Urging Prompt Approval of the Long Island Lighthouse Re-Zoning Application

Kate Murray
Hempstead Town Hall
One Washington Street
Hempstead, NY 11550

Dear Supervisor Murray:

When the New York Islanders won the first of what would be four consecutive Stanley Cup Championships in 1980, goaltender Billy Smith was asked how it felt to bring the Cup back to New York. Smith famously replied, The Stanley Cup is not in New York. Its on Long Island.

The New York Islanders have been a source of civic pride for Long Islanders since their inception in 1972, and it is now time to ensure the teams long-term viability on Long Island. In addition, the Town of Hempstead must provide leadership on the future principles that will govern development in this area. Therefore, we request that you and the Hempstead Town Council expedite your approval of the Lighthouse Project re-zoning application as proposed by Charles Wangs Lighthouse Development Corporation. This project will provide a multi-faceted boon to the Town of Hempstead, and Long Island as a whole, in the following ways:

Greater Supply of Well-Paying Jobs: In these uncertain economic times, few entities are willing to invest in large-scale projects such as the Lighthouse. Approval of the Lighthouse will create thousands of well-paying construction jobs, in addition to the thousands more that will be created through the permanent structures.

Increased Tax Base: Long Island steadily grew in the years following World War II. With the departure of corporate titans like Grumman, that growth flattened out in the 1980s and 90s, and that trend has only recently begun to reverse. The new residents and commercial entities within the Lighthouse project, as well as the new Atlantic League baseball franchise, will increase the Town of Hempsteads tax base and provide a new home on Long Island for industries such as sports technology.

Lower Tax Burden: Residents of the Town of Hempstead and Nassau County as a whole shoulder some of the heaviest tax burdens in the United States. The residential and commercial development in the Lighthouse Project will increase local tax revenue, thus allowing for a reduction of local property taxes. This shows the project is a good compliment for the Town of Hempsteads commitment to steady the tax burden on residents.

A Reborn Home for the Islanders: Nassau Coliseum was an out-dated facility shortly after its dedication, and it has grown more obsolete with the passing years. A state-of-the-art facility will help restore the team to prominence in the National Hockey League and provide a solid foundation for its long-term competitiveness.

Increased Event Revenue: With Madison Square Garden in the immediate vicinity, and the new state-of-the-art Prudential Center now complete in Newark, NJ, many traveling acts are bypassing the Nassau Coliseum. With a new arena planned in Brooklyn, Nassau Coliseum will soon be relegated to second-rate events, if it is included in future schedules at all. A renovated Coliseum will attract new conventions and events to Long Island, bringing increased revenue from both ticket sales and ancillary spending (restaurants, hotels, etc.). In addition, the Lighthouse Project will provide multiple world-class facilities that Nassau County and the Town of Hempstead could use to attract such events as the NCAA basketball and hockey tournaments, the NHL All-Star Game, or even a Presidential nominating convention. These events will generate revenue and increase visibility for our local communities.

Higher-Density Residential Development: Recent polls have shown that Long Island residents are desirous of higher-density housing as the cost of living rises. The residences in the Lighthouse will help to satisfy this new housing need and allow younger Long Islanders to remain in the area where they grew up as they begin their working lives.

Sustainable Development: Americans are now realizing that old principles of unfettered development cannot be sustained in the future. The Lighthouse Project will employ the latest principles of smart growth and environmentally-conscious design. This dovetails with the Town of Hempsteads greening initiative.

The Town of Hempstead led the way in the development of suburban America after World War II. Now, it is once again time for the Town of Hempstead to lead the way in sustainable suburban development. We urge you to expedite approval of the Lighthouse Project re-zoning application, in order to provide both a new home for Long Islands only major-league sports franchise and a renewal of the Long Island spirit. Every Island needs a Lighthouse, our hockey team needs a new home, and our citizens deserve a prosperous future.

Sincerely,
The Undersigned