Baldwin Civic Association

By Ashley Renaire Davis, BCA Recording Secretary

Based on feedback from the Baldwin community, the Baldwin School District has outlined an ambitious but necessary capital improvement initiative known as Innovation 2020. This multi-year project will support critical enhancements to 100-year-old school facilities; library upgrades; new science, technology and mathematics learning spaces in the elementary schools; upgraded athletic and performing arts facilities; and Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant restrooms in all of the district’s schools.

Although funding will come from multiple sources, completion of the project requires a $158 million capital bond — a multi-year financing plan spread over several years. This capital bond would indeed translate into increased monthly taxes for Baldwin School District residents. Some taxpayers have expressed understandable concern about this increase. Still, a yes vote on March 18 is the right thing to do. Voting yes on the capital project referendum is voting for vital funding to support the education of 21st-century students in an increasingly science-, math- and technology-based world.

In a 2015 National Bureau of Economic Research working paper, Martorell, Stange and McFarlin explained that capital campaigns funded by school bonds do actually lead to tangible improvements in school facilities. Voting yes on the capital project referendum is voting yes to the continued success of our public schools, the center of this community, at a time when Baldwin has received downtown redevelopment funds from the state and a zoning overlay district has been established. A revitalized downtown coupled with modern schools will undoubtedly strengthen the infrastructure of the Baldwin community. Strong schools help make Baldwin a great place to live, raise a family, and/or start a business.

Voting yes on the capital project referendum is voting to protect the investment of Baldwin homeowners. Research from economics journals such as the Journal of Real Estate Research, the Journal of Housing Economics, and the Oxford Review of Economic Policy has repeatedly shown that high-quality public schools are related to quantifiable increases in property value in the district.

In the 2010 Quarterly Journal of Economics, authors Stephanie Cellini, Fernando Ferreira and Jesse Rothstein explained that school facilities are one of the most important public infrastructure investments. In specifically examining facility improvements financed through local bonds, they found that passage of a bond measure caused home prices in a district to rise by about 6 percent, and that this effect persisted for at least a decade. School spending raises property values (National Bureau of Economic Research, 2018). Good schools provide stability for a community, and that's positive for the property values of everyone who lives nearby. Additionally, the National Bureau of Economic Research (2018), in examining school spending across a range of districts and counties, found no evidence of net overspending or inefficient spending of public funds by public school districts.

Lastly, although air conditioning may seem like a luxury, classroom temperature and humidity are actually critical factors in student achievement. In a study of standardized test scores from the entire United States, Roach and Whitney (2019) found that rising average temperatures harm student learning. In a 2019 National Bureau of Economic Research article entitled “Heat and Learning,” the authors showed that elevated classroom temperatures could impair decision-making and reduce the effectiveness of instruction. To meet current student and faculty needs, the district has been using window AC units, which are notoriously inefficient. Energy efficient central air conditioning is the smarter and cheaper choice in the long run.

As an educational psychology doctoral candidate and educator, a Baldwin Civic Association board member and a graduate of the Baldwin School district, I will be voting yes on March 18 for the continued success of the Baldwin community, my Baldwin community. Delaying this to some future time would most likely mean increased interest rates and increased project costs. Vote yes on March 18 for the capital project referendum and for the future of beautiful Baldwin.

For the last ten years, the property of the former Conway Motors dealership on Sunrise Highway across from the LIRR station has been a giant auto storage lot. The lot is unsightly and poorly kept, and it blocks the site from being used more productively.

The Baldwin Civic Association has formally requested that the Town of Hempstead Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) revoke the variance that permits this use. Your help making the case to the ZBA is needed.

In March 2017, the property owner, JS Sunrise Realty, requested a variance from the ZBA to continue to use the site for storing vehicles. The owner’s attorney claimed then that an application to build an auto dealership on the site would be forthcoming.

