By Jeremy G. Burton

For the residents of Syosset who thought it was just a TV show, the phrase Extreme Home Makeover is about to take on an entirely different meaning.

After weeks of county-run surveys, visioning meetings and focus groups, Residents for a More Beautiful Syosset held its annual spring meeting at the VFW Hall on Queens Street last Tuesday night in order to discuss the major renovations planned for downtown Syosset.

According to Residents President Robert Rockelein, the Syosset Redevelopment and Revitalization Plan is part of the Town of Oyster Bay's planning initiative Vision 20/20, which was started in 2000 to provide a comprehensive plan for new local development. For Syosset, that means a total makeover for the quarter-mile radius around the Jackson Avenue train station and the possible additions of a parking garage and town square.

Following two visioning meetings on the downtown plan, Residents members said they were happy to see the process to improve Syosset in motion, but remained realistic about the project's size, timetable, logistics, and politics.

"After what I saw, I'm kind of concerned," said Linda Tiso, a Residents member. Having lived in Syosset for many years, Tiso recalled a time when her kids went downtown to hang out and grab an ice cream, but said it's not that kind of place anymore. And while Tiso liked the idea of making downtown Syosset a community-friendly center again, she worried the construction would come "at the expense of ruining the community."

Frank Tiso, another Residents member, said two of his biggest concerns were the personal agendas of the realtors and businessmen involved and the community's current lack of awareness. "I think the big problem is that the word isn't getting out," he said.

But Rockelein has faith that word of mouth will soon have the entire community keeping a close eye on their own extreme home makeover. "It's growing, even from the first [visioning] meeting to the second [visioning] meeting," he said.

Rockelein is one of several Residents members who have served on the project's steering committee since it started. From the steering committee, sub-committees were formed, surveys were sent out, the project's main issues and goals were identified, and the visioning meetings were scheduled. According to Rockelein, about 100 people showed up to each visioning meeting, at which the public got its first look at the project's progress.

The results of the returned surveys reported that 53 percent of Syosset residents never walk around downtown. Twenty-six percent said they walk around downtown only once in a while. And 85 percent said the only reason they ever go downtown is for shopping.

"People want to see a more community-oriented downtown," Rockelein said.

Frank Tiso also voiced his concern that residents would confuse the renovation project with an aesthetic touch-up. "This isn't just park benches and light-posts we're talking about here," he said. "People should understand that."

Along with a town square and parking garage, other possible changes in the redevelopment included restructuring many of the stores on Cold Spring Road and either raising or lowering the train tracks.

The next big step will come when the project's engineers come back this winter with three models for the downtown area based on the surveys and visioning meetings. According to Rockelein, although there are no financial estimates yet, much of the money for the project will come from federal and state funds.

Rockelein urged residents to call, write, come out, and voice their own ideas. "Everybody wants to see a better Syosset and hopefully with these plans, someday we will," he said.

The Residents spring meeting also covered a wide range of other topics concerning Syosset.

"The state Department of Transportation is finally planting some trees on Jericho Turnpike," Rockelein said. "This is something we've been trying to get going over the past three years."

Rockelein also touched on the increasingly inevitable construction of the Mall at Oyster Bay on the Cerro Wire site on Robbins Lane. "It's not public opinion, but the courts that are going to decide this," he said.

Another issue Rockelein cleared up for Residents members was the planned construction for Jackson Avenue, which will even out the road to a consistent 50 foot width and make it safer for both pedestrians and drivers. Despite concern from residents, the construction will not turn Jackson Avenue into an even busier highway, according to Rockelein. There will also be construction at the corner of Jackson and Underhill Boulevard to make it more pedestrian friendly.

"It's probably going to be another two to three years for it to be done," Rockelein said. "The process starts here and now."

Nassau County Presiding Officer Judy Jacobs was scheduled to speak at the Residents meeting but could not attend following the passing of her husband.

"Judy's not just a legislator, she's a neighbor," