The Town of North Hempstead board approved the town’s acquisition of the Great Neck Arts Center headquarters on Middle Neck Road and the issuance of $850,000 in bonds to finance the purchase in a 5-2 vote along party lines Tuesday night.
The deal is aimed at shoring up the finances of the arts center, which will change its name to the Gold Coast Arts Center and expand its operations throughout the town.
“Being able to acquire the arts center from the Great Neck community and enable it to continue its mission is the best of all possible worlds,” said Town of North Hempstead Supervisor Jon Kaiman.
Kaiman said the acquisition is “a great benefit to the town and those who run the arts center as well.”
“This is one of the greatest win-win situations I’ve seen,” said Councilman Thomas Dwyer.
The vote was split along party lines, with council members Anna Kaplan, Lee Seeman and Viviana Russel joining with fellow Democrats Kaiman and Dwyer in support of the acquisition, and the two Republicans, Angelo Ferrara and Dina DeGiorgio, opposing it.
“That’s going to be great for our agenda to promote the arts, and it’s going to be great for the town,” said Regina Gil, executive director of the arts center. “We’re very happy they’re helping us to fulfill our mention.”
The town had originally presented a plan for North Hempstead’s Business and Tourism Development Corporation to purchase the arts center building using a $3.5 million bond to cover the mortgage and debt payments. The corporation would have used its own funds, without drawing on the town budget.
But the town discovered that using the corporation would have made the arts center building, which is tax exempt, subject to between $50,000 and $100,000 in property annually – a substantial added cost that Kaiman said justified the town purchasing the property for $850,000 with a 20-year bond. The town will also provide in-kind services including custodial maintenance and capital improvements.
The town board authorized the purchase at a Dec. 11 board meeting. Gil said the arts center board of directors is expected give its approval to the deal later this month.
“The wheels of progress sometimes move slowly,” Gil said.
In other developments:
• The town board voted to approve the issuance of $3.5 million in bonds by the Roslyn Highlands Hook & Ladder, Engine & Hose Co. for construction of a firehouse at 111 Harbor Hills Road in East Hills.
The board also approved fire protection contracts with the Port Washington Fire Department, Albertson Hook and Ladder, Engine and Hose Co. 1; Carle Place Hook and Ladder and Hose Co. 1; Floral Park Centre Fire Co. 1; Glenwood Hook and Ladder Engine and Hose Co. No. 1 in Great Neck; and Roslyn Rescue Hook and Ladder Co. No. 1 and Roslyn Highlands Hook & Ladder, Engine & Hose Co.
• The board voted to authorize the town clerk to advertise for receipt of bids for installation of sports lighting at Michael J. Tully Park in New Hyde Park and Manhasset Valley Park in Manhasset.
• The board authorized an agreement with Cameron Engineering for installation of a new greenhouse at Clark Botanic Gardens in Albertson.
