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Red Flags for Woodward Avenue Mansion
Originally published in the 2006 August 24 edition of The
Wantagh-Seaford Citizen. The Wantagh Seaford Home Owners Association met on Wednesday, August 16, to discuss the use of the historic nineteenth century mansion on the corner or Woodward and Wantagh avenues. Formerly a religious bookstore known as "The Rock", Todd Pobiner, DDS, purchased the property for the use of his endodontics practice. However residents were concerned about the effects his practice would have on quality of life in the surrounding residential area, especially with issues related to client parking.
Dr. Pobiner intends to use the main floor for his dentistry practice, lease out the second floor to another professional practice, and use the basement as a storage area. However, the basement does possess bathroom facilities and could conceivable be used for additional office space. Even if the dumpster was removed from the property and the garages demolished to expand the parking lot, Wantagh residents are concerned that the building's parking facility would not accommodate client parking for two professional practices, especially since parking is not permitted on Wantagh Avenue. They were concerned that the parking overflow would congest adjacent Woodward Avenue and surrounding residential streets, creating hazardous traffic conditions and diminishing the peaceful stress-free life residents feel entitled to. "I couldn't have company visit me because there would be no place for them to park", said one longtime Wantagh resident. "I could barely pull out of my driveway without hitting somebody as it is now!" Woodward Avenue is already used as a detour when the busy Wantagh Avenue and Sunrise Highway intersection becomes obstructed because of car accidents and road construction. Members of the Wantagh-Seaford Housing Association, including President Ella Stevens, were worried that Woodward Avenue would become impassable with the added congestion of two professional practices occupying the three-story building. William Cohn, attorney for Dr. Pobiner, argued that his client runs a clean, quiet professional practice and that he'd only be able to accommodate a few clients for maybe an hour at a time, thus limiting the volume of traffic in the area at any one time. He explained that with only minor renovations to the property, Dr. Pobiner would be able to provide adequate parking for his clients without it spilling over into residential streets. Wantagh residents claimed they've heard this song before and that they've been burned too many times in the past by establishments promising to meet residential concerns and not following through once they open for business. Residents have felt betrayed when new businesses have ripped up picturesque landscaping, increased traffic congestion, and created an inordinate amount of noise and litter in residential areas; all of which can effect property values.
"We feel our backs are up against the wall and we have no choice but to accept the adverse consequences these establishments bring to our community", said one member of the Wantagh Seaford Homeowners Association. "Mr. Pobiner cannot know his parking needs since he doesn't know who will occupy the second floor of the structure. We can't be sure the basement won't be used for additional office space either", she said. "We should not have to police the area to make sure our requirements are being met." To prevent the occupation of a possible third client, the housing association requested the basement lavatory be removed. Because of a fire safety hazard and insufficient egress, Mr. Cohn argued that its illegal for a client to occupy the basement, therefore removing the lower bathroom is unnecessary. The issue was tabled for later discussion. "I'd rather see it used for educational purposes", argued a longtime resident teacher of twenty-five years. "Maybe for children with autism, or the hearing impaired." Dr. Todd Pobiner invited residents to visit his current practice on Park Avenue to see that clients aren't exactly jamming the parking lot. His attorney also emphasized that Dr. Pobiner plans to use the building for its intended purpose from the time it was built over 100 years ago and that moving his dentistry practice into the building is perfectly legal and would be upheld on appeal in the court of law. Members of the New York Office of State Parks and Historic Preservation were pleased that the mansion would no longer sit vacant, and that Dr. Pobiner did not plan to make any major renovations to the property. The town meeting plans to reconvene at a later date to resolve resident and Dr. Pobiner's issues regarding the use of the property. |
