Public Hearing Planned For Ex-Sears Building In Hicksville

HICKSVILLE, NY — A public hearing has been scheduled for next month on a former Sears building in Hicksville where developers will present an overview of the 26.4-acre project and the Town Board will listen to comments from neighbors.

The Oyster Bay Town Board will host the hearing Thursday, Sept. 17 at the Town Hall in Oyster Bay. The meeting starts at 7 p.m.

Residents can watch a presentation of the hearing via videoconference courtesy of the Hicksville Athletic Center and Hicksville Community Center. Questions can be asked in real time. Space is limited at all facilities and Hicksville residents will be given priority.

Speakers will have three minutes.

The real estate investment trust Seritage, spun off by Sears Holdings, proposed demolishing the former department store and Auto Center at 195 North Broadway to make way for 425 rental apartments, retail and office space, restaurants, a grocery store, movie theater, fitness center and food-service kiosks. A TD Bank and Chipotle restaurant would remain on the property under the proposal, and 5 acres of green space is planned.

The Draft Environmental Impact Statement of the site is available online and hard copies are available at the town clerk’s office, Hicksville Public Library, and Environmental Resources department.

Members of the public can submit comments in writing at the hearing or by emailing PublicComment@oysterbay-ny.gov.

Residents previously expressed strong feelings on the proposal.

"Isn't Hicksville crowded enough? We don't even get a say anymore in this bloody town. You already have a whole foods and Asian grocery stores, a movie theater and extra people. We don't want any more," one person wrote on Patch's Facebook page.

According to one resident who's called Hicksville home for 65 years, the proposed development is too big for the town to handle.

"There's nothing in this site plan that benefits the residents of Hicksville," the lifelong resident wrote on social media. "We do NOT need another movie theatre as there are 12 screens across the street at the Broadway Commons Mall. We don't want 425 apartments with all their additional cars when 2,200 parking spaces are needed."

Some residents worry that the proposed development would lead to a traffic nightmare that the town is unprepared to handle. Others worry that the new retail space is not needed when there are stores in Hicksville that currently sit empty. And still others worry most won't be able to afford to live in the proposed apartments.

"Another over priced excuse of apartments that young professionals with students loans will never be able to afford. Just one more way to bilk Long Island residents," one person commented.

"These are gonna be the typical apartments that average middle class people are looking at to live in but still won't be able to afford the price," another said.