Over the objections of the BCA and a number of individual residents, the ZBA granted the variance for two years—until May 2019—but attached five conditions to address neighborhood complaints:

Installing lighting to improve visibility

Hiring a service to maintain the appearance of the property

Maintaining the fencing surrounding the property

Paving the property

Installing drainage to protect the underground aquifer

The owner has met—in a minimal way—only the first two conditions. As for the others, the fencing is ragged and torn, the lot is unpaved, and potentially contaminated runoff continues to seep into the ground. The owner also does not regularly maintain the sidewalks during the winter, meaning pedestrians must walk in the driving lanes of Harrison Avenue and Sunrise Highway through this busy intersection. Adding to the congestion, massive auto haulers deliver or pick up autos almost every day, parking on Harrison Avenue and creating a sightline hazard for motorists turning onto Harrison or entering Dunkin Donuts.

The property is unsightly and hinders our ability to market Baldwin as attractive to develop downtown properties. Its presence depresses property values of neighboring homes and businesses. The Town has issued fines against the owner for the violations, but the fines have not resulted in compliance.

The variance expired in May, but the condition of the property has remained the same. That is why the BCA has requested and has been granted a re-hearing before the Zoning Board for the purpose of revoking the variance and forcing the owner to move its autos to a more suitable location.

How You Can Help

The ZBA has scheduled the re-hearing for Wednesday, December 4 during its 2:00 pm session at the Hempstead Town Hall Pavilion, 1 Washington Street, Hempstead, NY 11550. You can make your opinion known to the Zoning Board in three ways:

Attend the hearing and sign up to speak briefly about your concerns.

Write a letter to the Zoning Board at the above address to express your concerns.

Submit your comments to the Zoning Board online at this site: https://hempsteadny.gov/board-of-appeals/hearings-comment-form.

Following is a brief draft from which you can cut and paste details into your own comments to the Zoning Board. (You can use details from the foregoing discussion in your message, too.) After you have sent your message to the Zoning Board, please send a copy to the BCA at [email protected] or PO Box 833, Baldwin, NY 11510 so we know how many people responded.

For the benefit of our community, please make your views heard! Through shared action, we can make a difference!

Draft Letter

David Weiss, Chairman 

Town of Hempstead Zoning Board of Appeals

1 Washington Avenue

Hempstead, New York 11550

 Applicant: JS Sunrise Realty, LLC

Case #: 249-250/17

Hearing Date: 12/04/2019

Case Location: Baldwin—Sunrise Highway and Harrison Avenue

 Dear Mr. Weiss,

I am writing to urge the Zoning Board to terminate the variance granted to the auto storage yard at the corner of Sunrise Highway and Harrison Avenue in Baldwin. This eyesore in the middle of our hamlet is detrimental to the neighborhood and to our prospects for improving the downtown.

Furthermore, the current owner is violating the conditions that the Zoning Board assigned to it in 2017. The existing variance has expired. We urge you to discontinue the property’s use as an auto storage yard, either by the existing owner or any future owner or renter.

[Add your own comments here]

Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely,

[Your name]

On May 6, 2019, the Town of Hempstead held an Environmental Scoping Meeting at Town Hall about the Grand Avenue redevelopment project. This meeting was required by New York State under the State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA), which is necessary for major development projects. Town Supervisor Laura Gillen and Legislators Erin King Sweeney and Dorothy Goosby introduced the purpose of the meeting and the three professional planners, who outlined the process of reviewing a number of factors in the overlay district that will be created to spur development of the Grand Avenue corridor.

To be considered in the review are the following:

Physical alteration of land, including impact on erosion, storm water run-off, and construction impacts

Groundwater resources—impact on flooding, climate change and green infrastructure

Physical enhancements—improvement to appearance in the impact area

Historic elements in the development area

Impact on transportation—traffic movement, walkability, and parking

Energy needs for the developed area when completed

Noise and light related to the development that is expected

Compatibility with the community character

A well-conceived completed SEQRA is a big step forward in spurring development. Few developers want to undertake a strenuous environmental review. If the Town completes the review, it will be easier to recruit capable developers to participate.

