Great Neck Plaza residents concerned about residential complex proposal

Great Neck Plaza residents filled the Village Hall Wednesday evening to hear the proposal for a 69-unit residential complex in the village.

The complex would be on Linden Place, not far from the LIRR station. The plan includes two-bedroom, one-bedroom and studio apartments.

Great Neck residents like Wendy Halpern says she has several concerns about the impact a large development would have on public services.

"Ranging everything from traffic impact to the school impact to emergency response times,” she said. “To be honest, I don't really see a single benefit to these new developments."

Debra Dirico retired to Great Neck after living in Queens. She says she loves the village for how quaint and charming it is. She fears traffic problems from the proposed complex could change the village and push her out.

“My dream was always to come to Long Island, so I made it,” she said. “Once that building goes, then it’s not going to be good. I’ll probably have to move somewhere else.”

Attorneys for the developer, JS Barstow LLC, say the latest proposals listened to prior public concerns and now offers parking not just for residents.

"Take those 34 parking stalls and provide those stalls to the village under its residential parking permit program,” said Paul Bloom of Harras, Bloom, & Archer LLP.

The latest plans also removed proposed commercial space from the site. Residents hope the village listens to their concerns.

"I just hope that the village listens to its residents and follows the wishes of the residents,” said Halpern.

News 12 reached out to the developer prior to the meeting but didn't hear back.

No vote on the project took place Wednesday night. The mayor said the board would look at the plan and consider public comments before moving forward.