Port Washington merchants parking planned

From Port Washington eyesore to community benefit.

The boarded-up dull white house on Port Washington Boulevard across from the post office is targeted to be replaced by parking for merchants, bike racks and green space.

The Town of North Hempstead through its Port Washington Public Parking District has signed a lease with an option to buy the house and two adjacent vacant properties in the bustling business district.

Owned for decades by the Shields family, which also owns the nearby Shields Hardware store, the properties have remained unused.

"It really is just an eyesore," town Supervisor Jon Kaiman said. "It's just time to have this property put back to use one way or another."

At its November board meeting, the town approved a plan to lease the three parcels -- at 1070 Port Washington Blvd., 5 Main St. and 6 Ohio Ave. -- for $1 for one year. During that time, the town plans to demolish the house and conduct an environmental study of the properties.

If the study reveals no significant environmental hurdles, the town will buy the three parcels for $898,000 and create parking for store owners and employees, Kaiman said.

"If we can get . . . merchant cars off the streets, which is where they are parking now, you could create significantly more parking for customers," Town Board Member Fred Pollack said. "It would really enhance the business district."

The house, which has been vacant for 60 years, should be demolished early next year.

Kevin Shields, called the land vacant but not abandoned. Its location makes it difficult to create an exit and entrance and impossible to allow big truck deliveries, making commercial development of the site difficult.

"We've been actively trying to develop the site and have had several applications approved by the town over the years, however, the buyers of these parcels felt the economic feasibility of the site was prohibitive," Shields said. "Ingress and egress were always an expensive and logistical nightmare for any developer."

The town also is looking at other locations to create merchant parking.

The parking district has 1,005 resident commuter parking spots in various lots and 805 metered spots. Of the metered spots, 224 are in the business district, and they limit parking between two and fours hours, said John Fabio, the town deputy commissioner for administrative services, who overseas the parking district.

Alan Garfinkel, who owns the The Decorating Center near the lots, said while the area lacks merchant parking, he questioned the impact a small lot would have and the cost.

"No matter what they do, the town is not going to solve the problem with 30 spots," he said. "To take a piece of property off the tax rolls, I think is horrible."