Movement at 555 Stewart Avenue

It's been a long time coming but there's finally movement at 555 Stewart Avenue, Garden City's most eastern gateway.

According to trustee Nick Episcopia, construction documents are being drafted to make way for 25 townhouses on the long time vacant lot now strewn with weeds (and piles of snow).

"They want to make some improvements,” he said.

Building Superintendent Mike Filippon added, "Architects are revising drawings, making upgrades." When ready, drawings will likely be re-submitted to the village's Architectural Design Review Board (ADRB) and may have to go before the village board again for final site plan approval.

A clubhouse and pool, along with the 25 townhouses, will complete the residential complex.

"The quicker they get it built, the better," Mayor Robert Rothschild said.

According to the Eastern Property Owners' Association (EPOA) website, members support the land use proposal, further noting that residents of Raymond Court, the street adjacent to the property, are "highly in favor of the residential development for that site."

In September 2008, Garden City granted final site plan approval. The project, however, came to an abrupt halt when the economy took a dive.

Kevin Walsh, who represents the owners of 555 Stewart Avenue, requested the board grant a one-year extension on that final site plan approval, which expired Sept. 11, 2009. After further discussion, trustees granted the one-year extension.

The owners may have to come before the board once again to request another extension, Filippon said.