At the meeting, the Town accepted public comments from the audience, and a number of Baldwin residents offered remarks. The Town is now seeking written comments from the community on any of the topics listed above. If you have comments or questions about any of the environmental factors, you can email them to [email protected]. You can also mail your thoughts to Richard Regina, Esq., Hempstead Town Hall, 1 Washington Street, Hempstead NY 11550. The deadline for submission is May 24, 2019.

The 7th Annual Eggstravaganza was held on Saturday, April 13 at Baldwin Park, and it was another eggscelent occasion. The weather cooperated mightily, and hundreds of Baldwin-area residents came out to enjoy the games, food, vendors, raffles, and egg hunts!

Thank you to all of the volunteers, including BCA members, scout troops, and Baldwin High School students, who did eggstraordinary work throughout the afternoon!

And a special thank you to all of the businesses and individuals who sponsored the day or donated prizes for the raffles!

Click on the link below to see a video of our sponsors, and then go patronize their eggstablishments!

On Wednesday, March 29 at 2:00 p.m., the Zoning Board of Appeals will be hearing an application for variances by the owner of the large lot on Sunrise Highway between Harrison and Grand so it can continue to use the lot for storing automobiles to supply its dealerships. You can support efforts to improve the Grand Avenue business corridor by opposing the continued presence of this lot. Working together we can make a difference and improve this eyesore and underutilized property in our town.

The case number and variance specifics are as follows:

249/17. - 251/17. BALDWIN - JS Sunrise Realty LLC, Use variance for storage of motor vehicles in Res. "B" district; Special exception for storage of motor vehicles in "Bus." district, permission to park in front yards on Sunrise Hgwy., Harrison Ave. & Grand Ave. & Waive off-street parking; Maintain 6' high fence in front yards on Sunrise Hgwy., Harrison Ave. & Grand Ave. & located in clear sight triangle., S/W cor. Sunrise Hgwy. & Harrison Ave., running thru to Grand Ave., a/k/a 746 Sunrise Hgwy. (Negative Declaration issued under S.E.Q.R.) N.C.P.C. Local determination.

BCA President Karen Montalbano, as well as other BCA members and Baldwin residents, are planning to speak at the hearing against granting these variances. (The reasons are set forth below.)

We urge you to make your views known by either attending the hearing or voicing your comments to the Board of Appeals online at https://www.toh.li/board-of-appeals/hearings-comment-form. 

The online process is simple and takes just a few minutes. If you wish, you can use the wording from the sample letter below as the basis for your own comment.

--------------------------------------------------

I am writing to express my disapproval of the pending special exception for storage of motor vehicles in a residential/business district at 746 Sunrise Highway in Baldwin.

For decades, the site was filled with businesses frequented by residents of Baldwin and surrounding towns. When the present owner bought the site, it was with the stated intention of building a new car dealership to replace the previous Chrysler dealership. That was almost ten years ago.

The owner never followed through on that plan. Instead, the buildings on the site were demolished and replaced with an empty lot on which the owner stores cars for its dealerships in Valley Stream and Rockville Centre. The resulting eyesore is compounded by a stark chain-link fence whose screening fabric is regularly torn by the elements, leaving tattered streamers flapping in the wind against out-of-date campaign placards.

The owner of the site has shown little regard for the community:

1. It has deprived the Baldwin School District, the Town of Hempstead, and Nassau County of precious tax dollars by demolishing the former businesses and leaving an empty lot with a severely reduced assessment. 2. It has neglected to keep the surrounding sidewalks clear of snow and other obstructions, forcing pedestrians to walk in the street in heavy traffic or risk injury from falls. 3. It is warehousing hundreds of automobiles on an unimproved dirt lot in disregard of New York State laws concerning prevention of pollutants seeping into aquifers. Any of the vehicles stored there could leak oil and other fluids, which would go directly into the ground or be washed into storm sewers. 4. It is maintaining a fence with no setback from the sidewalk that blocks the sight lines of drivers trying to merge from Harrison Avenue onto Sunrise Highway. 5. It is seeking to avoid legitimate Town of Hempstead restrictions on the use of the property through commercial storage of vehicles in a residential/business district.

