Hempstead plan worries business owners

Local business owners have added their voices to those concerned about Hempstead Village's $2 billion plan to revitalize its downtown.

At the Hempstead Chamber of Commerce meeting on Wednesday night, property and business owners said they worried about potential displacement of small businesses, temporary closures of stores, safety issues and empty storefronts.

"We want a good and reasonable agreement," deli owner Juan Escudero, 65, said to 150 people at the meeting, referring to the community benefits agreement being negotiated with the project's developer. "Who is going to protect us? I am not asking for much."

Chamber president Al Forde said the group will serve as liaison between the community, business owners, developers and village officials.

"I am going to do everything in my power to get you what you need," said Forde, who is also the chairman of the village's Community Benefits Agreement executive board, charged by Mayor Wayne J. Hall with crafting the agreement between the village and developers.

Others at the meeting said they want the agreement to incorporate contracts for local businesses and jobs for village residents. A portion of the 3,500 permanent and 10,000 construction jobs expected to be created by the project will go to local residents, village officials and the developers have said.

Chamber board members suggested that business owners and residents get the training necessary to land potential jobs and contracts.

The redevelopment plan, led by master developer Renaissance Downtowns along with UrbanAmerica Advisors, offers a combination of condominiums, co-ops and rental apartments. It also includes a hotel, shops, open spaces, parking and entertainment.

Sean McLean, vice president of planning and development for Renaissance Downtowns, said preliminary studies show that $300 million a year is spent outside the village by residents. He said the redevelopment project -- with an anticipated groundbreaking in six months -- could help keep those spending dollars in the village.