Not to long ago I did a blog on the interview with Nick Giglia on the lighthouse project so who is Nick well let him introduce himself. You can visit me in my little corner of cyberspace at Let There Be Light(house) - www.lettherebelighthouse.com. I'm also a writer for Hockey Independent (though not as often as I'd like), so you can catch me there as well.

Today I thought we would find out a little bit more on what is going on with the Lighthouse project in basic reality saving the Islanders in Long Island New York.

Just recently Nick there was town meeting on the update, on the light house project.

Nick

On Tuesday, the Town of Hempstead, which controls the zoning over the site of Charles Wang's proposed Lighthouse Project, voted unanimously to break months of silence and prepare its own zoning plan for the site. Town officials indicated they wanted to see the Lighthouse Project "scaled-back" from the current version, which is projected to cost a little less than $4 billion US.

So Nick is that usually done where they do it on the planning on their own? Like that is pretty amazing. Good for them taking the inactive this has to get done great news.

This is a shocking reversal in policy, since Town officials have refused to meet with Mr. Wang or share their vision for the site since 2003, citing official policy and the fact that they will have to vote on the land. The Town expects the zoning plan to be complete by the summer, and it included 3 main requirements:

1. The land must be mixed-use, containing both residential and commercial property.

2. There must be a plan to renovate Nassau Coliseum and keep the Islanders in their current location.

3. The plan must serve as a model for "responsible" development.

Wow that is awesome I am so happy that this is huge for the people isn’t it. This means the first step for the fans building a new arena for the Islanders. It is vital that this gets done and through this meeting it actually its getting done. Well at least that is what I think it means , but Nick what does this really means for the Fans?

Nick

For Islanders fans, who have helplessly watched this issue from the sidelines for years and generously volunteered their time to support the Lighthouse Project in record numbers, it means that the issue of whether Charles Wang and the Islanders will stay in their current location will be resolved in a matter of months. This could indicate a willingness to deal by all parties, or it could be that the Town is setting up to gut the project to such a degree that Mr. Wang would have no choice but to seek opportunities elsewhere.

At this point, there seems to be political will to get this done from local officials, and the other main relocation options for the Islanders (Brooklyn and Queens) are full of more complex issues than the Lighthouse Project. I do not know if we will see a deal reached, but the dirty secret is that, at this point, the easiest thing for Mr. Wang, the Town of Hempstead, and Nassau County (owners of Nassau Coliseum and the land around it) to do is reach an agreement and break ground in 2010. Fans will have their answer soon.

Let’s really hope this game of chicken works I really feel bad for the people who really count here the fans. I can not imagine hockey not being in Long Island losing the Islanders would lose a piece of history. Let’s get this done shall we?


Until Next time Take Care

Randy