The residents of Baldwin have been trying for more than fifteen years to refocus our commercial corridor to make our hamlet more attractive to the kinds of businesses and people so important to the viability of suburban communities today. Having a ramshackle car storage lot situated at the most important intersection in Baldwin—the intersection that is the linchpin for any successful revitalization of Grand Avenue—makes redevelopment much harder to achieve. Granting the owner the requested variances may very well negate all of the efforts that residents, the Town, and the County have made in pursuit of this goal.

On January 29, 2017, State Senator Todd Kaminsky announced a $458K state grant to help revitalize the Grand Avenue-Merrick Road area. 

Watch courtesy of FiOS-1 News.

The long-awaited grand opening of the new Nassau County Police Department’s First Precinct building on Merrick Road in Baldwin occurred on January 26, 2017. 

Watch the ceremony, courtesy of FiOS-1 News.

Congratulations are due to Dr. Shari Camhi, Superintendent of Baldwin Schools, for being named one of 24 superintendents nationwide (and one of only two in New York State) as “Superintendents to Watch” for 2015-2016 by the National School Public Relations Association. This program recognizes superintendents who are using dynamic leadership and strong communication in innovative and effective ways. They engage and inform their school communities with new communication technology tools combined with tried-and-true techniques.

The NSPRA is a professional organization dedicated to building support and trust for education through responsible public relations that leads to success for all students. You can learn more about the award at http://www.nspra.org/superintendents-watch-winners.

Taking inspiration from a BOCES initiative to increase communication between the schools and parents, Dr. Camhi played an instrumental role in forming a Community Coalition to open communications with the various Baldwin organizations. The school district provides support by hosting the meetings and disseminating information important to all Baldwinites.

Dr. Camhi’s background in technology has played a major role in what she has accomplished so far. A new district website was unveiled in September 2015. The innovative site has many features that had previously been missing or underused, including teacher pages, reports on individual and group student achievements, a regular news “shout out” from the superintendent, a mobile app, links to other community organizations, and translation capability for 12 languages, from Arabic and Chinese to Spanish and French-Creole.

March brought special recognition to two extraordinary Baldwin women. 

Jessenia Mendez-Velazquez and Rebecca Bell each received the Town of Hempstead’s Pathfinder Award for their outstanding contributions to the community. The Pathfinder Awards, given annually to women who live or work in the Town of Hempstead, celebrate the victories and profound contributions of women in a variety of roles. (http://www.toh.li/news/1435-town-honors-nine-extraordinary-women-at-annual-pathfinder-awards-ceremony) 

Velazquez won the award in the Business category. She is founder and CEO of Jessie’s CleanSweep, Inc., a full-service janitorial company based in Baldwin. She overcame a financially difficult and stressful childhood, and did not finish high school. Needing a steady income, she began cleaning homes. In 1998, she launched Jessie’s CleanSweep, and within a few months had so much work that she had to hire friends and family members to handle the workload. In 2013, CleanSweep received a $2.2 million federal contract and was able to hire four new employees, all U.S. military veterans. Velazquez is an active member of the Baldwin Civic Association, the Baldwin Chamber of Commerce, and the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, and is a volunteer firefighter in the Baldwin Fire Department. (Read about Jessenia’s accomplishments in her own words at http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jessenia-mendez/overcoming-adversity_1_b_4110560.html.) 

(L-R: Hempstead Town Clerk Nasrin Ahmad, Jessenia Mendez-Velazquez, Hempstead Town Councilwoman Erin King Sweeney) 

Bell won the award in the Humanitarian category. She recently retired from Hempstead’s EAC Network after a career with the organization that began in 1979. Through her leadership, thousands of at-risk children, seniors, families, unemployed, and people with mental health and substance abuse problems have received care and services. Bell was directly responsible for the daily operations of EAC’s more than 70 human service programs that assist more than 68,500 people across Long Island. Her commitment to helping others began at a young age. In 1976, she became a foster parent for at-risk youth, later serving as supervisor of the foster program until starting at EAC. She has also been recognized by the Coalition on Child Abuse and Neglect, named Newsday’s “Everyday Hero,” and featured as one of LI Business News’ Top 50 Most Influential Women in Business. (Read more about Rebecca’s accomplishments at http://www.eacinc.org/eac-networks-former-vice-president-receives-town-of-hempstead-pathfinder-humanitarian-award.) 

