In 1930 there were four houses on Pennsylvania Avenue. The rest of the area that ran parallel to the Oyster Bay branch of the train tracks through Mineola, was nothing but fields. This is according to resident Terry Gale whose encyclopedic knowledge of her block and its inhabitants, as well as her history advocating on its behalf, has earned her a reputation as "Mayor of Pennsylvania Avenue."

"The Mayor" has currently been called upon to represent her constituents in light of the plan a developer has to transform the current vacant lot that sits at one end on the east side of Pennsylvania Avenue into new housing.

In the past the lot, currently owned by David Rapp, has been used as the Mineola Post Office Annex, a 24-hour-a day operation, a moving and storage facility that was destroyed in 1986, and for storing cars from the Ford dealership.

Now vacant, the lot has been the local sports facility for the children of the block, without incident said the residents, particularly since the Long Island Rail Road cleaned up the graffiti.

The lot is just a building away from Gale's home, one of four Woodward Cape Cods built in the '20s on Pennsylvania Avenue. Around World War II new houses were built, populated by young families, according to Gale, who would visit each other on Sundays.

Though the block has changed over the years, Gale maintains that friendly neighborhood atmosphere to this day. It is her concern that even her efforts would be unsuccessful with keeping that suburban feeling if the buildings become too urban and the neighbors too crowded.

Gale and her neighbors, with the help of attorney Scott Fairgrieve were able to make this case with a modicum of success at the Jan. 21 Board of Zoning and Appeals hearing. The developers withdrew their original proposal to develop four semiattached houses, and submitted a new proposal for six detached houses.

A list of 33 names was collected in opposition to the original plan.

Problems already exist with parking, according to the residents, as well as with the traffic. The street provides access from Jericho Turnpike to Hillside Avenue with only two stop signs at the Hillside end.

With new housing comes at least as many new cars, that would struggle to find space on a street where many of the homes do not have garages of their own.

The residents also feared the problems the type of housing might bring, such as buildings that could easily be used for illegal apartments, thus increasing the number of people and cars and diminishing the suburban feel of the neighborhood.

"I don't want to live in the city," said Jim Rowe, 33-year-resident of Pennsylvania Avenue, "I like this area, I like this type of living."

"It is zoned for single family housing, that is what should go there," said Tom Weilert who operates his business on Pennsylvania Avenue with his wife JoAnn, just as he has since 1963.

Attorney Mike Salgo, representing Jack Valente, the Mineola resident who wants to develop the lot into houses, stated that his client heard the concerns of the residents at the hearing and changed his proposal.

Salgo said his client can do nothing about the parking which is already regulated, however, the new proposal does reflect changes in the style of the proposed houses.

The new proposal calls for single family detached houses that are 74 and a half feet wide across the front and set back 67 feet. The houses would be erected 33 1/2 feet from one another.

Each house would have three bedrooms, two bathrooms and a basement garage. The garage would also house the heating unit and would have no exterior access, limiting the building's use to single family.

Salgo added these houses will act as a buffer to the Long Island Rail Road that runs behind that side of the street, not to mention improving the appearance of the current lot.

"I don't think you could ask for a better usage of this property," commented Salgo.

Gale and her neighbors, though optimistic, are reserving decision until they get a chance to look at the new plans.

"We have to look at the whole situation," said Fairgrieve.

The next hearing will be held before the Board of Zoning and Appeals on Feb. 25.