After reading the Roslyn News article regarding our residence last week, I wanted to send a letter which would clarify certain issues regarding our proposal.

Since 1996, Forest City Daly Housing, the proposed developer for the seniors' housing residence on Landing Road, has been working with the Village of Roslyn at numerous public hearings and work sessions with a special subcommittee formed by the village to create a premiere seniors residence which will meet the goals of the village's new master plan and be an asset for the entire community. We are proud of our concept and have shared our enthusiasm with the public.

We recognize that Roslyn is a special place and see the tremendous potential in the realization of the village's goal to create a continuous waterfront park starting at the Grist Mill and ending one-half mile to the north at our site. We also recognize the village's commitment to historic preservation which is why we commissioned internationally renowned Robert A.M. Stern Architects, whose works include the Master Plan for Celebration in Florida and, locally, the Southampton Library, to design our residence and the open space for our site.

We commend the village, its staff and its planners for their foresight in creating a new zoning code and Master Plan three years ago that encourages senior housing on our site; rational development which simultaneously creates Roslyn's only public access to the waterfront, stabilizes the shoreline and measurably improves the local ecosystem. The village also recognized that senior housing is the lowest generator of traffic as compared to other residential uses and will certainly not burden the school system.

The village's Master Plan also encourages development which will have a positive fiscal impact for the village, not only in terms of a substantial increase in real estate taxes for the village, but also adding a significant consumer base to support Roslyn's restaurants and shops. Our residence will be the largest real estate taxpayer in the village; our residents will frequent local establishments and will make a significant positive contribution to the community.

We believe that we can provide a wonderful place for seniors to live: close to town, adjacent to a new public park with waterfront views and easy access directly to/from Northern Boulevard. We want to make a positive contribution to the Village of Roslyn. Our design is attractive and complements the area's beauty.

We look forward to continuing our dialogue with the village and our neighbors through their public process and remain committed to working with the entire village to ensure that all relevant issues which will affect the well being of the village and its residents are properly addressed before we ask to move forward with our project.

Michael D. Daly, president

Forest City Daly Housing