Valley Stream considers eminent domain in Gibson
“Valley Stream officials say they will try to have two vacant commercial buildings on Gibson Boulevard, which residents have been calling an eyesore for years, condemned.
Mayor Ed Fare said that the village was ready to invoke eminent domain months ago, but was informed by the owner’s attorney, Dominick Minerva Jr., that a deal to sell the land to another developer was in the works. The village held off, but Fare said he was recently informed that the deal had fallen through because the potential buyer backed out.
“We were very optimistic,” Fare said. “It was the best-sounding deal we ever had. Now that the deal has fallen apart, we’re going to revisit eminent domain again.”
In 2005, the Board of Zoning Appeals approved the construction of a condominium complex to replace the buildings, in which several businesses were still operating at the time. The developer, Dr. Leonard Bleicher, of Hewlett Harbor, later revised his plans for a scaled-down apartment building. Construction never began.”
Hackmack, Andrew. LIHerald.com 26 September 2013.