The abandoned Koeppel Ford site on Jericho Turnpike has become an eyesore as it dilapidates further. It had even served as a canvas for graffiti artists. Chaminade High School, however, has a plan to rebuild the area.

The Catholic school bought the property and presented a plan to the Village of Mineola Board of Trustees to build an athletic facility on the site. Since Chaminade is a private school, it must seek the proper variances from the village to go ahead with the plan.

Last Wednesday, Chaminade's president, Father James Williams, made a presentation in front of the village's board of trustees. Father Williams came prepared and even brought a video highlighting the school.

Chaminade High School, which was founded by the Marianists in 1930, has a reputation for being one of the finest Catholic high schools in the nation. With the purchase of the Koeppel Ford property, there is an opportunity to enhance services.

In presenting the application, Father Williams made it clear that the project does not represent an expansion of the Chaminade student body. The institution will continue to have 1,600 students.

Chaminade, which has been in Mineola for almost 75 years, will have stronger facilities if the project is approved and ultimately built. "This is an enhancement of our facilities. Our student population will not change," said Father Williams, who added that the institution is looking to improve its activities and athletic program any way it can.

Chaminade is proposing building on the former Koeppel Ford dealership on the south side of Jericho Turnpike between Marcellus and Saville Roads. "What we're hoping to do is transform it, improve it and give it a whole new look and use," Father Williams said.

The plan calls for some parts of the existing building to remain and some will be demolished and replaced. The showroom, featuring the glass located near the Marcellus Road, will remain while the structure to the west of the showroom will be torn down. "We've attempted to create a building that fits the characteristic of Mineola with the enhancement of the properties around it as opposed to an eyesore," said Father Williams.

Chaminade High School purchased property both north and south of Jericho Turnpike. The property north will be used for parking and will provide 40 spaces. The showroom on the south side of the property will be used as a lobby. Behind the showroom are two floors. One of the two floors will be used as a locker room while the other floor will be used as an open space that will be used for wrestling. The main facility would become a new gymnasium and there would be an auditorium that would seat 200 people closer to Saville Road. On the premises would be parking for another 35 cars. The project provides parking for an additional 75 cars (35 on the south side of Jericho and 40 on the north side).

Father Williams emphasized that the new facility would not bring in new students. In the main Chaminade building, there is a gymnasium and wrestling room. The reason for putting up a new facility is to give the school more space. "Our gym [currently located in the main building] is not regulation size. We can't host many of the games we want to host. Some of the playoff [games] don't take place at our facility. We don't have a facility at Chaminade that would fit the entire student body. This would alleviate that," he said.

The application was received well by the members of the public who attended the hearing. "I'm trying hard to think of something negative and I can't," said village meeting regular Sal Cataldo.

Some residents, however, raised some concerns about more cars possibly being in the area, which already has limited parking as a result of more people attending games and events at the new facility.

Some residents expressed concerns that with a state-of-the art facility, Chaminade High School will be able to host tournaments and playoffs that it wouldn't be able to host in its current gymnasium. The New York Catholic High School Athletic Association League Tournament for wrestling, for example, took place at Holy Trinity High School on Feb. 15 and 16.

Other concerns for some of the area residents involved noise generated from cars in the parking lot that may be disruptive.

Father James, however, attempted to alleviate some of the concerns. He said games going late into the evening are not going to happen. He also said he misspoke when he said that the school can't host many of the games it wants to host. He later said that nothing will be taking place at the new facility that is not taking place now at Chaminade's current facilities. "We're not going to be adding to our calendar. Playoffs such as those for basketball don't take place at any Catholic high school. We use Hofstra. We're not going to be adding events to our calendar. All we are going to be doing is shifting what takes place on the west side of Saville Road over the east side of Saville Road," he said.

In the past, there has been some concern as to the amount of tax revenue the village lost as a result of Chaminade buying the Koeppel Ford property. Since Chaminade is a non-taxable entity, it is exempt on the property it owns. It is estimated the village loses $50,000 to $60,000 annually as a result of the Koeppel Property being sold to Chaminade.

Father Williams said he is conscious of the loss of taxes. However, he said the students and brothers at the school make an effort to give back to the community through various projects such as beautifying the catch basin in Memorial Park and helping out at the Junior Fire Department Pasta Dinner. The school has also been opened up for events such as the Nassau Pops Christmas Concert and the prayer service that took place after Sept. 11, 2001.

There may be ways to offset the loss in tax revenue, possibly by putting more parking meters along Jericho Turnpike in front of the facility.

The village board of trustees rendered no decision. The application must also be heard by the village's architectural review board and zoning board next month before going back to the village board of trustees. Mayor Martins anticipates the village board making a decision in early September.

If the application does receive the variances, it could take 15 to 18 months to complete the project.