Clarkstown Supervisor George Hoehmann announces the creation of Clarkstown Business and Economic Development Advisory Committee that will develop straggles and pro-growth for the town in front of Macy’s at Shops of Nanuet on Feb. 4, 2019. Carucha L. Meuse, cmeuse@lohud.com
NANUET – Amid the recent demise of big-box stores like Macy’s, Sears and Toys ‘R’ Us, Clarkstown is banking on a transformed retail landscape to continue fueling its economy.
Standing beneath a “store closing” banner hanging outside Macy’s at the Shops at Nanuet on Monday afternoon, Supervisor George Hoehmann introduced a new volunteer advisory committee charged with helping the town attract trending retailers and expand its business-sector base.
The Business and Economic Development Advisory Committee will focus initially on the the retail sector, which despite challenges posed by the internet, will still have a future, the supervisor said.
“Brick-and-mortar businesses aren’t going anywhere, it’s just that they need ways in which they can be enhanced and ways in which they can be competitive in this increasingly competitive environment,” Hoehmann said.
Beyond retail, the town also wants to identify areas that are ripe for attracting technology companies and data centers.
The impending redevelopment of Macy’s is an example of the kind of transformation the town wants to see: Soon after the department store’s April 2 closing, work will begin to renovate the 101,488-square-foot first floor to accommodate At Home, a home décor superstore. The store could open as soon as early 2020.
Joe Farkas, CEO of Metropolitan Realty Associates, which closed on its purchase of the Nanuet Macy’s in December, said Monday that he wanted to fill the second floor of the 224,000-square-foot building with tenants offering “the four F’s” — food, fun, fashion and furniture.
Sales taxes
Clarkstown accounts for over 60 percent of Rockland County’s commercial ratables, with the two major malls — the Palisades Center in West Nyack and the Shops at Nanuet — generating 25 percent of the total sales tax collected countywide, according to town figures.
The town’s retailers account for $44 million in real estate taxes collected for the town and its school districts.
In 2017, Rockland County received nearly $200 million in sales tax revenue, with Clarkstown getting more than $3.5 million, according to figures provided by the county.
Nanuet reimagined
The Macy’s redevelopment and the question of what’s next for the empty Sears at the other end of The Shops are not the only shifts in Nanuet’s landscape:
- The owners of Thruway Plaza on Route 59 have proposed razing the aging strip mall to make way for a hotel.
- The former Pathmark is being transformed into an Aldi, while the buildings that formerly held Toys ‘R’ Us and Babies ‘R’ Us will house new businesses.
- A longtime Tuxedo shop at the Rockland Plaza is proposed as the site of Rockland’s first Shake Shack.
Nanuet is also targeting springtime for adopting the laws necessary for creating transit oriented development in a 40-acre area around the Nanuet train station.
The hope is for developing hundreds of new housing units — a mix of market rate and affordable — that could lure Millennials but also offer downsizing opportunities for older residents who want to stay in town.
Advisory board: Who, what, when?
The committee, chaired by Howard Hellman of All Bright Electric, has been tasked with producing an interim report within six months that will examine the following areas:
- Streamlining the town’s approvals processes for business owners
- Examining trends in retail and how to maintain the sustainability and growth of retail
- Developing a marketing plan to reach emerging retailers
- Formulating the economic development portion of the town’s comprehensive plan
- Recommending potential changes to building and zoning codes that could promote building development and growth.
In addition to Hellman, committee members include:
- Steven Yassky, president of Rockland Realty
- Walter Goldman, Business Expense Advisors
- Rob Mayer, president of Autopro LLC
- Raja Amar, president, Portables Unlimited, Member of Rockland County IDA
- Brion Hayman, Gateway Building Services
- Michael Shilale, principal, Michael Shilale Architects, LLP
- Jeremy Schulman, president, Rockland Economic Development Corp.
- Al Samuels, president, Rockland Business Association
- Rene Rodriguez, president, New City Chamber of Commerce
- Risa Hoag, president, Nanuet Chamber of Commerce
- Mark Glasel, associate broker, Triforce Commercial Real Estate
- Phyllis Tucker, director of operations and marketing, Rockland Economic Development Council
- Jose Simoes, town planner
- Albert Moroni, town director of operations
- Robert Alberty, director of finance and chief of staff
Read more on Clarkstown:
Shake Shack’s first Rockland location proposed
Nanuet: Discount retailer coming to former Toys R Us site
Nanuet Macy’s closing date, layoffs reported
Twitter: @Bee_bob
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