Vacant in Garden City: Another Bank Coming to Village
Bank of America possible commercial tenant at the corner of Seventh Street and Franklin Avenue.
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Another bank may soon call Garden City home -- that makes 22-plus banks currently doing business in the village.
According to building superintendent Mike Filippon, a Bank of America could be a tenant amongst the street-level retailers of the mixed-use building at the corner of Franklin Avenue and Seventh Street.
"I know everyone's anxious to hear about any developments at the new building at Seventh and Franklin," he said. "The developer just filed an application for a variance to allow a bank to occupy approxmately one-third of that space on the ground floor."
Banks are currently not permitted in that district.
"Historically, the change that was made to that district in 1984 - so we're going on 28 years now - was directed at two specific uses - one was restaurants and the other was banks - because the board of trustees at the time felt those two uses were displacing a lot of the retail and personal service shops that traditionally had been used in that downtown district."
TRustee Brian Daughney questioned how many banks and restaurants currently exist. "I think we probaby have eight or nine banks and eight or nine restaurants in that zone right now," he said.
Commissioner Ernest Cipullo, in surveying all the village's banks in light of the recent Nassau County bank robberies, said the village has an excess of 20 banks in total. "I think it's 22," he said.
Does Garden City have too many banks? Let us know in the comments.
Bill Sweeney
10:23 am on Tuesday, February 7, 2012
NOOOOOOOOOOO. Deny it. No more damn banks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
mary beth tully
10:46 am on Tuesday, February 7, 2012
No basement at that building means not a great location for most retailers. No storage!
Drew Art Guy
1:12 pm on Tuesday, February 7, 2012
Does Garden City have too many banks?
If the question needs to be asked, perhaps the answer is all too obvious?!?!?
Publius
4:16 pm on Tuesday, February 7, 2012
It's not like this is the last vacant space in GC. There's still other space for retailers. Someone built a nice building and has located a prospective rent paying tenant. It's better than leaving it empty.
Drew Art Guy
4:38 pm on Tuesday, February 7, 2012
Publius, you're correct, there are other retail spaces available. And if you're the landlord, for you, a tenant is better than empty. However, if you are a resident, shopper or merchant in the village, you long for a vibrant downtown; a great variety of better shops and services. Put the banks on Franklin Ave. let Seventh street develop a nice "mix" of shops and restaurants.
Drew Art Guy
4:47 pm on Tuesday, February 7, 2012
And then there is parking....
Publius
5:00 pm on Tuesday, February 7, 2012
A venue that is activity based would be perfect because it would draw people downtown and keep them there to shop and eat. There are a lot of kids in the village, but few activity based places (like dance academies, karate schools, baby gyms, arts and crafts places or indoor sports) in the downtown area. A lot of people I know end up ferrying their kids to strip malls in Mineola, Westbury and other adjacent communities for these activities. If you get residents with kids downtown more often, they'll stay for lunch or dinner and browse in the retail stores.
Drew Art Guy
5:36 pm on Tuesday, February 7, 2012
Now you're talkin' Publius. Activity based hits the mark.
Bill Sweeney
9:10 pm on Tuesday, February 7, 2012
Great idea. A kids studio/activity space and toy store would do well, I think. Maybe Funky Monkey would be an option? http://www.facebook.com/pages/Funky-Monkey-Toys-Books/136230536418452
James
7:56 am on Wednesday, February 8, 2012
The parking lot is a joke! Deny Deny Deny
Bill Sweeney
11:13 am on Wednesday, February 8, 2012
The lot is only going to be for residents of the building, I believe.
Drew Art Guy
12:58 pm on Wednesday, February 8, 2012
Would expect the lot to be for the building's residents. Only fair. Know whatever retail business opens- will burden already tight parking situation. Lets hope whatever it eventually will be: it'll be useful and attractive to both residents and visitors alike. Developments on the south side of Seventh-- the new deli (old Hoffman's) is getting very close to opening in a few weeks time, construction should commence this week on Beer Garden with anticipated spring opening. IMHO both welcome additions to the downtown shopping district. Love to see this momentum grow. The addition of more boutique/lifestyle/activity style shops to make Seventh Street a true destination of choice.
Now, lets figure out how to get parking field 7S 's overcrowding situation fixed?