Cornerstone Apartment Officially Withdraws Lynbrook Application

After being voted down by the Village of Lynbrook last November, the application for the Cornerstone apartments has been formally withdrawn by the development company.

Terwilliger & Bartone Properties, the developer of the project, has withdrawn its application for luxury apartment homes at the southwest corner of Earle Avenue and St. James Place, given the denial of the project by the Mayor and Trustees on Nov. 19, 2018.

"The vote by the Mayor and Trustees last November against our application is a clear indication that the size and scope of the project was too large,” said Anthony Bartone, managing partner of Terwilliger & Bartone Properties. “While any developer can still propose development downtown, we will not resubmit unless the project is significantly smaller than our previous proposal, and only after community feedback from residents, as we have stated since the trustees’ denial. We are convinced residents want jobs, revenue and downtown revitalization. Saying no to any revitalization downtown is not an option, especially given vacancies and the need for enhancements in the downtown corridor."

The original Cornerstone proposal was for 200 luxury apartments with on-site residential parking. The developer also planned to create a four-story parking garage as part of the plan. It would have added a net 100 parking spaces to the village.

But the proposal was met with a swift outcry from residents, many of whom felt that the development, which would have been the largest structure in the village, did not fit in with the character of Lynbrook. Many also did not want a parking garage in the village.

In a statement about the plan withdrawal, the developers also addressed the politics surrounding the situation.

"We would like to set the record straight on the ridiculous allegations that the Cornerstone and its principals are funding campaign robo calls and colluding with politicians to build a redevelopment project," Bartone said. "The Preserve Lynbrook Party and [Hilary] Becker have put these wrongful allegations forth with no proof of any kind in attempt to smear us for no cause other than political gain. We have had nothing to do with this campaign content or its funding. While we certainly do not want to be the political chess piece and have withdrawn our proposal, it is sad that a political party can send out mailers with complete fabrications, no corroboration, no factual basis or backup whatsoever, and then expect the people of Lynbrook to vote for them."

The Preserve Lynbrook Party was created in early January in the wake of the apartment proposal. Becker is leading the party's ticket and running for mayor of the village in the March election.

"The reason that this New York City-sized development was coming to Lynbrook was because of Alan Beach’s efforts," Becker said in a statement. "I am glad to see that the developer is finally making it public that he’s only now pulling out of our village. During election time people become actors, but nothing stops the developer and Alan Beach from doing a 360 and steering this no-bid project back after Election Day. My goal has always been and always will be to look out for the village and its residents."