I dont because of parking alone. When there is something going on at the theater there is no parking anywhere. They will be taking away parking by building this.

The parking problem should be resolved BEFORE they start construction. Keep in mind also that if a parking garage is built those spots will be gone for the year or so it takes for the garage to be built . More spots would have to be built to accomodate the spots that would be lost for the year or two of the garage construction.

The very complex and curiously designed combination of stores, apartments and turnaround spaces (with gardens and fountains) could have incorporated the Carnegie Library in the original concept without its having to be moved at all. 46,000 feet of retail space seems optimistic, as there is hardly any retail activity on that section of Main Street now. Perhaps the rents are too high? How is $100,000,000 going to be reimbursed to the developers?

I am not for apartments. They just want to build too may. Look a the apartments across from the Post Office. What a wreck. Do you what more of that?

Where I'd the tier parking? There is not enough parking for this project. They recently upgraded the sewer plant only to overload it's capacity with condo's, apt's, etc. They paved main street twice for the new sewer hook ups for businesses in E.Patchogue. This is Patchogue not Queens.

Years have passed since Tritec’s grand announcement of their original plans for the Four Corners. No demolition has commenced to date, yet they are blaming their stalled project on a recent legal proceeding that started before they erected their “Thank You” signs.

Last year, they quietly replaced the hotel and owner-occupied units with nearly 300 rental apartments with inadequate notice to the public. The tiered parking component also vanished from the plan, and the Carnegie library moved to the chopping block.

Mr. Loscalzo questions our motives, but it was he and the Mayor who together pulled their “bait and switch.” Mr. Loscalzo does not live here. If he and his partners think putting 300 rental apartments in the middle of our Main Street is a good idea, I suggest he propose this same plan in his own hometown.

The Mayor claims that the majority of Village residents are in favor of putting 291 rental apartments on the Four Corners. Most of the residents I have spoken to are appalled at how the plan quietly morphed into its present form, and angry about recent hotel openings elsewhere on Long Island.

Many community leaders asked the Mayor to fight to retain some positive aspects of the plan. Instead, he fought on behalf of the developer to maximize its profits. Perhaps that is why Tritec is one of Mr. Pontieri's major campaign contributors.

I will continue to insist on putting the interests of residents first.

Seems a little disingenous to claim that no demolition has taken place when you are a plaintiff in the lawsuit that is delaying the project, I have said before and I will say again anti-business attitudes get us nowhere. When you have a blighted corner as we have on the Four Corners, a can-do business attitude is needed to get the job done. Complaining about supposed campaign contributions to the Mayor while failing to layout a a clear vision for the future serves no one. That property has the potential to lay fallow for years to come in my opinion especially the way things are going.

I thought that the Carnegie Library was being moved to a new location.. are you saying that is not the case? When did that happen?

I am pretty sure that the section of Main St that was paved twice is outside the boundaries of the Village... a call to the County might be in order.

Hi Terrance, you and I have touched on this before. My point is that the lawsuit is not what is delaying the demolition. Tritec would like you believe that it is. I am a businessperson and am definitely pro-business. I am pro-development in my community if it benefits the residents. In business, you have to be able to negotiate on behalf of your client. In this case, the client is the Patchogue Village resident. Our Mayor is either unable or unwilling to negotiate on our behalf with housing developers, and we are forced to accept their "take it or leave it" offers and broken promises. Tritec is involved in the hotel that is being developed in Carle Place but wants us to believe the funding is not available for hotels on Long Island right now. I think they underestimate Patchogue Village residents. This was proven in the case of the Carnegie Library.

I'm sorry Mrs. McGuire but I have to side with Terrance on this one. A positive, proactive approach must be taken to move forward in this day and age. The economy has no sign of recovering anytime soon and I do not agree with Mr. Keegan that we need to sit and wait a few years to see what the future brings. The future begins now and although I am not a business person like yourself, I must believe that Tritec wants to do something positive with it's newly acquired property that they must have spent a great deal of money on. You are constantly on this sight talking about accountability and lack there of, making promises of what you believe in, but never say how or what it is that you intend to do. And I believe that it is you who underestimate the Patchogue Village residents because it is not as clear a picture as you like to put out there. There are many of us who have mixed feelings about the project, but who think that something must be done. You make it seem like the current Board are doing something shady and have something to gain. Some of these people are the same people that you have sided yourself with. That in itself makes me doubt your intentions. I guess we will just have to see what comes after the holidays. I hear there is a 3rd party running, maybe they will be able to provide us with some clear goals and plans of achieving them.

