Letters: Intense interest in over-55 condos
An architectural rendering by Robert M. Swedroe Architects and Planners showing the front and rear views of a four-unit building designed for The Seasons at Elwood, a 360-unit senior housing development proposed for the site of the Oak Tree Dairy in East Northport. Credit: Robert M. Swedroe Architects and Planners
The condominium development proposed on Elwood Road would provide much needed tax revenue, pure and simple, and yet NIMBY takes over. This is why Long Island is becoming an impossible place to live ["Let rationality govern development in Elwood," Editorial, May 29].
The Elwood school district is a fine one, only a bit too small. The high school is fed by one primary, one intermediate and one middle school. And this mandates the requisite superintendent and staff, principals and administrative overhead at substantial cost to the Elwood taxpayer.
School board vice president Dan Ciccone raises the scare tactics of possibly "overcrowding our schools" from an influx of the over-55 community. This is a very slight possibility. The Elwood school district could even use a few more students to make it into one that deserves to stand alone.
Robert Munoz, Huntington
My wife and I are senior citizens living in a five-bedroom house. It was a great house in which to live and raise our kids, but now it's time to downsize.
We have been looking for a condo within Huntington because we know the area well and all of our doctors are close by. The only adequate condos are way out east.
We wholeheartedly agree with Newsday's editorial on The Seasons at Elwood. Please don't let the NIMBYs spoil this opportunity for the graying population.
Stuart Koenig, East Northport
Current zoning was intended to benefit the character, safety and quality of life for the community, and at this site it is one home per acre. It would be a 100 percent compromise for the town and the taxpayers to increase that. Let's see if there is any additional, 99 percent compromise to be had from the owner and developer in return.
A waiver of any zoning regulations should require an applicant to demonstrate little, if any, negative impact on the surrounding neighbors.
Senior housing is a very important issue, and it needs to be addressed in a way that benefits everyone. What we have today on Long Island is often the result of poor, or in some cases no, planning. Let's start to do it right from now on.
Robert W. Rockelein, Huntington
