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J May 13, 2013 at 05:10 pm
hey, i never said I had an issue with it, I said "I can see how some people didn't want a…Read More skyscraper." I personally thought it was a great idea. It isn't like this is Greenport, it is Uniondale, right smack in the center of the county,one of the most populous counties in the country. Plus I would have gotten to keep the Islanders.
paul May 12, 2013 at 11:25 pm
To J:
Absolutely a GREAT idea.
It would look fabulous and was not going to be next to any private…Read More houses.
So where do you see an issue???
The Lighthouse Project
The Lighthouse Project, officially named The Lighthouse at Long Island, was a proposed transformation of the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum and the area surrounding it into a modern suburban area. The project was first introduced by New York Islanders owner, Charles Wang. The base of the project is a newly renovated Coliseum for the New York Islanders to play in. Surrounding the Coliseum would be houses, hotels (Long Island's first 5-star hotel), offices, restaurants, and various stores. There would also be an athletic complex, conference and exhibition facilities, and a minor league baseball ballpark.
The proposed Islanders arena.
The Lighthouse Project was expected to take 8 to 10 years to be completed, and cost about $3.74 billion. The investors expected the project generate $71 million of annual tax revenues, and create about 75,000 construction and construction-related jobs. After the project is finished, 19,000 new permanent jobs are expected to come from it. Many believe the project being approved is the only way that Wang can keep the Islanders on Long Island, rather than selling the team.
However, Nassau County residents voted against building a new arena for the Islanders on August 1, 2011.
Banners are displayed along the outside of Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum, promoting the Lighthouse Project.
The Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum is currently the second-oldest arena in active use by an NHL team (after Madison Square Garden), and has the second smallest capacity of all arenas in the NHL (after MTS Centre). Nassau County asked for and received proposals from different development groups regarding how to renovate and build up the coliseum and surrounding area. Islanders owner Charles Wang proposed a plan to develop the area surrounding the arena;
his plan originally included a renovation of the Coliseum,
a 60-story tower designed to look like a lighthouse, housing, athletic facilities, a new minor league baseball stadium, restaurants, and a new hotel, at a projected overall cost of approximately $200 million.
On August 14, 2007, Charles Wang and the Lighthouse Development Group, partnered with Rexcorp, created a new plan downsizing the entire project. The Coliseum design changed considerably, and the 60 story "Lighthouse" was replaced with two 30-story buildings connected by a footbridge.
A compromise was had and the Naysayers came out in masses..
Nassau is the biggest loser here....
J May 12, 2013 at 10:29 pm
Ambitious architecture projects, from Frank Lloyd Wrights Falling Water home perched atop a…Read More waterfall to the World Trade Center, generate conversation and debate.
So its no surprise that Charles Wangs proposal for a 60-story, 600-foot skyscraper in Uniondale, known as the Great Lighthouse, has turned into a lightning rod for controversy.
The plan for a building, which would be two football fields high in the area that houses the Nassau County Coliseum, has generated discussion about the very future of Long Island. It has raised the question of whether the Island should grow upward or forever remain a low-rise suburban setting.
My guess is that theres going to be a lot of opposition to it. Long Island is traditionally a low-rise community, said Frank Lowe, associate partner and director of architecture at Sidney B. Bowne & Son LLP, based in Mineola. I dont think too many people out here want to see it turn into another Manhattan.
Robert Scheiner, a senior vice president of H2M Group, speaks highly of Wangs low-rise construction proposed for Oyster Bay, but bristles at the thought of a 60-story tower.
Frankly, I think its inappropriate for Long Island, Scheiner said. Long Island is a rural community. Theres nothing on Long Island of that size. Its a suburban area. Whats the point of a 60-story tower in a rural area? I just dont see it other than making a sign saying, Here I am. I dont particularly think its a good thing.
Tideline April 23, 2013 at 08:00 am
That is not accurate. Background checks were performed and passed, then the guns were illegally…Read More sold. That is what is know as a straw purchase and is already illegal. Get your facts straight and enforce existing laws. NO Gun store is selling any type of firearm without a Federal background check.
Michael G. April 21, 2013 at 10:22 am
"Went to southern states to purchase guns illegally..." Thank Congress for doing nothing…Read More to end gun violence. No background checks in the Red States!
Tideline April 20, 2013 at 07:52 pm
If Nassau County would not continue with turn style justice and let these Crips do tall time, there…Read More would be less of them around. As for the Political corruption in Nassau County, they need to start change at the top and work down to the Nassau County Assembly. We all know about the corruption and nepotism that has been a part of our lives here for decades. How about term limits.
Carmela Soprano April 14, 2013 at 10:15 am
They've been releasing funds on a regular basis and are totally transparent:…Read More http://www.robinhood.org/rhsandy
Judy Stevens April 11, 2013 at 03:43 pm
The excuses cited for Maragos' reusal to be accountable is unacceptable. Public officials are…Read More required to appear before the legislature when asked to answer questions re: the work for which they are responsible. Mrs. Gonsalves should not have gotten herself involved; she was not asked for the report and should have steered clear. The statement issued by "her office" has all the marks of typical republican party pressure.
hat being said, it is not only disrespectful, but also irresponsible for a county official not to appear personally before the legislature when asked, regardless of the presumed "earliness".