And Marshall, it is my understanding from the articles on here that the library is being moved as it was planned years ago. It was just a matter of it being structurally sound. Mrs. McGuire would like you to believe that was her and her fellow party members who "saved" the library, but I think that there is more to that story than meets the eye. Another one of her former fellow political buddies formed his own group to save the library, as well as the mayor and other trustees each coming up with plans for it's future use and placement. Why was it necessary for everyone to become focused on the library that didn't really seem to be in any other jeopardy than it falling to pieces when they moved it? This is just another example of blowing smoke in the air and telling everyone how things are not working in the Village, but not having a plan with goals set and a means of accomplishing them. Am I being a bit unfair in that assessment? Please correct me if I am wrong.

Again, my response to this article is that Tritec announced its initial plan in February of 2008. Nothing happened on this property for almost 3.5 years before the lawsuit was initiated.

Tritec and the Mayor present a choice that we have to accept almost 300 rental apartments or the property will remain vacant forever. As I wrote in the Advance last year, this is a false choice that ignores the possibility, even now, for a compromise. Hotels are opening on Long Island, and Tritec themselves is involved in one of them. The Mayor should have fought for the residents to include owner-occupied units and a scaled down hotel if necessary or another business component. He fought instead for the $6,000,000.00 per year in rental income the developer stands to gain from the rental units.

We shouldn’t be in such a hurry to build this bad plan. Check out this link to a recent Newsday story if you want to see Patchogue’s potential future if the current plan is developed.

The story contains information about a 337 rental unit called Hempstead Manor in the Village of Hempstead. It reports that the “upgraded” apartment complex has become an "absolute disgrace," with gangs in the hallways, poor security and facilities in disrepair, heat problems, bedbugs, other insects, and ceilings falling down.

www.newsday.com/long-island/nassau/workers-tenants-slam-building-owner-1.3341538

Good morning Concerned, I have never once claimed to have saved the Carnegie Library. There is a dedicated group of community volunteers and historians working to see that this happens. If you've followed the sequence of events, the structural soundness of that building was only one piece of the puzzle. The Mayor was quoted in the media saying that it may have to be demolished for economic reasons, warning us that he had to make "tough decisions in tough times." He then abandoned that position after tremendous public outcry.I agree with you in working proactively and positively, and it will be exciting to see what ideas are brought forth in the coming months. Our Village has tremendous potential and I would hate to see it sold short. Enjoy the weekend!

Groundbreaking for a new hotel in Carle Place
11/29/11
TRITEC Hospitality, Inc. broke ground on a new Homewood Suites in Carle Place for developer AVR-Carle Place Associates. Construction of this new hotel is projected to create 39 new permanent jobs, 70 construction jobs and generate more than $15 million in economic activity for Nassau County. The limited services hotel will have 150 rooms and is schedule to open in January of 2013.

The thing I don't get is there are apartments in Patchogue Village currently in desperate need of repair, but nobody talks about that. So why re we building more apartments?

Thank you for your response and the link to that article. I hadn't see that but I have seen many other articles about the revitalization of Patchogue and the success of projects like this. But honestly, I as I have said in the past, you have not sold me on yourself and your ticket, whether or not who you have run this election. An overwhelming amount of skewed and misleading information about what the other side is not going to do is not enough for my vote. What the Village residents really want are answers and a plan. I guess we will just have to continue to wait and see what everyone's intentions are as you say "in the coming months" as everyone just name calls and points fingers. By then we will really have lost interest and faith in all those involved. I say bring on the new team. I saw their ad in the Advance and they too have a bunch of promises. We will see if they have a plan to obtain some of them. Do we know who any of these player are yet?

