.
Feedback

Town Confirms Coliseum Property Development Inquiries

A weekly look-in at news from around the Town of Hempstead.

Hempstead Town has met with potential developers for the Nassau Coliseum property, Town Spokesman Mike Deery told Patch on Thursday.

"We've made ourself available to developers and we have met with developers," he said.

While Deery couldn't get into specifics about who the developers were, he did confirm that they were "serious" developers.

Newsday's Robert Brodsky questioned Town Supervisor Kate Murray on Wednesday as to whether or not an arena would be part of any developments currently being proposed.

According to a tweet from Newsday's Patrick Whittle [paid link]:

Brodsky, needling again, asked if developers assume arena will be part of property. "I don't think they verbalized that," [Murray] said.

While the town is fielding questions about the property, it is not responsible for negotiating any type of deal with a developer. The negotiations would fall on Nassau County.

Deery said that much of the discussion between the town and the developers has been in context to the town's development zone on the Coliseum property. Specifically, Deery said the town has been fielding questions regarding height, density, roadway analysis and other "technical aspects of the zone."

The current development zone allows for 5.4 million square feet of construction, including all building and parking structures.

Among the types of development permitted in the newly created zone are convention halls, hotels, retail, restaurants, offices, residential units, entertainment uses and a new or refurbished Coliseum.

Horan Appointed to $98K Position with Hempstead Town

Pat Horan, the former director of the Town of Hempstead Animal shelter, has been appointed to a new position within the town.

According to the town, Horan's new title is engineering helper and her salary will be $97,959.

Click the headline to read more on the story.

Town Announces Free Basketball Clinics

Players and coaches from Hofstra's men's and women's basketball teams will work with youngsters this summer to improve their shooting, dribbling and passing skills. The free summer clinics are as follows:

  • Tuesday, July 24: Averill Boulevard Park, Elmont at 6 p.m.
  • Wednesday, July 25: Baldwin Park, Baldwin at 6 p.m.
  • Thursday, July 26: East Village Green, Levittown at 6 p.m.      

Clinics are free but pre-registration is required by calling (516) 292-9000, ext. 245 or e-mailing vsparaccio@tohmail.org. Clinics will be an hour in length and each session is open to both boys and girls. Players will be grouped according to their skill level.

Participants will have the opportunity to win Hofstra tee-shirts and gift certificates. Youngsters may bring their own basketballs if they choose.

National Collegiate Athletic Association regulations prohibit high school students from participating in the clinics.

All clinic information and program updates will be available on the town web site at TOH.LI.