Additionally, I take issue with the "earliness" argument. Maragos should have put in place a system requiring accountability of contractors, before funds were distributed. Contractors who have left Nassau residents feeling that they were taken advantage of, or with promises unfulfilled, are now able to construct funding reports retrospectively. Retrospective accountability leaves much to be desired, and residents of our county, who should have been served by Maragos, continue to suffer.
Circumstances show a lack of administrative acumen and a strategy to make what is inadequate financial protocol, adequate for saving face. Our county's residents who lost homes & treasured possessions deserve more.
I propose that an independent auditor(s) be designated by the legislature, and given the charge to evaluate the "reports" Maragos is gathering.
ArtyMarty April 11, 2013 at 05:42 pm
A Republican protecting the Presiding Officer of the Legislature who is in above her head.
Florence Trunk April 9, 2013 at 08:56 pm
Whatever happened to Freedom of Speech? IF everything's on the up & up, what's there to hide??…Read More Dialog is always helpful. Just who decides who can speak & who can attend meetings? Put aside Dem.-Rep. politics - this is basic Democracy in action.
Felix Procacci April 7, 2013 at 10:52 am
More information about the redistricting hearing :…Read More http://malverne-lynbrook.patch.com/blog_posts/residents-urged-to-attend-town-of-hempstead-redistricting-meeting
John Rennhack April 8, 2013 at 09:38 pm
That's why a larger development around a new world-class venue would have been ideal.
The problem…Read More with always going for the "hi-tech, bio tech and pharam" is that you're looking at specialized advanced degree jobs. Nothing wrong with that but we need well paying blue collar jobs too. Bring back industry. Why aren't we a leader in next-gen products for automobile, home and aerospace? Have the white collar jobs but also many blue collar jobs in production.
And how about taking the empty commercial lots and vacant big box buildings and create jobs through vertical and greenhouse farming? Year-round agriculture and local access to fresh foods.
Again, instead of being a consumer suburb, become a producer suburb once again.
Frank April 8, 2013 at 07:26 pm
"hot dog and peanut vendors" are note my idea of well-paying permanent jobs.
When LI was…Read More the cradle of aviation, you had legions of scientists, engineers, machinists, mechanics, etc... REAL JOBS that pay REAL WELL...
That age is gone...
What Nassau needs is an industrial renaissance... Hi Tech, Bio Tech, Pharma... anything that will spur economic success.
BTW why hasn't Nassau explored the possibility of creating a food terminal in Uniondale? That alone would provide hundreds of jobs and reduce truck traffic!
sadeto April 4, 2013 at 03:06 am
National party platforms don't count for very much in local politics, nor should they. So forget…Read More about defining the GOP as the party of "limited government" and having that mantra apply to the Hub situation. As this morning's bipartisan arrests shaped, local politics is about money and access to the ballot. If the right palms had been greased, the right players involved, it would have happened.
Personally, I don't mind that Wang's plan failed, he has no development experience and he's a crook who relied on the statute of limitations to avoid jail. The fact is that his own firm turned around and tried to sue him after he stepped down.
By the way, the GOP is the party of massive government subsidies to industry. Exactly how do you reconcile that with this idea of limited government?
Steven Wagner April 4, 2013 at 12:41 pm
The only politician I have ever met who actually knocked on my front door and introduced…Read More himself.Good Guy.
Bryan Korman April 17, 2013 at 06:22 pm
Well said, Rob. You hit the nail on the head! I would add that the Conservative Party is just as…Read More bad. They march in lockstep with GOP. There is no longer any noticeable difference between the two.
Marc April 10, 2013 at 01:55 pm
Knives...I just bought new steak knives...VERY good ones. Will you ban them as well?
JOHN HERLING April 9, 2013 at 02:22 pm
What do people use to shoot and kill people? Bows and arrows?
Robert Demarco May 8, 2013 at 08:08 am
Kate Murray only cares about taking care of friends and those connected to the Party. The money will…Read More be wasted on poor workmanship and God knows what else in the Sultanate of Hempstead.
Robert P Martin April 1, 2013 at 06:46 pm
Time for a class action Atlantic Bridge toll suit . The determination to toll only one bridge in…Read More all of Nassau County is discriminatory and unjustified.
Dan March 24, 2013 at 01:48 pm
Adam Haber said what other politicians say; "We need a plan." Obviously, we need a plan.…Read More So let's see his. I do not see a plan on Adam Haber website. All I see is a vision with no details on how to implement them. Even though his appeal is that he is not a part of the establishment, he is definitely acting like a typical politician. In this instance, actions speak louder than words. So I want to see your plan on how you plan on getting Nassau County back on the right track.
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