Charting the future of Long Island's 'downtowns.' (Assn. for a Better Long Island holds meeting on redevelopment of its commercial districts)

In an effort to rescue the aging "downtown" commercial districts found across Long Island, the Association for a Better Long Island (ABLI) recently sponsored a summit meeting that brought together national experts in planning, the economy, transportation and government for the purpose of re-inventing "Main Street," and thereby protecting the economic core of countless local communities.

The ABLI convened the summit in Garden City, Long Island, the nation's first planned community, built on farms in the last century. Once proclaiming itself as the "Fifth Avenue" of Long Island, today a Sears sits m the middle of the village where a Bloomingdales used to welcome shoppers driving up m their Mercedes.

A driving force behind the conference was Dan Lehner, president of the Nassau County Council of Chambers, who noted "Mega malls, 'big box retailers' and discount warehouses have all changed the way Americans shop. The object is to recognize change and adapt to it so we can preserve the economic viability of our downtowns. For example, in Garden City we have an opportunity to attract and preserve commercial office development, but it is being hampered because most of the parking is for retail stores that have left for the malls. We need to address that type of problem if we expect to keep Garden City solvent."

The ABLI represents $15 billion worth of commercial, industrial and residential real estate in Nassau and Suffolk. Jan Burman, the group's president, said "We can retain the economic viability of our downtowns providing we recognize that Dwight Eisenhower isn't coming back. If we try to freeze our downtowns as they once were, when retail shopping has changed to meet the demands of today's consumers, then they will become literal ghost towns."

Also participating was Long Island Regional Planning Board Executive Director Dr. Lee Koppleman, who warned that without a viable chamber of commerce there is no central core of support for progressive change. He also commented that small retailers have to be just as aggressive as their meca counterparts if they expect to win on service. "I am always amazed when the retailer in the village closes his doors at 5 p.m. and goes home. Then he wonders why he has no retail traffic."

Dr. Clifford Bragdon of Dowling College's National Aviation and Transportation Center, told the summit that transportation issues need to be addressed "holistically if we expect to make any progress. From parking for our commercial buildings inside our downtowns, to bus connections, to access to railroad stations - all have to be considered as a whole and not as separate components."

ABLI economist Thomas Conoscenti explained, "The numbers speak for themselves. Evolve or perish. There can be service-oriented retail in our downtowns, coupled with commercial office space that compliments residential units. It's a matter of innovative planning more than anything else."

Lehner seeks to introduce the concept of affordable senior citizen housing in some downtown areas to ensure that service retailers such as shoe stores and coffee shops always have a ready customer base. "These are retirees who want to remain in the community they helped build. Creating safe and affordable housing in our downtown areas keeps an important part of our economy here," Lehner said.