Public pleas for ‘real development,’ not arena at Belmont

Rebecca Klar
Tammie Williams, Elmont resident and community organizer, said a sports venue won't benefit the local community. Williams protested along with other residents before a public hearing session for Belmont Park development on Sunday. (Photo by Rebecca Klar)

Amid a sea of hockey jerseys and protest signs, the New York Islanders and the New York City Football Club released details at a public hearing on Sunday about their competing plans to develop sports arenas at Belmont Park.

The Islanders, partnered with Sterling Development and Oak View Group, presented a plan at Elmont Memorial High School that includes an 18,000-seat arena, a multipurpose event center, a retail center and a hotel.

NYFC, partnered with The Related Companies, proposed developing a 26,000-seat stadium, a retail entertainment building, a 5.2-acre community park and 2-acre soccer facility.

The proposals are in response to an Empire State Development Corp. request for proposal from July 31.

The team selected by the Empire State Development Corp. would build on 43-acres of state owned land currently used for parking spaces at Belmont Park.

Both plans are opposed by some local residents, about 20 of whom stood in the cold an hour before the meeting chanting,”What do we want, real development. When do we want it, now.”

Tammie Williams, an Elmont resident and community organizer, said a sports venue won’t benefit the community.

“They don’t bring sustainable jobs,” Williams said. “We do not pay our mortgages on selling hot dogs and beer.”

Williams said local students are going into STEM fields. When they return from school, Williams said graduates don’t want to stay in the area because “there’s nothing for them here.”

Opposition to development has gone on for 11 years, over the course of three governors, four state senators and two assemblymen, Williams said.

“And we’re still fighting for what other communities are getting based on our ideas,” Williams said. “Why are we not at the table, what’s wrong with us?”

A venue that provides entertainment for 45 minutes is not real development, Williams said.

For others, the development is a chance to bring the Islanders home.

A New Hyde Park resident said Belmont gives the Islanders space for an arena in Nassau County, “where they belong,” after the county “screwed up” renovations at Nassau Coliseum.

But regardless of which team’s proposal is approved, the resident said development would be good for the local economy.

“I get there’s concerns about people not wanting to have this grand scale thing but what else would they want,” he said.

Both teams’ proposals include plans for more than just a sports venue. The bidders described retail centers that would be put in place as well as open public land that could be used.

Local residents protest development of a sports venue at Belmont Park.
(Photo by Rebecca Klar)

Both bidders described plans for outlet stores to fill the retail centers.

Richard Browne, managing partner for Sterling Development, said in order for either project to be successful it has be serve the community.

“If we build an arena and a retail destination that only serves business owners, which inherently means the wealthy, you’re going to disenfranchise the next generation of shoppers and fans,” Browne said. “If they can’t afford to come here … this project will not be successful in 10 or 20 years.”

The retail centers don’t appeal to Matthew Sexton, a Floral Park resident who participated in Sunday’s protest.

Sexton said essentially the plans are to build arena as well as another mall – neither of which he said will have a positive impact on the local economy.

“We have too many malls, and malls are actually failing,” Sexton said.

Avi Kollenscher, senior vice president at The Related Companies, said he believes that brick and mortar stores are not dead but rather in the process of changing. There are few sites that make sense for this form of retail, and Belmont Park is one of them, Kollenscher said

“If you can create that mousetrap of having a pedestrian friendly environment that provides both great food options, great entertainment options and great shopping experience that doesn’t exist or isn’t replicated elsewhere … we think that’s unique,” Kollenscher said.

Ideally, Sexton said he’d like to see the land used for a facility relating to technology or health care, that would create more high wage jobs.

Both development groups said they would hire locally for well paying jobs, but wouldn’t state specific dollar amounts when questioned by a community member.

A key difference between the two plans is the enclosed hockey arena versus the open soccer stadium.

Browne said the enclosed arena for the Islanders and concerts would help limit the noise disturbance to local residents.

NYFC’s plan, though, emphasizes public open space. There is also land allocated for the possibility of having youth teams practice on.

While community members like Williams and Sexton believe the arenas won’t help the community, state Sen. Elaine Philips said she gives the ESD the benefit of the doubt.

“The community’s voice has been heard,” said Phillips, a co-host of the event. “I know that the ESD received that, and the governor’s office has received that.”

At the first public hearing back in July when community members spoke with the Empire State Development Corp., Phillips said she heard two hours of community members saying they wanted jobs and the development corporation to make a decision.

Additionally, Phillips said it’s important to remember that the request for proposal was written specifically stating that development would enhance racing.

The proposals, both right beside the grandstand would do so, Phillips said. It also takes up a narrow portion of land in the scheme of Belmont and is not next to any schools, Phillips added.

Sexton said the local residents seem to have a better pulse on the local economy than Albany does.

“Let us figure out what we want and work with Albany to get the best person to fit that qualification,” Sexton said.

The Empire State Development Corp. is expected to choose a winning bid in the next few months.

 

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