By Anthony V. Brienza

Sen. Charles Schumer joined with Nassau County Executive Tom Suozzi and Town of Hempstead Supervisor Kate Murray on Monday as he announced his support for The Lighthouse project by seeking federal transportation funding that would address traffic  issues in the area.

“We are going to transport these 150 acres into the 21st century,” said Schumer, referring to the proposed $3.47 billion privately financed redevelopment of the property surrounding the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum. “This is not the time to hide and wait for the storm to pass,” he said. “It’s time to build and grow.”

An artists rendering of the aerial view of The Lighthouse Project.

Kate Murray spoke briefly about “traffic issue,” and how the proposed construction and redevelopment of the area with a new arena, “smart growth” housing and a commercial complex will affect roads like Hempstead Turnpike, the Meadowbrook Parkway and Old Country Road.

“The intersection at Hempstead Turnpike and James Doolittle Boulevard and Charles Lindbergh would have to be altered to help the traffic issue,” said Murray, who distanced herself from the development’s backers because the town’s zoning board is tasked with reviewing the project.

The development, which would take 10 years to build if approved, would provide an estimated 75,000 construction and secondary jobs, along with 19,000 permanent jobs and generate an annual $71 million of property, sales, and entertainment tax revenue, proponents said. Suozzi added that the “new suburbia” model that is proposed in the project is necessary to stem the departure of LI’s youth.

The next town board meeting regarding the project’s Draft Generic Environmental Impact Statement is on July 7 at Hempstead Town Hall at 10:30 a.m.