This is whats wrong with this country, a lawsuit over parking spaces. If i was Tritec , I'd just say enough's enough and pull out, and file a lawsuit against the village of patchogue to recoup any lost income from the planning of this project, as well as the time it took to plan it, as well as the time it took to get any permits (if acquired yet). I mean, all of you, if you are SO concerned with these apartments, then why didn't you protest The Riverwalk (old clarerose). Somethings got to be done with this spot, as a tax payer I'm downright embarrassed when I bring someone to patchogue go to the brick house and have to see the vacant sweezys. If this thing doesn't get done now, have fun looking as this for the next fiften years. No one is going to touch this property and Tritecs plan is the best thing that ever happened to these vacant parcels. And lets be real, Macys nor any of these huge department stores are going to touch this property, especially with the threat of a walmart in east patchogue.

Oh and personally, I rather have another 300 rented apartments, then homeless living behind the Carnegie library. This is what hurts businesses

Where can some one view a copy ofthe law suit?

The problem, Jared, is that TRITEC would not care if the homeless people that you are talking about are housed in those apartments. I applaud the people who have brought forth this lawsuit and apparently, from the results of the poll that started this thread, the residents of Patchogue applaud this lawsuit almost 2 to 1. Mrs. McGuire mentioned in a previous article the number of Section 8 units that TRITEC now owns which, in itself, is direct proof of where their true intentions lie. Mrs. McGuire, if you are reading this, I'd love to see the link to that information because my belief is that this idea that TRITEC is the new savior of downtown Patchogue is an absolute farce. When those 1 bdrm apartments do not rent for the 1k+ that they're talking about we'll see how fast they fill up with recipients of some type of funded housing and TRITEC will be laughing all the way to the bank, at the expense of our Village. I've seen this as a bait and switch all along and i am so disappointed that our beloved Patchogue First has gone in this direction.

Part 2:
Go hang out with the mob of quality people hanging around the bus stop in back of the court house during the day awaiting their free publicly funded transportation. Welcome to the new face of downtown Patchogue! It's very possible people. Open your eyes. Is it worth risking this possibility?
As far as parking goes Jared, the next time you bring your friends into Patchogue to visit The brickhouse, good luck finding a space now and forget about ever finding a space if this housing goes up. When The Brickhouse was the only game in town West of Ocean parking wasn't too much of an issue. Then came several other great places, the Village picked up, you want to add 300 units right on main...forget it. It does not add up. The number of parking spaces that were allotted to The Brickouse in the parking study that was conducted barely leaves enough spaces for their employees. It's a joke and has made me lose any respect for our Village Board that worked so hard to get us where we are now.

I don't under stand why people complain about parking? I got to the brick house every Saturday night and park behind BBQ JENOS PIZZA, JR's and can always find a spot. I mean I do agree that we need more parking, But there are plenty of awful looking properties that could be made into a village lot. Maybe paid parking for visitors, permits for village residents? The village should negotiate with the construction company that NO section 8 apartments would be allowed, or make them all condos, that cannot be re rented out by their owners.

"Pontieri is getting his feedback, probably from you Jared as you're munching on your $5 footlong" wow, way to be kinda inappropriate.

As far as unsuccessful apartments in Hempstead, there have also been unsuccessful hotels in Hempstead: http://www.newsday.com/long-island/nassau/notorious-courtesy-hotel-ripped-down-1.2872355

About the poll: Everyone should be aware that anyone can vote as many times as he/she cares to.

I was at the meeting when this project was approved. (yes, the 291 apts). The room broke out into applause when it was approved. One man stormed out. It seems to me, as it always is on the Internet, that the negative types come out in droves online. I don't love the plan, some owner occupied units would be great, but I'm not in charge of those decisions. Also, this idea that the plans were changed in a clandestine manner is without merit. I've been to two board meetings and I read the minutes. It wasn't a surprise to me.

