The Cedarhurst Village board unanimously approved the Pearsall Project, on Pearsall Avenue and Rockaway Turnpike. A public meeting took place this past Monday at the village, resulting in a 5-0 vote in favor of the project.
The village held two public hearings over the last 12 months for residents to express their concerns. Village board members acknowledged the opposition by residents and ultimately decided their approval of the project was the best thing for the community.
The village has established an overlay district (overlay zone) in order to change baseline zoning requirements. Cedarhurst Village anticipates a $4 Million trust fund in exchange for the zoning incentives.
Cedarhurst Mayor Ben Weinstock noted that the Village stood to make an additional $131,000 in new taxes from the project.
Maximum units now approved are 98 (instead of the 112 the developer initially intended on building). The board also had the developer scale back from 5 stories to 4 and then finally to 3 stories.
SEE DETAILS BELOW OF MOST FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS REGARDING PEARSALL PROJECT
WHERE IS THE PROPERTY LOCATED?
At the intersection of Rockaway Turnpike & Pearsall Ave just west of the LIRR Cedarhurst Station.
It is just 2 blocks from the heart of the Village retail area, The Andrew J Parisee Park, and a wide array of schools.
WHAT IS ITS SIZE?
The property measures over 2 acres. It runs approximately 160 feet along Rockaway Turnpike , and approximately 650 feet along Pearsall Ave.
WHAT IS CURRENTLY ON THE PROPERTY?
A number of vacant and derelict warehouse/retail/residential buildings and vacant lots.
WHAT ARE YOU INTENDING TO BUILD?
Three individual buildings with a total of approximately 98 residential co-op and rental units. The buildings will be designed using high end eco friendly materials, well-appointed living spaces with the residents in mind, and highly amenitized.
Amenities will include many outdoor spaces with gardens, barbecue areas, a water feature, outdoor recreation areas for children and adults, walking paths, and a Shul. The building will be outfitted with a gym, pool/spa area and workspace.
It will be a full-service, secure building with on grade and below grade parking on site.
HOW WILL THIS BUILDING BENEFIT THE VILLAGE?
By introducing both a rental and co-op component to the rapidly growing Cedarhurst Village that will increase the tax base, road widening of Pearsall Ave, eliminating old/derelict buildings, adding employment, (both permanent and construction jobs) stimulating economic activity, adding to the quality of life and current limited availability of housing in the Village.
WHY DO YOU THINK THERE IS A NEED FOR THIS TYPE OF PROJECT?
Many key constituents, including newly married couples, and empty-nesters, are fleeing the area in large measure due to the limited supply of quality housing. We will be designing 2–3-bedroom co-ops ranging between 1300-1500 sq feet of living space. 2-3-bedroom rental units catering to young married couples starting a family and not financially ready to purchase a home, as well as those downsizing from the nearby community.
These groups, and many others, would benefit from additional options that include walking distance the to LIRR and everything the Village has to offer, especially housing that has a thoughtful quality and speaks to the needs of today’s lifestyles for both younger and older families and couples.
This is a very very sad day for all the residents of the five towns! Our once beautiful and green neighborhood will now be filled with trucks. Traffic, sewer problems , accidents , buses and extra cars. The village of Cedarhurst was not looking out for our community. They sold us out for 4 million dollars!! Shame on them
Many other people will be fleeing the area because of overdevelopment. I’ve been here 21 years and maybe it’s time to get out.
It’s very hard to understand how our elected officials who are supposed to represent us, help us and protect us could sell us down the river. They are causing us significant harm with this development. They even used a traffic study that was conducted on Shabbos when the roads are empty to show that we can handle the extra traffic. Is Cedarhurst so poorly managed that they need $4 million from the developer?
Why couldn’t they develop private homes like the Village of Lawrence is doing with its former sewer plant. The Village of Lawrence listened to its residents who expressed concerns about putting up an apartment building even though it would have generated more income to their village.