Members of the Council of Greater Manhasset Civic Associations described a lull in communications from developer Brookfield Properties over a proposed $400 million development at a meeting last Thursday.
Town of North Hempstead Councilwoman Veronica Lurvey said at the meeting that nothing had been heard from Brookfield since it presented plans for the development at the Macy’s property to the town’s Buildings Department, commissioner of planning and town attorney six weeks ago.
“We told them that they have to go out in the community, and that the community is saying that a project of this sort, which is very big and is a mini-city, that we’d have to think very hard whether or not that is a suitable place for a mini-city,” Lurvey said. “We’ve been saying, you have to look at traffic, density in the schools. It’s going to be nearly impossible to rezone the way they’re looking at it now.”
Barbara Donno, mayor of Plandome Manor, said that she attempted to set up a presentation “about a month ago” for local mayors when each was contacted for an individual presentation.
“[Brookfield] reached out to all the mayors and wanted to speak with us individually, and so I spoke to the mayors and thought we should speak with them as a group,” Donno said. “They said to me, we’ll get back to you and set up a meeting, and nothing.”
Brookfield presented plans for its proposed “Manhasset Square” development to the council in May. The mixed use development, which would include 355 luxury rental apartments, 2,271 parking spaces, 72,000 square feet of office space and 73,400 square feet of retail space on the Macy’s property, was met with concerns from members. Richard Bentley, president of the group, reiterated the concerns and the group’s intention that the project would not reach the Town of North Hempstead.
“While we’re hoping that it’s DOA by the time it gets to the town, we know that the PR firm that they hired is out there pumping at every door that they can possibly knock on,” Bentley said.
A spokesman for Brookfield was not available for comment.
The council will meet again on Oct. 16 at 7:30 p.m. in North Hempstead Town Hall on Plandome Road in Manhasset, where it will hear from town council candidates.