Not in a clandestine manner at all. It was in an obvious, right in our face, predictable manner which makes the entire deal even more unpalatable. The hotel was never a realistic option.
1. Do you feel that TRITEC has The Village of Patchogue's best interests in mind or do they have TRITEC's best interests in mind? Don't think too long on this one...
2. Because there are no covenants, and from what I understand there will be no covenants and that it's too late for covenants that will stop Section 8 occupants, are you still in favor of this potentially disastrous housing tenement at our 4 corners?
These are the real questions people and no matter how we'd all like to envision the bright beautiful future that's been shoved down our throats with this absolutely spectacular structure that will anchor the future of our downtown as the picture has been painted of beautiful maidens skipping and tossing rose petals on main street as the owners of TRITEC and our illustrious Mayor parade behind them to the thunderous applause of the bourgeois, we can very well end up with a very vacant building that will deteriorate in a short period of time, that will then be sold by TRITEC to another non-caring party and we will have a huge problem that we will not be able to do anything about.
This is a real possibility, not the skipping maidens spreading rose petals of course, and is it acceptable to risk this potential fate? Is it, or should we wait?
(sorry about the footlong crack Jared)

Just a reminder that personal attacks, patently false information and other violations of Patch's Terms will result in comment deletion, and may result in account suspension. Please see our terms here: http://patchogue.patch.com/terms

And yes, the poll can be voted on as many times as one wants and should not be considered scientific nor indicative in any way.

There's a lot of talking going on, but there doesn't seem to be alternate plans being presented by opposing parties...waiting it out for something better seems to be the only solution being presented. The four corners have been an eyesore for at least a decade now. At what point do we move forward? If there was some great idea out there I would be all for it. There was a parking study conducted by Tritec (which yes, I'm anticipating the backlash to that statement along the lines of it being skewed to their needs) but wasn't there also a independent study by the Chamber that agreed with the initial study? As for the lawsuit, lawsuits are intended to stop progress, so if someone could explain how it doesn't, that would be great. I believe it was an article 78 which stops movement forward by challenging the governing body with the intention to overturn decisions made- in this case, I would imagine the zoning permits which I think if it went against Tritec they then would need to revise their plan and resubmit it to the village. I understand the concern for renters but if this doesn't happen, what happens next? Continue to have a blighted area in the dead center of a village that has been revitalized over the last 10 years? A revitalization that began with the theater? Would we rather have a problem with parking in that all the spots are empty?

Still finding it very hard to comprehend business owners on Main Street not wanting people living within walking distance of their restaurants and stores. It just does not make sense to me. Can anyone care to explain it? Other than the Brick House being worried that there the Village won't be providing a free parking lot for it's customers sole use as it has in the past.

"If this doesn't happen, what happens next?"
Unbelieveable. We have the blind leading the blind. (All comments are general observations speaking to the general public. Nothing personal toward any previous response)
We don't know what may happen? Really? This is your rationalization in backing this project?
Yes, we may have an unbelievable anchor at our 4 corners with 100% occupancy. With young proffessionals training into NYC shopping at our own main street stores and eating at our wonderful eateries. This is what YOU have bought into, not me. If this complex happens and this is the outcome then I will be with you on the sidelines applauding our rose petal stepping forefathers.
Now let's just think for a second, put aside the parking. Yes, forget the parking issue. Sit back, close your eyes and relax...
Now open your eyes and please answer my questions.
Is the possible alternate result acceptable? If this housing turns sour and you do not have your successful young execs walking the streets are you ok with the opposite outcome? As you walk from Pera Bell to the Brickhouse will you be ok walking past a Section 8 community?
Forget the parking. Is this outcome ok? Do you think TRITEC cares who they get paid their rent from? A young exec or the federal/local government?
They do not.
Good luck lawsuit! Get lost TRITEC!
I'm done. I've said my piece.
I wish the entire Patchogue community a happy and healthy holiday season!

I guess my point was missed because we're so worried about what MAY happen. Not what we can do. My question is, when Sweezy's moved from the Four Corners what was that board's vision of the property? Today, what is the alternate plan? What proposals are being put forward by the opposition to turn that property into something viable? Where are the investors? Where are the renderings? Show me an alternative that I can support. Or is the solution to wait for another 10 years because there isn't a plan?

1.
Where is the proof that an alternate plan will be a sure thing? There is no proof! That is because every investment has a risk, every business has a risk and yes a smart developer will have a back up plan...or a what if plan. So to say Tritec has not though of renting these apartments to section 8 or low income family would be untrue. However as a developer and property owner I can guarantee their risk is being calculated off of these apartments being rented to middle income tenants that will live and shop in the surrounding business. Tritec renting to section 8 housing will only hurt their investment. Renting to Section 8 will hurt their immediate value and projected value of this property as it will make renting and re-renting the commercial and residential spaces at this project and there adjacent property 31 main very difficult. So I believe Tritec has just as much to lose here as the Village residents do by renting to Section 8 housing. Furthermore from experience I do not believe section 8 or HUD has the resources to pay the rent (which I am sure Tritec will be asking a premium rent to ensure a decent return considering the cost of developing this project) that Tritec will be asking for 1 tenant let alone 291 tenants.

