The long-awaited news about the plans of Island Properties, the real estate venture of Charles Wang, Sanjay Kumar and Abraham Poznanski, received a luke-warm reception. Members of the Oyster Bay Civic Association were given a glimpse of conceptual plans for the former Hallock property on South Street. The site was approved for a Special Use Permit for a 112- unit assisted living facility before it was bought by Island Properties. Abraham Poznanski of IP brought with him, Michael Saltzman of the Hillier Group of Princeton, New Jersey to present their ideas. The meeting was held on Thursday, May 17 at the Italian-American Club on Summit Street.

Mr. Poznanski called the project area the gateway to the hamlet. He said they are waiting for the Quality Communities Steering Committee recommendations for the hamlet, "a critical piece of our planning process," he said. The project is called The Gardens of Oyster Bay Hamlet.

Mr. Poznanski said they have already met with residents of Sampson Street, the residential area that backs onto the west side of The Gardens.

Mr. Saltzman said his company has done similar projects in the northeast of the United States for the past 35 years. He said they try to understand the history and architecture of the town to use as the basis of their design. "We see the project as a real starting point, a symbol looking to the future and the past," he said. It will house less people than the former plan and offer more amenities, as well as enhance the streetscape and pedestrian traffic in the area.

The plan focuses on three garden areas. The first is the center entry court around the American Legion building which he called an asset to the community. Mr. Poznanski is working with the American Legion in hopes that they will move back and take over the basement area. He hopes the VFW will join them in using the site.

The area around the American Legion they see as a town square with a tower built into the design. They would like it to house a restaurant open to the public, but discovered that residents of Sampson Street preferred it not be used that way.

OBCA member Barbara Lipman said it would fit into the town better if it were a restaurant. That will still be decided, said Mr. Poznanski.

They plan on having large trees in the area, as well as extra parking.

Inside the American Legion building they are considering a gym and spa, again, whether it is just for residents or also for the public is still under consideration.

On the left and right of the American Legion entry area, are two other garden areas. The garden areas in front of the buildings can be viewed by the public but will be used by the residents.

The buildings are two stories high, with parking 1/2 level below the grade, and hidden by landscaping, creating a 2 1/2 story brick building, 35 ft. high. Mr. Saltzman said, to keep down the scale of the buildings, they plan to use the roof space as living space: some units will have a second living space there - as partial lofts. They are planning on 50 to 60 units with 1, 2 and 3 bedroom units. There will be no elevator to the top unit. The total square footage is about 68,000 sq. ft.

Eileen McFetridge said it sounded comparable to the design of Oyster Bay Manor, "That's not very colonial," she said, adding, "Would I buy or rent or is it co-op ownership?" Mr. Poznanski said they are still exploring if it would be lease or sale or a mix. There is also no price information ready as yet. "The economics have to be worked out," said Mr. Poznanski, but said it would not be in the $600,000 range.

They have 109 parking spaces, two for each of the 50 to 60 units, with two people in each unit. There is also some parking in the amenity area around the American Legion site for a total of 129 spaces, They are not using the Burtis Avenue lot for parking needs for the project. Mr. Poznanski said the site is for independent living: for people they hope will go to town, to the stores and the Doubleday Babcock Senior Center. There will be a nurse at the site. There will be transportation to DBSC and the waterfront and the hamlet.

"We hope the customers are local residents who want to get into a scaled down house which would free up housing in the area to attract younger people here," said Mr. Poznanski. They are exploring priority housing for hamlet residents, maybe discounting, he said.

Vinnie Aqualino was pleased that the American Legion building will endure, rather than be taken down. He asked if the garage was high enough to accommodate a fire truck. Mr. Saltzman said the garage would be fully sprinklered, and that while a fire truck couldn't fit in the garage area, it is an open garage and there will full access to the building on all sides, he said.

Mr. Aqualino said most senior citizen facilities have ambulances adding, "Except the guy here who has the fire department." He wanted to know if IP would have an ambulance.

Mr. Poznanski said 'We are picking up the pieces of the ALF for fewer people: assisting the situation, not aggravating it." He said their plan was independent living not assisted living.

Barbara Lipman questioned the design of the site shown in a drawing. "I envision the town as more colonial. The people I'm involved with hope to keep it historical to the Theodore Roosevelt era."

Mr. Saltzman said they tried to link it to the existing areas of the hamlet.

Pierre Brandt expressed some of the disappointment of some of the listeners at the drawings of the plans. He asked about a tower indicated in the drawing and said "I was seeing a machine gun in the tower." It had a flat roof and little charm.

Grace Tedesco asked if IP was considering a medical center in town. "It's difficult for us to go out of town to see a doctor," she said. Mr. Poznanski said, "I've heard it (the suggestion). There is no location (identified), but it makes sense."

Mr. Poznanski appeared to take some of the criticism to heart, saying: "We don't have to do this. We want your involvement. There is a lot of negative energy. We want positive energy. Nothing is set in stone. It's a partnership here," he said.

Bobbie Bagan said he too would like to see the American Legion return to their original building saying, "You'd get more support from the town if they do."

"That's why we got involved with the project: to keep the American Legion building. We are working with the Legion and the VFW and discussing how we can do that: they authorized me to do it," said Mr. Poznanski.

He said they are pushing for fall for the ground breaking for the proposed project.

Charlie Doering suggested people in Oyster Bay send in pictures of how they would like to see the project look. 'It looks like a big city campus in the mid-west: like Townsend Square, an eyesore," he said.

"We'll take all submissions," said Mr. Poznanski.

Eileen McFetridge asked if Mr. Poznanski was familiar with Oscar Summers who thought people would sell their Oyster Bay homes and move into the North Country Hotel, now called Oyster Bay Manor. "It didn't work. It became Oyster Bay Manor. Be sure you have your target group identified."

Grace Searby said she was disappointed there were no architectural drawings, just pasted pictures from different areas of the country to give an idea of what was being considered. She said drop the words assisted living and call them co-ops. The plans seem to mean more people and would mean more parking would be needed in town, she added.

Jaimie VanDyke asked if they would use local subcontractors. Mr. Poznanski said to call with a list and said, "Most are already doing work with us."

Coleen Bagan was the last speaker. She said to the audience, "Don't you people realize what you are doing to this process. This is why it gets out of hand. If someone doesn't do something for Oyster Bay it will be a ghost town!"