Progress at Former Texaco Site

Construction is underway to turn the eyesore at the corner of Seventh Street and Franklin Avenue into a focal point aimed to both support and compliment the heart of Garden City's business district.

Domus Green, LLC took title to the property in April 2007 and received all necessary approvals to turn the former Texaco gas station site into a mixed-use, three-story building. The property sat idle for years after the gas station moved its business further south on Franklin Avenue.

Village trustees and residents alike anticipate the finished project, to also include an approximate 30-foot link or pedestrian promenade to the rear of the building to give residents and shoppers access to the municipal parking lot it.

Kevin Walsh, representing Domus, said his client hopes to complete the project in nine to 12 months from the recent start date.

The building will include 15,000 square feet of retail at street level and 14 "high end" residential units, seven on each the second and third floors. A total of 25 on-site parking spaces will be provided for the units while shoppers to the new building will use Field 7N.

Trustee Nick Episcopia asked Walsh if his client could hang a rendering or mural of the intended project along the fence now surrounding the work site's perimeter.

"We were told once final plans were done the developer was going to put a mural up so that people going by - cause the site is obviously closed in - would be able to see a rendering of what this would look like," he said. "It is in the middle of our business district. It would be very good to have."

Trustee Dennis Donnelly, board liaison to the business community, further asked if workers could wet down the site several times a day to keep construction dust at a minimum.

"Would it be possible to really reiterate to him that we need the site considerably wet down a number of times during the day as we have outdoor dining establishments on the opposite side of the street?" he asked. "A lot of dust comes out of there."

The property is located in a C-2 District, which permits retail or office use but not residential use. Domus sought, and was later granted, the zoning change. This project is similar to both condominium complexes across the street - 222 Seventh Street and Stewart Franklin Condominiums - which have retail stores on the lower level and four stories of residential units above.