possible site to relocate the house to should please contact Vision.

Take a Day Trip to Governors Island; or visit on July 10 for Happy Hour!

Governors Island is the buzz of New York, and the perfect day trip for any Long Islander. Only four weeks into the 2009 summer season, 40,000 visitors have taken the 5-minute ferry five from lower Manhattan to enjoy the beautiful open spaces in the center of New York Harbor. Last year at this time, not even half that many people had been to the 172-acre Island. Talk is in the air about New York's new, favorite park, which has been undergoing an exciting revitalization over the past few years.

Your visit might include music and dancing, arts and crafts, Civil War uniforms and cannons, kayaking or taking a ride on an historic ship, mini golf, or simply relaxing in a hammock at the newly-opened 8-acre Picnic Point, with views straight to the Statue of Liberty. On the Island's May 30th opening day, the Veuve Clicquot Manhattan Polo Classic attracted the likes of Madonna, Kate Hudson, Marc Jacobs and polo-playing Prince Harry. The Island offers children's art classes and summer camp programs, and more art exhibits and historic buildings are open to the public than ever before. And perhaps what's most exciting - the full 2.2-mile promenade is now open for bikers, walkers, runners, and strollers. Admire spectacular views of the city skyline, smell the salty air, and spend a day with loved ones or on your own in what's quickly becoming one of the region's favorite places.

On Friday, July 10, have a beer with a crowd of young designers, planners, and real estate professionals to watch the sun set over the Manhattan skyline at Governors Island's newest hot spot, Water Taxi Beach. Be among the first to explore this all-new beach, café and performance space. At the Island's first-ever happy hour from 6 to 8 pm, the Alliance will honor Tom Fox, founder and CEO of Harbor Experiences, the Water Taxi's parent company. Mr. Fox has played a pivotal role in the creation of the Water Taxi fleet and its several beaches, as well as Brooklyn Bridge Park and Hudson River Park. The event is co-sponsored by Emerging New York Architects and Governors Island Alliance. RSVP here. All funds raised for the event will go towards free public programs on the Island and the Governors Island Alliance's advocacy work.

For more information on the event or on the Island in general, visit the GIA website or e-mail elizabeth@rpa.org with any questions.

Brookhaven National Lab project to hold Informational Meeting on July 14th

Approximately 37 megawatts of solar energy is proposed to be hosted by Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL), purchased by Long Island Power Authority (LIPA) and supplied and developed by BP Solar (BP). This utility-scale solar energy project will provide enough power to sustain more than 4,700 households and avoid carbon dioxide emissions of 34,000 tons per year. The project will be implemented through a power purchase agreement (PPA) between LIPA and BP for a term of 20 years with contracted solar energy deliveries to begin no later than May 1, 2011. BP Solar also plans to work closely with BNL to determine how it could provide solar to assist with the laboratory's energy needs, moving BNL closer towards achieving its renewable energy and energy independence objectives. In addition, as part of the project, it is envisioned that BP and BNL will work collaboratively on research to help solve technological challenges and advance the state of today's solar voltaic technology.

There will be an Informational Open House event for the project on July 14th at the Mt. Sinai Heritage Center from 3pm-8pm so the public can learn more about the project. Save the date and stayed tuned for more information.

NYMTC 2010-2035 RTP Public Review Period Opens, Announces Public Meeting for Long Island on July 15th

July 1, 2009 marks the start of a 30-day public review period on NYMTC’S draft 2010-2035 Regional Transportation Plan and related Environmental Justice Assessment of the Planning Process. A public meeting for the Long Island region will take place on Wednesday, July 15, 2009 from 3-5pm and 6-8pm at Babylon Town Hall, 200 East Sunrise Highway in Lindenhurst. The 3-5pm session will have a live webcast on their website, where the draft plan is available for download. To attend the meeting, please RSVP to Lisa Daglian at (212) 383-7241 or ldaglian@dot.state.ny.us.