mpin June 12, 2012 at 10:41 am
You can all sit here and argue about the Coliseum getting big acts and staying open if they lose the Islanders but the truth is neither the town nor county want the Coliseum to stay. They'll make more money by dividing the land between different interests. All your points are moot. The Coliseum has no support except from the little people, whose voices don't count.
Mac June 12, 2012 at 11:59 am
mpin you are so off base here. The county has already stated on many different occasions they are not parcelling out the land OR selling any of it. They want to remain in control of the land and whatever is built there and that is part of the problem. Then getting the TOH and the County to agree is a whole different story. The colisuem shouldve already been torn down and replaced by the privately funded Lighthouse project. Politics stopped that and has stopped most progress in Nassau County. You cant even build a White Castle or Sonic in Nassau County forget agreeing on what to do with 77 acres.
Lloyd June 12, 2012 at 12:16 pm
Mac..You are SO wrong.
I am not anti-Islander. I root FOR them. It's Charles Wang who I root against. I hate him, NOT the team/players/Coliseum. My support for the islanders goes back to the days of Eddie Westfall, J.P. Parise, and Jude Drouin. Congratulations to the LA Kings. Great job by a really strong and well balanced team. Their defense and goaltending was no match for the Devils who played their hearts out but don't have the scoring punch the Kings do and Brodeur might just be at the end of the line. I'M NOT WORRIED ABOUT THE DEVILS DECLINING. Lamoriello always seems to find those one or two well rounded players to bring in to compliment their system and keep the team an annual contender...WITHOUT breaking the bank. Are you listening, Charles Wang?? And stop spreading rumors about the Devils bankruptcy. They have very wealthy, hands-off, owners. And if they have to sell, they should have no problem attracting deep pocketed investors for a perennial NHL contender with a NEW building and a young, exciting, contending team/ l
Mac June 12, 2012 at 12:25 pm
Sure LLoyd Lou is great but dont you remember last year when they didnt have enough money to dress the allotted players after signing Kovi. ANd I guess all these people and sources are wrong:
http://prohockeytalk.nbcsports.com/2011/09/13/devils-have-until-june-before-they-can-be-forced-into-bankruptcy/ http://msn.foxsports.com/nhl/story/new-jersey-devils-could-be-in-bankruptcy-danger-091211 http://www.forbes.com/sites/mikeozanian/2011/11/04/new-jersey-devils-appear-headed-for-bankruptcy/ http://www.cbssports.com/nhl/blog/eye-on-hockey/19303534/report-devils-owner-has-deal-with-investor-to-get-franchise-out-of-debt I guess every one of these reports are wrong. The coliseum falling apart and being the oldest arena in the NHL has nothing to do with Wang. I am still waiting for the Arena with no primary tenant. So far BOTH your examples have TWO tenants.
Lloyd June 12, 2012 at 12:30 pm
And Mac, i thought you said that a NEW ARENA for the Islanders would solve all their problems.
They would get more luxury boxes, better seat padding, swimming pools and massage parlors for their locker rooms, luxury bars serving $15 watered down drinks, a Ruth Chris Steakhouse serving $95 sirloins, and fully automated public bathrooms complete with attendants who wipe you and zip you up. The Prudential Center has ALL that and yet the team is still going bankrupt?? Their goes your argument that a new arena solves EVERYTHING. And I do admit the Nassau Coliseum is aging, out-dated and in need of repair. Burt I can name 20 other major arenas and stadiums in this country that are much older and still successfully operating without all the amenities that you think a facility needs. So let's give the Coliseum a roofing job, some new padded seats, and fresh coat of paint...just like they are doing at MSG and other older venues. We have plenty of construction guys out their who need the work. Save the millions for NEW players and management for the Isles. Eat dinner at home and go out for drinks AFTER the game in East Meadow or Garden City.. The Coliseum doesn't need more bars and food courts..just a better team and better rock groups. And Mpin.. I disagree with you too. Yes. There is the borrowing issue and the costs issue, but the "little people" spoke with their votes against those 3 Stooges and the hated union leaders.
Lloyd June 12, 2012 at 12:30 pm
And despite what Mac, my adversary says, it was a public indictment against Charles Wang for all his incompetence with his team, his skyscraper projects, and his history of financial shenanigans. The savvy voters of Nassau County don't forgive and forget so quickly.
Mac June 12, 2012 at 12:36 pm
LLoyd can you please point out where I said any of that? Can you please name the 20 arenas that house pro sports teams? Speciffically basketball or hockey. You do a lot of yapping and give many examples but they very rarely prove your point. Yes if the county wants to spend 800 million or moere like MSG do it. Is that what you are advocating? Spending 800 million over four years or more to update the colisuem when a new building would cost much less? You claim to be a devil fan but actually know very little about what is going on there. Just this year the Devils were given full control of all events at the Rock and hopefully will turn the corner. When they left their prvious arena they were saddled with debt. The debt is carryover debt not new debt. Attendance is up at the rock compared to the CAA. The arena is not the problem it is the bickering between partners and the refusal of one to put more money into the team. A new building for any team is not a money maker in itself for the team. Please as I have asked you so many times in the past CHECK YOUR FACTS.
Kiddd June 12, 2012 at 12:37 pm
please name the 20 arenas that are "much" older than the coliseum. And the vote was an indictment against higher taxes. i would think its safe to say more than half the people who voted don't even know who Charles wang is. They didn't want higher taxes-and voted it down. What they didn't realize is that if the NVMC shuts it doors for good-our taxes wil go up even more.
Lloyd June 12, 2012 at 12:41 pm
Right off the top of my head, I'll name a few stadiums which are way older than the NVMC..
Fenway Park Wrigley Field Lambeau Field Dodger Stadium Soldier Field All of the above have been regularly updated, and well maintained. And none are in danger of closing or losing money.
Lloyd June 12, 2012 at 12:54 pm
Speaking of scolding me about "checking your facts", Mac.
How about checking YOURS?? And I quote.... ."The coliseum falling apart and being the oldest arena in the NHL has nothing to do with Wang". Madison Square Garden opened in Feb. 1968. As a big Islander fan, please tell us when the first game was ever played at the Nassau Coliseum. Talk about being uninformed!!!
Mac June 12, 2012 at 12:55 pm