My family has owned multi-family properties in the village for the last 60 years and we have taken risks that have worked out for the best and some that haven’t but without taking risks I would not be proving a place for people to live and shop in the Village. With risks like these there would be no home and no business at all! The irony is that the brickhouse is a perfect example of a business that experienced a lot of opposition, I am sure there were very similar arguments made prior to them opening their doors. With people fearing that it would turn into bar that attracted poor elements of people that would cause havoc and destruction through the streets of the village. I would bet that you had that very concern. I still cannot see how redeveloping the gateway corner of Patchogue , creating jobs, bring more people to the village as well as increasing tax revenue is bad thing, with your only argument being that IT MAY bring low income people to the village that spend their government funded money in local business. I am sorry but your arguments are will out merit and proof. Your line of thinking leads me to believe you would have tried to talk Columbus out of sailing for fear he would drop of the earth. Without risk there is no reward...just a vacant eyesore that certainly isn't helping the revitalization process!

i wonder how many times "1" voted on the poll. Why don't they make them condos? That insures that they don't turn into section 8 ( which should just be done away with but thats a whole other story)

It might be a diffucult sell as it we already have a flood of condos and town homes in the village but perhaps a combo of apartments and condos could work. A mix use would probably take some pressure off Tritec renting the apartments to the first people who comes with money and offer some first time home buyer incentives on the sale of the condos similar to what Pulte did on Copper Village.

Hey Lou, you still own Dave's liquidation?

From what I see there is a lot of people who are against this cluster housing and the take it or leave it attitude that was shoved down our throats by Tritec. I have lived on Lake St. for 32 yrs. and feel that the area will be too congested and take away parking of existing businesses in the Village. Also why didn't the Village go after the slumlords on Lake street who have blighted our area? Their yards are not maintained and they are overcrowded.

Anyone who is in the construction industry knows the real reason why this
project has stalled. Concerned business owner you should know that this project
originally included owner occupied units but they went the way of the hotel.
Talk to anyone in the biz. This is never happening.

Mr. D'ambrosio, I understand you may have a lot to gain from this project but
you should know it probably ain't happening.

Bob,
As the housing boom burst and lending has followed suit it has been hard to sell owner occupied housing (condo's and Townhomes) however in amazement a decent amount have sold....excluding the ones that overlook the village dump. I am hopeful that the Riverwalk will achieve similar success. I assume that Tritec has already researched the ability to build Condos on the site and offer a substantial amount as Work Force Housing or affordable(not low income) housing that could offer a opportunity for young families provide a home to raise a family and shop, and play. I know Copper village had to have an allotted amount of work force housing units that were sold at a discount rate and I believe that project was successful for the developer. At the end of the day there will probably never be the perfect fit for that corner, but if everybody worked together with the same goals in mind instead of fighting each other something good could come of this eyesore. I have seen this cat and mouse game before and it hasn't worked out so well for the citizens of a great land.... (anybody want to take a guess). I’m thinking of debt ceilings and current payroll tax cuts. The end results is AA credit rating and 10% unemployment.

There is clearly not enough parking in the Village already. In the summer months you can drive around for half an hour and hope someone pulls out. We presently have a parking problem with a restaurant down by the water. The building was purchased with no consideration as to how the hundreds of vehicles arriving for weddings and alike would find parking,This lack of foresight has disrupted the lives of the surrounding residents. Even now several years later there is no solution. It is a nightmare. I think there is a legitimate concern regarding the lack of parking in the Village. And until the builder can adequately address that issue the project should not go forward. It is one thing for people to come to a restaurant to eat and leave it is another to have a minimum of two cars per apartment that will remain parked on our residential streets over night and all weekend. We are talking about a minimum of 582 vehicles that will be strewn throughout the surrounding residential community, Until a viable solution can be agreed upon by the Mayor, Trustees and Residents this project should not move forward.