Former Greenport mayor Dave Kapellurged the Village Board to consider seizing key commercial properties to combat rising vacancies — an idea current Mayor Kevin Stuessi called “intriguing, but costly to the taxpayers.”

Mr. Kapell — who served as mayor from 1994 to 2007 during a period of growth and redevelopment — made the proposal at the Village Board’s April 23 meeting, warning that a slowdown in commercial investment is eroding the village’s tax base and shifting more of the burden onto homeowners.

He referenced a2023 commercial development moratoriumand a “poorly planned rezoning of the commercial district that imposed great uncertainty and prohibited new development costs on new business development that have brought investment in downtown Greenport to a virtual standstill.”

Mr. Kapell pointed to several long-vacant properties,including the former Arcade Department Store — empty since 2017— and 110 Front St. Another of the larger vacancies is 414 First St.

He said the village should consider acquiring one or more of the sites through eminent domain and redeveloping them with ground-floor retail and housing above.

“There is often opportunity in crisis, and I propose that such opportunity exists now,” Mr. Kapell said. “This board needs to confront reality head-on and make the difficult decisions necessary to protect Greenport as the special place it’s always been.”

Mr. Stuessi said the proposal warrants discussion but raised concerns about cost.

“Dave’s idea of using eminent domain for any of the three largest vacant properties in the village is intriguing, but costly to the taxpayers,” he said on Monday. “I would welcome continuing the conversation together with the BID and their ability to bond.”

Mr. Kapell’s proposal comes as several longtime businesses have closed in recent months, including Di Angela Leather Goods and Accessories, which shut its doors in December after nearly four decades.Kharmah, a longtime boutiqueon Main Street, andTea and Tchotchkesalso closed last year, whileThe Marketclosed on Jan. 31.

“I recognize that this is a big proposal, and it’s fraught with controversy,” he said. “But that’s exactly what we need right now.”

Source: The Suffolk Times