Really Lloyd these are your comparisons? You choose 5 iconic stadiums not arenas there is a difference. Also in 1993 Lambeu spent about 300 million to update the stadium. Wrigley over the last decade has put over 100 million in updates, I already detailed fenway for you, Soldier field was remodeled in 2003 for ovwer 300 million also.
LLOYD PLEASE CHECK YOUR FACTS! We are talking about stadiums. The residents of nassau County would not be happy if we were footing the bill for a 300 million dollar remodel of the NVMC. Your posts just prove you have no idea what you are talking about.
Kiddd June 12, 2012 at 12:56 pm
your talking about iconic sorts teams. Not a fair comparison. Yes MSG opened in 1968, but has been renovated since then, and is in the middle of another 800mil renovation now.
Mac June 12, 2012 at 01:00 pm
Lloyd you really are pathetic. MSG is under ANOTHER reconstruction right now at a cost of 800 million dollars. This after spending 200 million in updates in the 80s I believe. Now you are comparing the Garden to the Coliseum. Please POINT OUT where I said I was a big Islander fan? Can you copy and paste it for us all to see? I have continually said thsi is NOT about the Isalnders.
Lloyd June 12, 2012 at 01:04 pm
Thanks guys for proving my points.
I couldn't have said it better. Maybe those people know something WE don't. They keep their building well maintained and frequently update them instead of tearing them down as you suggest. So maybe the same can be done here in Nassau at a much small facility and at a much lower price than those huge stadiums have cost. Renovate it, and if Wang doesn't approve, let him move and we'll survive without an NHL or NBA franchise, just as Hartford has done, Albany, and in many other major cities.
Kiddd June 12, 2012 at 01:06 pm
NVMC is full of asbestos. Thats the problem they are having now. I don't think a renovation is the answer. Might actually cost just as much as building a new building. And this is NOT about the islanders.
Mac June 12, 2012 at 01:17 pm
Lloyd you are really lost.
Lloyd June 12, 2012 at 01:18 pm
Thanks for the Devils bankruptcy articles.
But some are outdated, because the most recent one a few days ago states that the owner, Jeff Vanderbeek, has found a new investor to get the team out of debt. So your claims of doom and gloom for them are a bit premature and unfounded. The Devils will not fold or even move (to Brooklyn or Uniondale) anytime soon. I know you would love if they got out of the division and conference. Even bankruptcy by the owner means little except to help pay off the creditors. How have the Texas Rangers done after bankruptcy? Even if they can't find the money to sign Zack, Lou will use his skills to secure talented replacements as he always does. He's NOT Charles Wang.
Kiddd June 12, 2012 at 01:25 pm
your right- Lamorillo is not Wang. Lamorillo is the GM, Wang is the owner. Its the GMs job to find and secure the talent. Not the owners.
Lloyd June 12, 2012 at 01:43 pm
If Lamoriello worked for the Islanders, it would be a successful franchise with voters approving a new building. But Lou would never work for Wang. Neither would Neil Smith.
Mac June 12, 2012 at 01:50 pm
Lloyd if Lou worked for ANY organization in any sport they would be winners. BUT once again the Colisuem issue isnt about the Islanders. Also do you knwo why the Devils left teh CAA? Well the answer simply is they wouldnt update the building when the lease ran out. AND I believe at that time the Devils were already 3 time cup champs. Dont get me wrong winning helps but people and their money are fickle.
Best statement you ever made abotu Lou the guy is a genius. I sent my son up to Providence camp with Lou many years ago and he was a class guy then and still is.
Lloyd June 12, 2012 at 02:42 pm
Mac. I do agree with you on many points especially about Lou L.
The only NHL GM I ever met or spoke with was Emile Francis. I played hockey with his son, Rick,and Emile often came down and spoke at NY Rangers Fan Club meetings, which I was an avid member of back in the old days. Emile was a very bright and innovative GM. Lou looks even more brilliant when compared to other local GM's like Mike Milbury, Isaiah Thomas, and Omar Minaya. Can we throw Glen Sather in that bunch too? And their incompetence and long standing employment is a direct reflection on the greedy and ignorant owners.
SeanyA June 12, 2012 at 02:50 pm
Lloyd, please stop trying to impress with your hockey knowledge and obscure name dropping. A new arena is needed not just for the Islanders but for Nassau County. How can you argue that the privately funded Lighthouse project wasn't a homerun for the county? TOH and Kate Murray crushed that plain and simple. But they got on board for the 400 million bond referendum but the democratic machine killed that. I understand that you don’t like Wang but the man has been trying to get something done at a great personal cost. Your comparisons to Fenway and Wrigley are laughable. Any arena in Nassau County has to compete with MSG (800 million overhaul and location, location, location) and the Rock (a great stadium in a horrible neighborhood but mass transit available.)
Frank June 12, 2012 at 03:33 pm
Knock the whole thing down and build an Apple factory to feed ipads and iphones to the hungry Metro NY market.
We need real jobs with good paying wages for Nassau County. We all can't be like Pat Horan making $98k for being a "helper" on the ToH payroll (aka Your Taxes).
Frank T June 12, 2012 at 03:37 pm
Apple only builds factories in China but I like the idea of building up an industrial base instead of malls.
Lloyd June 12, 2012 at 03:43 pm
I'd like to see more affordable housing built.
Too many shopping malls around and too many empty storefronts due to overbuilding and high taxes and utility rates. What morons pushed for a minor league baseball stadium at Mitchel Field? Another waste of land use.
mpin June 12, 2012 at 04:18 pm
They were talking about building a tech hub, like a mini Silicon Valley. That would bring jobs to the area and make it more attractive for other businesses to move in.
Let's face it. The Coliseum is done. The Islanders are gone. Let's hope the town/county have the smarts to do something worthwhile with the property and keep this area from sinking any further.
Frank June 12, 2012 at 05:34 pm
@ mpin. Agreed. An industrial base would go a long way to right Nassau's Ills.
People forget Long Island was the "cradle of aviation" for a long time... until we pushed those businesses out with a lethal mix of high taxation, expensive utilites, and poor public governance.
Mac June 12, 2012 at 06:10 pm
"Let's hope the town/county have the smarts to do something....." Thats funny!
Frank June 12, 2012 at 06:20 pm
@ mpin. Agreed. An industrial base would go a long way to right Nassau's Ills.
We used to be the "cradle of aviation", before high taxation, expensive services and utilities, and poor public governance forced those companies away. We need to get back to basics.
Frank June 12, 2012 at 06:24 pm
@ Mac. one thing that I find funny is that our reps all say we need a stadium, but mention big business and they say "You can't get big business in Uniondale"?
I would like PATCH to poll that sentiment: Do we want an Arena or Big Business to invest in Uniondale?