NYMTC is a regional council of governments that functions as the metropolitan planning organization for New York City, Long Island and the lower Hudson Valley. NYMTC’s Regional Transportation Plan (RTP) creates a joint, long-term vision for the New York metropolitan region’s transportation system. Revised every four years, the RTP is the result of a cooperative public involvement and intergovernmental planning process. NYMTC member approval of the RTP is required for Federal transportation funding.

West Hempstead Community Support Association's Free Music in the Park this summer

The West Hempstead Community Support Association, formerly the West Hempstead Civic Association, presents Free Music in the Park this summer. Performances will take place at Hall's Pond Park at Nassau Boulevard and Hempstead Avenue in West Hempstead. There are three chances to check out the free fun:

Thursday July 16, 7-8:30pm
Featuring band The Switch

Sunday July 26, 6:30-8:30pm
Featuring The North Shore Pops Concert Band

Sunday August 9, 6:30-8:30pm
Featuring band The New York Connection

Bring lawn chairs or blankets for seating. Please: no alcohol and leave pets at home. For further information and in case of inclement weather call (516) 733-0879

ERASE Racism Presents "Invisibility: A Case Study of Latinos on Long Island" on August 12

On Wednesday, August 12th from 5:30-8pm, ERASE Racism presents the next Race & Racism Dialogue in its series on Invisibility. "A Case Study of Latinos on Long Island" will take place at the Patchogue Theatre and will feature "Broken Identities." The program will be moderated by Margarita Espada, Artistic Director of Teatro Experimental Yerbabruja and Luis Valenzuela, President of Long Island Immigrant Alliance. The event's hosts will be Patchogue Mayor Paul Pontieri and ERASE Racism's President Elaine Gross. There is no cost for the event and a light supper will be provided. Register to attend on their website or contact Rosemarie Walker at (516) 921-4863 or rosemarie@eraseracismny.org.

The 2009 Race & Racism Dialogues are focused on the theme “Invisibility,” which connotes lack of value, worth or consideration. Through the lives and experiences of African Americans, Latinos and Native Americans, this dialogue series is designed to explore how people, of different racial or ethnic backgrounds, living on Long Island, have experienced inequality. It looks at how they have been impacted by institutional policies that promote exclusion and can obscure or obliterate the histories of these people.

Eyesore of the Month

Here's a lovely view of the run-down parking lot near the Hicksville LIRR train station.

Sight for Sore Eyes

Take a look at Rockville, Maryland. Beautiful!

Free Dance Performance in Heckscher Park

This Friday night at 8:30pm, Heckscher Park in Huntington will host a free dance performance at the Chapin Rainbow Stage on Main Street and Prime Avenue. The Long Island Dance Consortium includes performances by The Red Hot Mamas, American Dance Theatre of Long Island, Dance Theatre Company, and Huntington's own Variations: a dancer's studio.

Bring a blanket and find a spot on the lawn. Kick off your holiday weekend with some free fun in a downtown park

Classical Music Under the Stars

On Sunday July 5 at 8:30 p.m., Huntington’s Heckscher Park will feature the singular music of great classical composers such as Brahms, Mozart, and Rachmaninoff, as well as selections from musicals and operettas. The concert will also featuring mezzo-sopranos Leslie Valentine and Favrile.

Tickets are free. Come to Heckscher Park, Chapin Rainbow Stage on the corner of Prime Ave & Route 25A in Huntington Village. Additional info is available on the Huntington Arts Council's website.

Marshal Schwartz, of the Rocky Point Civic Association, suggested a new slogan for a shirt:

"I went to Albany to lobby for Long Island and all I got was this lousy revolt"

SMART GROWTH NEWS

Newsletter Editor: Michelle Dutchen, Director of Communications
Contributors: Eric Alexander, Executive Director; Tara Klein, Planning Coordinator;
Tawaun Weber, Director of Special Projects; Elissa Ward, Director of Sustainability; Juliana Roberts Dubovsky, Planning Consultant

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:
24 Woodbine Ave. Suite One Northport, NY 11768. Phone: (631) 261-0242. Fax: (631) 754-4452.
Email: info@visionlongisland.org