Community meets over controversial Syosset property proposal

A heated community meeting was held Thursday night over a controversial piece of property in Syosset.
The former Cerro Wire site in Syosset was demolished in 2004.
Development groups Castagna Realty and Simon Properties are planning to turn the 93-acre vacant property into housing units, stores, offices, hotels and a park, under the name "Syosset Park."
Some neighbors, like Julie Gropper, are ready for a change.
"I live across the street from there. It's ugly," she says. "It's a great piece of property. I think that something should be done with it."
Civic leader Todd Fabricant agrees, saying he's looking forward to what the project will bring to the Syosset-Jericho area.
Syosset resident Kevin McKenna says his major concern is environmental, after the issues with Cerro. But the developers say all of the proper precautions are being taken and that the land is safe to build on.
"The plan here is to put sports fields on top of the capped toxic landfill," he says.
The developers say the infrastructure construction is set to start in 2019, but no work will begin until the environmental testing is completed and clear.