Newsletter & Alerts

Get the best stories each day and important breaking news

Subscribe

Not from Garden City Patch? Find your Local Patch »

Note Article
Just a short thought to get the word out quickly about anything in your neighborhood.
Share something with your neighbors. Write a new post... What's up? Make an announcement, speak your mind, or sell something
Dee M Dee June 9, 2013 at 11:57 pm
LIKE US ON FACEBOOK: HURRICANE GRILL & WINGS GARDEN CITY FOR A CHANCE TO BE A PART OF OUR VIPRead More EVENT NEXT WEEK!
pat conway June 12, 2013 at 02:10 pm
just reading Jane Goodall with my son for school and came across this quote of an amazing womanRead More "every individual matters, every individual has a role to play, every individual makes a difference." that is what makes our nation, our village so great everyone has an opinion whether we agree with it or not. It just saddens me to think some may not voice their opinion in the future because of the rather harsh comments which I'm sure were just meant to get a point across rather than be hurtful. Garden City residents are not afraid to get involved, to stand up for what they believe in and I am proud to live here.
GcSupporter#2 June 12, 2013 at 04:15 pm
"If there is no discipline, there is anarchy. Good citizenship demands attention toRead More responsibilities as well as rights." - Principal Joe Clark
pat conway June 12, 2013 at 05:00 pm
Thank you GcSupporter#2 I love quotes! tells so much about the person and their beliefs and life...IRead More had to look up Principal Joe Clark after that....definitely a man I'd like to learn more about. I always try to use quotes with my children and their school work - I think the spoken and written word of others is so important!
Carisa Giardino (Editor) June 6, 2013 at 12:15 pm
Thanks Julie for letting everyone know about this important event right here in Garden City!
Carisa Giardino (Editor) June 5, 2013 at 03:16 pm
Thanks for posting Anna. You should post this to our map!Read More http://gardencity.patch.com/groups/week-ahead/p/holding-a-yard-sale-in-garden-city-add-it-to-our-map