Attorney Paul Bloom on Wednesday said a developer’s plan to convert an office building into a mixed-use building at 3 Grace Avenue in the Village of Great Neck Plaza would help revitalize the peninsula’s downtown area.
“I’m trying to, in fact, enhance an existing building,” said Bloom, a former chair of the Village of Great Neck Planning Board. “This is going to be the biggest revitalization in your downtown area.”
But the proposal by Namdar Realty was met with skepticism by Great Neck Plaza’s Board of Trustees, who expressed concerns about a lack of on-site parking and the building’s proximity to another mixed-use building.
“We’re trying to fit a square peg in a round hole,” Village of Great Neck Plaza Mayor Jean Celender said of the proposal.
The proposal is based on a village law passed in June 2011 that permits residential units to occupy the top floors of a building with commercial or retail units on the ground floor subject to board approval.
Architect John Schimenti said last month Namdar Realty is seeking to raise the height of the building from 24-feet to 39-feet to accommodate the two additional floors.
Bloom said Namdar Realty is proposing to have commercial space on the first floor and in the basement. Namdar Realty had originally proposed to have residential units on the first floor, but changed their plans at the suggestion of the board, Bloom said.
The basement and part of the first floor would be occupied by internet startup Launchpad, he said. The second, third and fourth floors would be all residential with eight one-bedroom or studio units on each floor under the plan.
Bloom, responding to questions from the board, said that the proposed building would not come with additional parking spaces for residents.
“It’s an existing building. There’s nothing I can do,” he said.
Trustees said the lack of on-site parking took away from the positive impact the proposed building may have on the village.
“I think it really could be counterproductive,” Deputy Mayor Ted Rosen said.
Trustee Pamela Marksheid said she does not believe that anybody would want to rent an apartment in the building if they were not guaranteed parking.
Celender proposed Namdar Realty give a donation to the village in lieu of parking spaces.
“Maybe we could build some parking spaces somewhere else,” Celender said.
Bloom said he was open to the suggestion.
He also said he believed the reward of having new residents in the village outweighed the lack of parking.
“We’re taking a non-functioning building and turning it into something that is vibrant for your community,” Bloom said.
Trustee Gerry Schneiderman said the construction of the proposed building would conflict with the construction of 5-9 Grace Avenue, a mixed-use building adjacent to Namdar’s proposed site.
“I think putting two of these buildings there is like playing Russian roulette,” Schneiderman said.
Bloom said that Namdar has a signed agreement with Hooshang Nematzadeh, the developer of 5-9 Grace Avenue, that would allow them to use the other building as a staging area.
“That is why I’ve been trying to push this application,” Bloom said.
Trustees said they have not seen a signed agreement from Namdar with Nematzadeh to use the 5-9 Grace Ave. site as a staging area. Nematzadeh confirmed the agreement with the Great Neck News last month.
Trustees also proposed adding only one floor to the top of the building instead of two.
Bloom said that adding only one floor to the building would make the project less profitable.
Near the end of the hour-long hearing, Bloom said he wanted to know if Namdar Realty should continue with the proposal or pull the application.
“Let us know if we’re wasting our time,” he asked.
Celender suggested Bloom discuss the board’s concerns and recommendations with Namdar Realty.
A future meeting date on the proposal has not been set.
