With the clock ticking away, the NY Islanders and their fans truly need a savior. Monday is the deadline for Ed Mangano’s RFQ and so far many developers on Long Island have backed off knowing how difficult it is to deal with the Town of Hempstead’s current zoning for the property. It seemed so bleak that Randi Marshall wrote an
article for Newsday actually entitled “Some Builders stay away from Coliseum plan” that included quotes such as this one:
"They're putting an RFQ [request for qualifications] out there for a business proposition that is dead on arrival," said developer Mark Hamer, president of Harvest Real Estate Services in Jericho. "They keep trying to force a square peg into a round hole."
“DOA” seems about right for the newest move in the game of political football where the Coliseum is concerned. No one seems to want to touch it with a ten foot pole. Meanwhile, Charles Wang and Michael Picker, have been “unavailable for comment” since the ‘Vote Yes’ referendum failed last August. (PS: I am currently wearing that shirt while I type.) But then again, what do they really have to say that they haven’t already said 100 times. I think the $15 Million spent on the Lighthouse project proposal said it all. But the developers Ms. Marshall spoke to think it is Charles in Charge.
"Until Charles Wang makes up his mind and decides what he's going to do, I think it's all political posturing on both sides," said Garden City developer Jan Burman, who bid on a county redevelopment proposal in 2005, but is undecided about the new request. "He really has the keys to the car," he said of Wang. "The most important guy is not in the room."
Really? He has the keys to the car? I think it’s a moving truck.
And then there was this gem from the Newsday article:
“Mangano says the county will commit no funding to the project. But Hamer, who is not answering the request, and other developers say it would be difficult for a private firm to make the project work without public funds. He and others also noted that no one has found a way to make money if they have to build or renovate an arena while following Hempstead Town's mixed-use zoning code, which limits the number of housing units that can be built.”
So with all this being said by many prominent developers, yesterday afternoon Ms. Marshall tweeted out the following:
Randi Marshall@randimarshall
Developer Donald Monti, who is working in village of Hempstead and city of Glen Cove, plans to submit to #isles RFQ and wants to keep arena
TA DAH! So is there a white knight approaching the Coliseum? Even Joe Conte, who was very close to the development of the area replied if anyone can do it, it’s
Renaissance Downtowns. They have been successful in the past. Interesting that since Mr. Monti is already working with the Village of Hempstead (read Queen Kate), he already knows the pitfalls. **Although I am told the Village of Hempstead is "way, way different" from the TOWN of Hempstead. They should be 'somewhate' related, right? You'd think.**
Or perhaps… this is another political ploy formulated by the Town of Hempstead and Ms. Kate Murray.
“Donald! Quick! Tell Newsday you’ll submit an RFQ so that it doesn’t look as if no one is willing to work with us!”
Also of note, Mr. Monti says he
“has a relationship with” Charles Wang and is partners on another project with CBW’s ex-partner on the Lighthouse project, Scott Rechler. Oh… now this is getting interesting.
Randi Marshall@randimarshall
Monti: “I love the Islanders. People don’t realize the importance of a major league franchise...To lose them...would be a travesty” #isles
So where was this White Knight hiding?
Here is a
video I found on YouTube from a few years back.
He seems to be a very charismatic, intelligent man with an excellent vision. The question truly is, can he somehow make that vision appealing to the Town of Hempstead, Nassau County residents and Charles Wang.
Is Donald Monti the Islanders Hero? He’s not even sure if he’ll win the RFQ. But if he’s the only one who submits for it, well…. We’ll see.
New York Islanders Blogger • 
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