NJ Developers Might Finally Get Their Way With That Long Island Golf Course Fight
You know that old saying about how nothing gets built fast in New York? Well, this one takes the cake. After ten years of court fights, shouting matches at town meetings, and neighbors threatening to chain themselves to trees, developers Robert Weiss and Efrem Gerszberg might actually win approval for their Woodmere Country Club project. The 117-acre property—which used to be a golf course before it shut down—has been sitting there like a giant “Under Construction” sign for a decade. But here’s the kicker: this could really happen now.
How Did We Get Here? A Messy History
It Started With a Closed Golf Course
Back in the early 2010s, the Woodmere Country Club locked its doors for good. Left behind? A huge patch of green in the middle of Nassau County, where open space is rarer than a quiet Long Island Expressway. Enter Weiss and Gerszberg, two Jersey developers who saw dollar signs. Their plan? Turn it into housing, shops, maybe a community center. Sounds simple, right? Yeah, no.
Then Came the Lawsuits (Of Course)
Locals lost it. Traffic nightmares. Overcrowded schools. Losing one of the last big green spaces—you name it, they complained about it. The Town of Hempstead slapped on zoning restrictions like they were going out of style. Environmental groups piled on, warning about flooding and wildlife. And just like that, what should’ve been a two-year project turned into a decade-long courtroom drama.
What the Developers Actually Want to Build
Their Latest Pitch
After all this time, their plan isn’t that radical—some apartments, stores, maybe a rec center. They swear it’ll bring jobs and tax money. Supporters (yes, they exist) say the county could really use the cash. But let’s be real—after ten years, even a lemonade stand would’ve made more progress.
Why People Still Hate It
“This isn’t just about buildings,” one local activist told me. “It’s about not turning into Queens.” The developers keep saying they’ll add parks and fix roads, but trust is in short supply. And honestly? After this long, who can blame anyone for being skeptical?
The Surprising Twist Nobody Saw Coming
Suddenly, the Town Might Play Nice
Here’s where it gets interesting. After years of “no way,” the town’s starting to soften. Maybe it’s the housing crisis. Maybe they’re just tired of fighting. But whispers say officials might actually cut a deal. There’s a big zoning meeting next month—mark your calendars.
But Don’t Break Out the Champagne Yet
Even if they get the green light, you know someone’s going to appeal. If everything goes perfectly—which it never does—construction could start next year. But given this project’s track record? I wouldn’t bet my mortgage on it.
Bigger Than Just One Golf Course
What This Fight Really Shows
This whole mess is classic Long Island. Everyone wants lower taxes, but nobody wants new buildings. An urban planner I talked to put it best: “This is how not to handle development.” And yet, here we are.
The Real Question Nobody’s Answering
If this goes through, it’ll open the floodgates for other stalled projects. But here’s what keeps me up at night: Can suburbs like Hempstead grow without losing what makes them special? Nobody seems to have a good answer.
So Where Does That Leave Us?
Ten years. Countless hearings. Millions in legal fees. Now we’re down to the wire. For the developers, it’s their last shot. For residents, it’s about drawing a line in the sand. And for the rest of us? A front-row seat to the never-ending battle between progress and preservation.
Want to Go Deeper?
- Hempstead’s Zoning Board Docs (Bring Coffee)
- The Neighborhood Group Still Fighting This
- Other Long Island Projects Stuck in Limbo
Source: NY Post – US News