Village Board Discusses Conklin Street Property

The property at 45 Conklin Street was a central topic at the August Village of Farmingdale Board of Trustees meeting.

Mayor George Starkie said he is pleased with the proposed plans by the law firm Guercio & Guercio to renovate the previous nursery school and current vacant lot adjacent to their current building at 77 Conklin Street.

"I asked Mr. Guercio if there was any way to save the house and in a great way, they took the handicapped ramp out of the front and put the lawn back in there," Starkie said. "It is going to tie in beautifully with the Conklin Street. It is going to give you a more residential feel."

Guercio approached the board asking for approval of the subdivision plans, site plans and permission to receive a special use permit for their newly acquired property at 45 Conklin Street.

Permission to close the public hearing for the special use permit was denied by the board. Approval of the site plans and the special use permit will be voted on during next month’s meeting. The board had already approved the subdivision plans one week prior of the Monday meeting.

According to Mayor Starkie, Guercio had to obtain a special use permit because a piece of county land resides between both 77 and 45 Conklin Street. Without the permit, Guercio would not be able to close on the property. 

Guercio's attorney Thomas Sabellico said the firm plans to keep the existing structure but will subdivide the inside of 45 Conklin into separate offices in order to make more room for the law firm's growing staff. Sabellico said the firm is not planning on leasing out any of the offices to other companies.

"They're expanding and they have a need for more office space," Sabellico said, adding that the purchase of the building has been a year-long process. "He signed the contract over one year ago. Now we can finally close on the property."

Leonard Richmond, an employee at Guercio & Guercio said that thinks additional space is what the law firm desperately needs. 

"I believe our use of it will be to subdivide it into more offices," said Richmond.

Village Attorney Kevin Walsh said that the remaining plans and permit would be approved pending two stipulations. Walsh said the renovated and subdivided building must be approved by both Nassau County and village board officials upon completion for tax purposes. Copies of various deeds must also being presented to the board.

Sabellico said after a year-long process of Guercio attempting to purchase the adjacent property, his client will be able to close after the next village meeting in September.

Representative of Guercio at Monday's meeting, Attorney Howard D. Avrutine, said that he is willing to do all involved to get the deal closed.

"We will get it taken care of," Ovurtine said.

The next hearing on the Guercio property will take place at Village Hall on Sept. 6.