Adelphi Construction Concerns Residents
By Stephanie Mariel Petrellese

Residents have been bothered by a significant increase in parking and traffic on surrounding side streets since construction began on the Adelphi University campus.

Manny Velez, president of the Estates Property Owners' Association, asked trustees at the Oct. 5th Garden City Board of Trustees meeting to establish a formal communication process for residents to voice their concerns. He said residents in the vicinity of Brompton Road are appreciative of efforts that have been made so far by the Village and university but are concerned that the traffic flow that has been created due to construction will have a permanent impact on the area.

According to Trustee John Mauk, who serves as trustee from the Estates section, the Village is working directly with Adelphi University President Dr. Robert A. Scott, who has been very receptive to residents' concerns. Mayor Gerard Lundquist, Trustees Mauk and Donald Brudie, as well as Village Administrator Robert Schoelle, took an informal tour of the construction site with Dr. Scott on Sept. 30. Mauk reminded residents that the area won't return to "normal" until construction is over. It is scheduled to last two years.

Trustee Robert Rothschild, another Estates trustee, added that Dr. Scott attended a Sept. 13th meeting of the Estates Property Owners' Association and responded directly to residents. Angelo Proto, Adelphi's vice president for administration and student services, planned to attend the Estates POA meeting on Oct. 11th since Dr. Scott was scheduled to attend a fundraising dinner in New Jersey.

Dr. Scott told The Garden City News that the parking and traffic problems have been considerably alleviated over the past few weeks. The university has hand-delivered letter to residents on nearby Brompton Road listing what they are trying to do to deal with the problems.

According to the Sept. 22nd letter, the university has redesigned their western lot to add more than 60 additional parking spaces; distributed flyers encouraging drivers to use Cherry Valley Avenue as an alternative to local side streets and Nassau Boulevard; put up "No Left Turn" signs at the campus exits from the South Avenue parking lot; and posted officers at the exits during busiest times to direct traffic. The university has also asked the Village to consider changing directional signs on Cherry Valley Avenue and Nassau Boulevard. They are also working with the Long Island Rail Road and MTA to find ways to increase use of mass transit.

The university is also offering an incentive program for students to park in the lot at the Garden City Pool. Students can receive $5 a day to park in the lot, which is located approximately 100 yards from the southern end of campus.

Dr. Scott said many students were frustrated that the lot was not available to students for the first days of the fall semester. Schoelle explained that the semester began August 25th and the pool closed Labor Day weekend so it was not available for student parking during that time.