Here are more samples of public artwork that you can see in Baldwin. 

Daze: South side of Sunrise Highway, east of Rockwood Avenue.

Wick’s Florist: West side of Grand Avenue, north of LIRR station.

Stick(i)er Parking at Baldwin LIRR 

In an effort to make more parking available for Town of Hempstead residents, the Town Council instituted new parking regulations for the LIRR lots the Town manages in Baldwin, Merrick, Bellmore, Wantagh, and Seaford at its February 2016 meeting. This was in response to commuters driving from other communities to park at these Babylon Branch stations. Because the Baldwin station has some Baldwin residents-only parking as well as general parking, there have been questions about permits that are needed and where and when residents can park legally at the station.

So starting April 1, 2016, parking regulations for the Baldwin LIRR station will be:

Between 6:00 A.M. and 1:00 P.M. on weekdays, a Town of Hempstead Resident Commuter Parking Permit is required to park in these lots:

South of the LIRR along Sunrise Highway between Brookside Avenue and Chestnut Street (Lots BA 5, 7, and 12).

North of the LIRR along Brooklyn Avenue (Lot BA 8).

There are no parking restrictions in these areas before or after the posted times or on weekends.

Separate Baldwin Special Parking District Permit is still required to park in the Baldwin Resident-Only lots north of the train station (Lots BA 6 and 13).

$150 fine for violation of these regulations.

The following map shows where those parking fields are.                        

The cost of the new TOH Resident Commuter Parking Permit sticker is $10 a year. (Click here for more information and a printable form.) The cost of the Baldwin Special Parking District Permit remains at $3 a year. (Visit here for the application.) The license period for both is from April 1 to March 31.

The Town promises there will be large signs displaying the new requirements in place by April 1. It would be nice if there would also be a grace period of a few weeks to allow everyone to get up to speed by getting their stickers.

Wantagh and Seaford should see an improvement in parking availability because this action is likely to limit commuters coming in from nearby Town of Oyster Bay communities. Unfortunately, such an effect may not be seen in Baldwin, since most of the commuters coming from outside of Baldwin are still Town of Hempstead residents.

So if you are commuting by LIRR on weekday mornings and hope to park close to the station, you may need two stickers: the original Baldwin resident-only sticker at $3.00 a year and the new TOH resident sticker at $10.00 a year. (Potentially a small price to pay compared to risking a $150 fine!)

Parking will still be free at the Town’s other municipal lots on Grand Avenue, which are a longer walk from the railroad: behind the Baldwin library, behind the Fire Department headquarters, in front of the Baldwin Historical Society, and north of St. Luke’s Place. No stickers necessary—just a little more exercise! (The parking spaces on Brookside Avenue belong to Freeport and so are not affected.)

Update #1: The Town has posted these signs in the parking lots that now require a TOH resident sticker.

Update #2: The Town of Hempstead is giving a grace period until April 15th to get the new parking permits at the Long Island Railroad Station. That's why the new signs are covered.

Here are pictures of some of the public artworks you can see in Baldwin. 

Ideal Food Basket: South side of Merrick Road, east of Grand Avenue

Alleyway: North side of Merrick Road, east of Grand Avenue

Imperial Florist: South side of Merrick Road, west of Grand Avenue

Thank you for visiting. Here you will find frequently updated news about matters of importance for the residents, businesses, and organizations of Baldwin, NY. You will also see photographs and videos of distinctive events and landmarks in our town.

The bloggers who will appear in this space will mostly be members of the BCA. Occasionally, you will see original posts from guest bloggers and reblogs from other sources with salient points of view about life in Baldwin. 

If you have questions or comments about what you see here, click the “Ask the BCA” button above. To read earlier articles, click “Archive.”