Greenport's vacant storefronts, Penn Station fire
A vacant storefront on Front Street in Greenport on May 21. Credit: Randee Daddona
Get creative with vacant storefronts
To solve the problem, maybe the landlords should rethink asking $27,000 a month for rent [“Greenport tackling surge of vacancies,” News, May 31].
How about $5,000 a month with a rider for an increase in rent due based upon level of sales? Something like 15% for the first $100,000 in sales, then 20% from $101,000 to $250,000 in sales, then 30% for $500,000 in sales, etc. Landlords can get the same $324,000 in annual rent if the store survives and thrives so as to not strangle the leasee from Day 1. A new way of thinking about vacant space could result in filling it, perhaps? Nothing ventured, nothing gained.
— Jim Malone, Rockville Centre
In 1996, when my wife and I moved from Nassau County to Southold, the Arcade was the closest thing that the Village of Greenport had to an anchor store.
Today, due to the growth of Tanger Outlets in Riverhead and Amazon, I don’t think an anchor store is in the cards.
I agree with former Mayor David Kapell. The Arcade should be taken by eminent domain, and the Village of Greenport in concert with the Town of Southold should seek to develop the property for residential and commercial use.
— John A. Viteritti, Laurel
The writer served as secretary to the New York City Planning Commission, and on the Town of Southold Housing Advisory Commission.
Fix chronic rail problems
The recent two-alarm fire near Penn Station, the second major transit disruption in less than two weeks, is a glaring example of the severe infrastructural deterioration plaguing American public transportation [“Lieber: ‘Unacceptable situation,’ ” Long Island, May 30]. Anyone traveling through Penn Station must wonder how this antiquated hub can safely cope with rising commuter traffic, let alone emergencies.
Yet, Amtrak leadership downplays these disruptions. We cannot keep relying on a fragile, century-old system while our entire regional transit network hangs by a thread.
— Atul Karnik, Woodside
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