The developer of a proposed 244-unit condominium project in the Village of North Hills has requested additional time to present a redesigned site plan to the village board.
Frank Haftel, project manager for developer RXR Realty, said the company wanted to further review alterations it is making to its original plan before making a presentation in the next few months.
“The application that we had previously submitted is not being heard. It’s been retracted,” Haftel said.
The Residences at North Hills proposal calls for the construction of 224 condominium units on 17 acres of property between Powerhouse Road and New Hyde Park Road. If the project is constructed, children living in the residential development would attend the Great Neck School District.
The North Hills Village Board had tentatively scheduled a public hearing on changes in the project’s site plan for Feb. 20.
Haftel said early this week the primary change being considered by the developers was an increase in the number of units in each building of the residential complex – from 30 per building to 32.
“Nothing is changing in terms of the number of units. The number of units would remain at 244,” he said.
The change in the number of living units in each four-floor building is intended to enable the developer to put eight units on each floor, he said.
“The reason we’re requesting the increase from 30 to 32 is they’re uneven buildings. It allows us a little design flexibility,” Haftel said.
Haftel said plans to offer the living units as condominiums may also change. He said consideration is now being given to renting the units initially and offering them for sale “down the road.”
The delay is the latest in a project that has been in a start-and-stop mode since an affiliate of RXR acquired the property in 2007 from Midtown Equities.
Haftel said in 2008 RXR “took a step back” from project to decide what to do in the face of a dismal real estate market.
“We kind of left the project on hold for several years,” Haftel said.
He said the company is now in the process of seeking financing for the project.
RXR recently sought a preliminary indication from the North Hills board that the changes it would be presenting would be acceptable, but the board balked.
“What we asked them is before going through extensive redesign that they give us an indication that this is something they would entertain. We just wanted to get an indication of what they would accept,” Haftel said.
At last month’s board meeting, Village of North Hills Mayor Marvin Natiss said that wasn’t going to happen.
“I wasn’t going to get into a situation where they a had an answer in advance of the plans,” Natiss said earlier this week.
But he added, “It’s going to be gorgeous job when it’s done.”
Haftel said amenities on the 17 acres will include a clubhouse, outdoor walking trails and fountains.
