Pitch for apartments in Lindenhurst at old Waldbaum's scaled back
Developer Robert Curcio speaking last week about the original proposal for the site of a closed Waldbaum's in Lindenhurst. Credit: John Roca
A developer seeking to convert a former Waldbaum's into an apartment complex in Lindenhurst Village has scaled back the plan following residents' objections to the proposal.
Robert Curcio, who is partnering with Levites Realty Management LLC to develop the apartments, unveiled the new pitch during a community forum last week. The Waldbaum's on the property, which spans 4.6 acres on East Hoffman Avenue, closed nearly a decade ago.
The first proposal called for a five-story building with 172 rental apartments and a 5,000-square-foot supermarket. But during a community meeting in August, Curcio heard from residents who shouted their disapproval.
Last week, Curcio unveiled plans for a three-story building with 88 rental units and 52 condominiums. There would be a larger supermarket, at 8,000 square feet, he said.
"I didn’t come back with a marginal plan; I came back with what [residents] really wanted," Curcio said. He said the new proposal will be smaller, have more parking, and feature condos for sale. The first plan did not have any apartments for sale, just rentals.
More than 100 residents attended the community meeting and pressed Curcio for answers on a range of topics. Discussions turned heated at times, with residents questioning the need for more rentals in the village. They cited vacancies at The Wel, a Fairfield apartment complex also on East Hoffman Avenue. The Wel has 260 apartments for rent.
"There’s really no need for more apartments; we’re saturated already," said William Crosby, 73. "The place would be better off as a parking lot."
Curcio has yet to submit any proposals. He said he would need the village to approve rezoning the property from commercial to residential.
Because the property is zoned for commercial, if his plan doesn’t go forward, another developer could come in with a plan that doesn't require zoning approvals, Curcio warned.
"They could put a factory there, they could put certain things there without approval by us," Lindenhurst Mayor Mike Lavorata told Newsday. He said village officials will not opine on the project until the developer submits a formal application. But he said Curcio's new plan is "at least trending in the right direction."
Lavorata said he favors owner-occupied units and does "not want to create another Wel." But he said that complex has helped spur business in the village.
"Let’s be realistic, a lot of the success of the downtown has been because of The Wel," Lavorata said. "We can argue all day about the size of it, but at least it has been a linchpin and a lot of young folks live there."
For years, residents have been pushing for another supermarket to open in the closed Waldbaum's. But Lavorata said the structure is "kind of an oddball" due to its 60,000-square-foot size. Supermarket chains no longer want to occupy buildings that large, he said.
Residents who attended the meeting said they worried about having to pay higher taxes if the development is approved for tax breaks. Curcio told Newsday he plans to ask for a 30-year tax abatement deal from the Babylon Town Industrial Development Agency. Curcio said he plans to file his proposal with the village by year's end.
Jerry Reilly, 79, said he thinks the apartment proposal is "better than leaving it vacant for another 10 years."
"People are talking about taxes going up, but it would also bring taxes into the community, too," he said.
A developer seeking to convert a former Waldbaum's into an apartment complex in Lindenhurst Village has scaled back the plan following residents' objections to the proposal.
Robert Curcio, who is partnering with Levites Realty Management LLC to develop the apartments, unveiled the new pitch during a community forum last week. The Waldbaum's on the property, which spans 4.6 acres on East Hoffman Avenue, closed nearly a decade ago.
The first proposal called for a five-story building with 172 rental apartments and a 5,000-square-foot supermarket. But during a community meeting in August, Curcio heard from residents who shouted their disapproval.
Last week, Curcio unveiled plans for a three-story building with 88 rental units and 52 condominiums. There would be a larger supermarket, at 8,000 square feet, he said.
"I didn’t come back with a marginal plan; I came back with what [residents] really wanted," Curcio said. He said the new proposal will be smaller, have more parking, and feature condos for sale. The first plan did not have any apartments for sale, just rentals.
More than 100 residents attended the community meeting and pressed Curcio for answers on a range of topics. Discussions turned heated at times, with residents questioning the need for more rentals in the village. They cited vacancies at The Wel, a Fairfield apartment complex also on East Hoffman Avenue. The Wel has 260 apartments for rent.
"There’s really no need for more apartments; we’re saturated already," said William Crosby, 73. "The place would be better off as a parking lot."
Curcio has yet to submit any proposals. He said he would need the village to approve rezoning the property from commercial to residential.
Because the property is zoned for commercial, if his plan doesn’t go forward, another developer could come in with a plan that doesn't require zoning approvals, Curcio warned.
"They could put a factory there, they could put certain things there without approval by us," Lindenhurst Mayor Mike Lavorata told Newsday. He said village officials will not opine on the project until the developer submits a formal application. But he said Curcio's new plan is "at least trending in the right direction."
Lavorata said he favors owner-occupied units and does "not want to create another Wel." But he said that complex has helped spur business in the village.
"Let’s be realistic, a lot of the success of the downtown has been because of The Wel," Lavorata said. "We can argue all day about the size of it, but at least it has been a linchpin and a lot of young folks live there."
For years, residents have been pushing for another supermarket to open in the closed Waldbaum's. But Lavorata said the structure is "kind of an oddball" due to its 60,000-square-foot size. Supermarket chains no longer want to occupy buildings that large, he said.
Residents who attended the meeting said they worried about having to pay higher taxes if the development is approved for tax breaks. Curcio told Newsday he plans to ask for a 30-year tax abatement deal from the Babylon Town Industrial Development Agency. Curcio said he plans to file his proposal with the village by year's end.
Jerry Reilly, 79, said he thinks the apartment proposal is "better than leaving it vacant for another 10 years."
"People are talking about taxes going up, but it would also bring taxes into the community, too," he said.
Denise Bonilla has worked at Newsday since 2003 and covers the Town of Babylon, including the villages of Lindenhurst and Amityville.
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