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News
Dowling College Public Policy Institute and Suffolk County Executive Hold Roundtable on Future of Long Island Brownfield Development
OAKDALE, NY - "Sustaining the Long Island economy and preserving open space need not be exclusive of each other if Brownfield redevelopment can become a reality," so said Dowling College President Robert J. Gaffney in welcoming Suffolk County Executive Steve Levy to the Long Island Economic and Social Policy Institute at Dowling College's (LIESP) monthly Roundtable for Long Island's Future.
LIESP Director Martin Cantor presented a case study on the benefits of Brownfield development to Long Island communities during the Roundtable on the Future of Long Island Brownfield Development. The case study of the Glen Cove Creek redevelopment by Glen Isle Partners illustrated how an unproductive Brownfield could reap financial and economic benefits to the city of Glen Cove, which the New York State Comptroller has called a city "in severe financial stress"
Cantor, also a consultant to Glen Isle Partners, explained that the "City of Glen Cove faces a cumulative $24 million budget deficit by 2009, almost equaling one half of the city's operating budget, and that the city had one of two alternatives in resolving the deficit: Either raising taxes that would cost City of Glen Cove homeowners and businesses millions of dollars, or redevelop the waterfront Brownfield that would generate millions of dollars to the city and resolve the budget crisis. "
Suffolk County Executive Steve Levy, understanding the financial realities of Brownfield redevelopment, explained his Brownfield redevelopment initiative that would allow for the purchasing of Suffolk County tax liens on Brownfield properties; this would help make the properties affordable for development.
Cantor concluded, "Without the final promulgation of state regulations defining clean up standards and mitigation of liability to those undertaking redevelopment of Brownfields, there will be continued pressure on development of open space by developers. " This, Cantor noted, "demand for open space, a diminishing Long Island asset, would add to the cost to Long Islanders wishing to purchase open space, thus preserving it for future generations. "
About Dowling College
Dowling College is an independent, coeducational college that serves more than 6,500 students at
its historic Rudolph Campus on the banks of the Connetquot River in Oakdale, NY, and the 105-acre
Brookhaven Campus in eastern Long Island and a business center located near the Nassau-Suffolk
border in Melville. Dowling offers Bachelor′s, Master′s, and Doctoral degrees in several
disciplines through its four schools: Arts and Sciences, Aviation, Business, and Education.
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