The Great Neck Estates Civic Association voted unanimously on Monday to support the fall AutoFest/street fair sponsored by the Village of Great Neck Plaza Business Improvement District and the Village of Great Neck Plaza by writing an Op-Ed to the local papers.
The vote came after Jay Corn, chairman of the Village of Great Neck Estate Board of Assessors and vice president of the BID, explained the economic situation that faces the nine incorporated villages in the Great Neck area.
Declining market value on commercial space has led to an increase in tax deductions that will ultimately fall on the backs of the residents, Corn said.
“That will result in one of two things, either our taxes will go up or our services will decline. Meaning that our schools will no longer be at the level we are accustom to,” he said.
“Great Neck cannot survive anymore with just Great Neck residents. We need to draw people from outside of Great Neck to come in, see our community and perhaps see something they’ll come back and shop for.” Corn said. “Its exposing people from outside the community to this and it’s extremely important because we cannot survive any longer on Great Neck residents, we don’t have the kind of support anymore.”
Corn said competition has increased and Great Neck is losing revenue to the bigger “warehouse” stores like Home Depot and Costco. Also with the rise of Internet shopping many people are opting to stay home and shop instead of going into the town.
“This is extremely important because he we want to maintain that tax base the commercial district has to stay healthy.” Corn said. “You’re seeing more and more stores going now because they just aren’t making enough.”
In an effort to generate more revenue for those villages various festivals and promotions are held, Corn said. There is a sidewalk sale in the spring, restaurant week and others. But, he said, none of them however are as popular as the Autofest.
According to the Great Neck Police, the event brings in 20,000 to 30,000 people.
“We’re all holding hands in this,” Corn said. “If Middle Neck Road becomes a tumble weed blowing across the street it will affect our homes and it will raise our taxes because the commercial properties won’t be contributing.”
