One year ago this May, County Executive Tom Suozzi announced his plans to develop "next generation" housing in Garden City to continue his ongoing campaign to develop affordable places to live throughout Nassau.

In a letter he sent to then-Garden City Mayor Gerard Lundquist, Suozzi, in part, stated that in looking to the future needs of residents, the county was proposing "high quality mixed-income and mixed-use development" that would serve as a transition between Roosevelt Field's retail and offices and the homes on the west side of Clinton Road.

The county executive, who admitted officials at first weren't even aware they had the parcel of land available to them, said he is looking forward to working with the Garden City board, to officially be headed by Mayor-elect Peter Bee after his April 2 swearing in; the village board must grant the county a zoning change from commercial to residential in order to push the project forward.

Nonetheless, a Request For Proposals (RFP) went out earlier this month (March 4) for the purchase of the 11.7 acres of vacant land currently zoned a commercial C-R district - specifically located off Ring Road, east of Clinton Road and north of Stewart Avenue. Responses are due back by noon May 1 and according to a county official, Nassau has yet to receive one. As of press time, not even Garden City officials - who have said publicly in the past that they'd be interested in possibly purchasing the land to ensure it remains parkland - responded although the county official noted that Nassau would more than likely see an influx of responses just before deadline, as is often the case. According to a village official, Garden City is currently "considering" responding to the RFP.

The county will consider purchase proposals that conform to any or all of the following four options: (A) "as is" with no zoning contingencies; (B) the purchaser shall have 18 months to secure a rezoning from Garden City to allow for the construction of approximately 150 townhouse units, including a minimum of 100 next generation units; (C) the purchaser shall have 18 months to secure a rezoning from Garden City to allow for the development of a mixed-use development, which includes office, retail and residential space or any combination thereof; and (D) any combination of A and/or B and/or C.

The county's mixed-income model specifies that "one-third of the units must be constructed for sale to residents with income levels between 50-80 percent of median income and one-third of the units sold to residents with income levels up to 120 percent of median income and the remaining one-third of the units sold without restrictions."

According to the RFP, the units shall be a mix of studio, one-bedroom and two-bedroom apartments, with no more than 15 percent of the units two-bedroom. Consideration will be given to those individual unit buyers who "live and/or work in Garden City, to the extent that such consideration is in accordance with all applicable laws, rules and regulations, and does not result in unlawful discrimination."

The RFP further states that the county is requiring an "attractive design consistent with the Village of Garden City's residential architecture" and proposals that include owner-occupied units, rental units and/or a combination of both will be considered.

Access to the property will be provided via Ring Road and the chosen developer will be responsible for securing access, utilities, drainage, sewer connection, etc. to the property and the costs associated with such construction. Further, a buffer of at least 75 feet shall be maintained on the western property line along Clinton Road, the RFP continues.

Interested responders must submit concept drawings that include a site plan, elevations, floor plans and materials, sources of funds and qualifications and a development team. The land sale is subject to the review and approval of the county legislature as well as the county's real estate advisory panel. In evaluating any proposal, county officials will examine price, ability to close, the development plan, track record and the development team.

Suozzi is confident that his next generation housing proposal will appeal to young people, the children of Garden City residents who are starting out in their careers, empty nesters who no longer need large homes and for those who work in Garden City but cannot afford to live there. "This property can serve as a catalyst to help and stimulate [the affordable housing] debate here in Nassau and throughout Long Island," Suozzi has said in the past.