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I drove south through Garden City the other day along Franklin Ave, and going from Garden City to Hempstead is like two different worlds. One second it's all trees, grass and huge houses, the next it's car dealerships and apartment buildings crammed into every square inch.
I know that the two areas have very different economic demographics, but it's more than that. You can feel it as soon as you enter Hempstead, that something just isn't the same as where you were. You can see it all around you. It kinda makes me wish the Lighthouse Project would happen. Would that help revitalize the area?
Last year I was out and about around Hofstra and in less than 10 minutes someone approached my friend either looking to buy or sell drugs.
I'm not saying it's something we should fear or embrace. I just kinda find these things fascinating. I mean, some of these high-income and low-income areas are separated by only a chain-link fence and some hedges. I can kinda see what people are referring to when they say that Long Island is segregated.
not gonna comment too much, but I really do wish the Lighthouse project happens, and not a watered down version of it. that area used to be a really nice area, many years ago, and is not anymore.
LI really needs something along the lines of the light house project, smart development for a higher density with real public transportation and a line into Jamaca.
Drive south on Clinto Rd (around the R/R tracks) and you will see the same thing around Meadow St , night and day homes around 700 - 800 and bam Bodega's and laundry mats that look run down
not gonna comment too much, but I really do wish the Lighthouse project happens, and not a watered down version of it. that area used to be a really nice area, many years ago, and is not anymore.
LI really needs something along the lines of the light house project, smart development for a higher density with real public transportation and a line into Jamaca.
Don't hold your breath on Public Transportation- the planned ideas for the lighthouse and public transit are poor at best.
MTA LIRR hasn't built track in like 50 years; though if you do want to count something the AirTrain is kind of along the effect of what they would need... but I'm still fuming that they charge an additional $5 to take that thing each way.
While LI (especially Nassau) needs some kind of tourist dollars coming in... I think a Casino in Long or Lido Beach is more likely to attract some tourist dollars all 4 seasons a year.
As one poster mentioned, Clinton Rd. is an even greater contrast.
On Franklin, you at least have St. Joseph's, and then a series of car dealerships providing a buffer for the area. The Cathedral Gardens section of Hempstead is beautiful and therefore you don't really have that huge of a drop off.
On Clinton however you really see it. You go from tree lined streets and Tudors to HELL. Run down apartments, beat up gas stations, bodegas, cement everywhere....it is night and day.
Honestly, I'm not sure there is a bigger contrast on LI than that.
Why do people think the Lighthouse project will revitalize Hempstead? The project is in Uniondale. I'm not sure how it will get drug dealers and other gang scum to leave Hempstead?
Are they magically going to say...gee...we have a new hockey area and some shops...lets get the hell out of here
The only way to clean up Hempstead is by encouraging business to go there. You'd have to create some sort of economic zone there that is very low tax on corporations. That would get them to invest there. Then you'd have to build decent apartment buildings and condos. Then you'd have to start enforcing zoning laws and kicking out the illegals. Then you'd have to find new homes for a number of residents.
It's a tall tall task. I'm not sure the crooked pols in LI are up for it.
A map of the Hamlet of East Garden City in the Town of Hempstead, Nassau County:
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/a/ad/East-garden-city-ny-map.gif (broken link)
It is important to understand that East Garden City is one of those many villages and hamlets on Long Island where none of the places in the community have the hamlet name as part of their mailing address: places in the Hamlet of East Garden City have a "Garden City, NY 11530", "Westbury, NY 11590", "Uniondale, NY 11553" and "Hempstead, NY 11550" mailing address.
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