Adelphi University President Dr. Robert Scott found himself in a familiar position earlier this month - speaking before Garden City trustees seeking a special use permit to construct another dormitory on Adelphi's Garden City campus.

Architects finished construction on the previous residence hall, New Hall, approximately three years ago and note this newest dorm would act as its sister building.

At four stories and 60,000 square feet, the hall would complete the residential quad on the west side of campus.

"We have been here before. We have asked for your approval to build a previous residence hall, similar to buildings you have explored and are under way. The point I would like to make is that we have made promises to you. We have kept the board, as well as our neighbors, the property owners associations and the village, apprised of our progress and we have kept those promises," Dr Scott said. New Hall - the most recently constructed dorm - accommodates 181 students. According to Dr. Scott, 120 Adelphi students are currently living in tripled rooms that should be doubles. This new residence hall would add to campus 171 beds, 120 of which would be for students already living on campus.

"There were more than 70 students who decided not to enroll this year because of the lack of housing. This is intended to meet housing demands. This new residence hall is not intended to help assist us in increasing enrollment," Dr. Scott assured. "Enrollment is just about at the level in which we would want it to be. Any growth would be at the graduate level, which does not require housing."

South Avenue to the north, Brompton Road to the west and Cambridge Avenue to the south make up the boundary streets of this latest dormitory.

A Brompton Road resident, who's endured much of Adelphi's construction projects over the years, is not happy about this latest project. "Our neighborhood is directly impacted by this construction ... We're talking about 56,000 square feet. That's damn large ... To change it drastically will negatively impact all of us ... The whole ambiance is disappearing," he said.

A fellow Brompton Road resident wants to achieve a proper balance. "There's a balance leaning toward the Adelphi community at the expense of people living around [its campus]," he added.

Beverly Haggerty, also of Brompton Road, requested trustees make Adelphi halt any new construction projects until the current construction is completed and functioning, referring to the sports, recreation and performing arts center.

Dr. Scott told trustees current construction is intended to be complete by May 1, 2008. He hopes to have this new residence hall open by the summer of 2009 (late July) and anticipates approximately five months for construction. It took slightly longer than 14 months to complete New Hall.

Building Superintendent Mike Filippon noted that a 20 percent footprint limit exists in an R20 district (residential zone). If trustees grant this newest dorm construction, Adelphi would only total 13.28 percent of its 20 percent footprint limit and a 39 percent FAR (Floor Area Ratio) compared to the standard 50 percent.

With Adelphi's population close to maximum (enrollment is currently 6,800), 1,250 students would be living on campus after construction of this newest dorm, only 50 more than what is currently living there.

Despite the small increase in in-residence students, a 20-year resident, whose son graduated from Adelphi, doesn't buy it. "They need to clean up their act," he told trustees. "I remember when they presented the New Hall dorm to us. It seemed to be [situated] far away. We were told that was the end of all projects ... We moved into Garden City for the quality of life. I'm sure if you look at this more closely, this may not be a time for them to build."

Adelphi will continue its quest for a special use permit.

Although trustees Nov. 8 did not grant Adelphi permission to begin construction, they can choose to in the future.