At the October meeting of the Council of Greater Manhasset Civic Associations (Greater Council), attorney Bruce Migatz presented plans of the Kimco Realty Corporation for the redevelopment of the Filene's shopping center. The property is presently in foreclosure and Kimco hopes to re-develop the site. According to Phyllis Clark, members of the Greater Council expressed their concerns about increased traffic, about the placement of the proposed building and about the caliber of the shops that Kimco would introduce. The main concern was that Kimco hopes to have a supermarket as one element of the center. In the past there was a Food Fair on the site.

Realizing that the people most affected by Kimco's proposal would be the residents of Terrace Manor, Kimco's representatives and spokesman Bruce Migatz met with members of the Terrace Manor community on Wednesday, Oct. 21. The reception was less than cordial. According to Phyllis Clark, president of the Terrace Manor Civic Association, there were between 55 and 60 people at the meeting and most of them were angry. Especially distraught were the residents on both sides of Brinkerhoff Lane which abuts the shopping center. They were concerned about the increased traffic that a supermarket will bring to their neighborhood and about the location of a loading zone right next to their homes. The identity of the supermarket tenant has not been disclosed. Earlier rumors were of a King Kullen but the current opinion is that the market will be a Grand Union.

Mrs. Clark also expressed concern about the Kimco plans to take down the whole facade of the center. She called attention to the fact that Kimco operates the Voice Road Plaza in Carle Place and said that a similar facade would not be appropriate for Manhasset. Kimco will require variances to proceed with its plans and will go before the Board of Zoning Appeals on Nov. 18. According to Mrs. Clark, the company is really asking for a change in zone, not for variances.

Not so, says attorney Bruce Migatz. "The situation," he said, "is identical to that of Staples." In other words, part of the property is zoned "Business" and the balance "Parking." Kimco wants to put the business in the area zoned for parking and the parking zoned for business. According to Mr. Migatz, Filene's will remain as a tenant in the Center. Today's Man is a question and The Wiz is out. The other prospective tenants are in question. In Voice Road, Kimco's tenants include Sneaker Stadium, a G.H. Bass outlet, ULTA Cosmetics, a vitamin shop and a Yogurteria. In the Centereach Mall, which Kimco also owns, there is a King Kullen, a U. S. Post Office branch, Five Star Liquors and a Sizzler restaurant. In Bridgehampton Commons, another Kimco site, there is a King Kullen, TJ Maxx, Eddie Bauer and Razzano's Foods and Cafe. There are also a number of stores that already are in Manhasset at The Americana, including Talbot's, The Gap, Banana Republic and Williams-Sonoma.

Mr. Migatz said that Kimco plans to cut the amount of medical office space in half. There is presently 32,050 square feet of medical office space at the center. That will be reduced by 16,3996 square feet. Asked about Mrs. Clark's concerns about the facade, Mr. Migatz said that the plans had not reached that stage. In any case, he added, whatever is built there will be controlled by the Town of North Hempstead site plan review.

Mr. Migatz said that if the company gets its variances, it would hope to open the center by the fall of 1999.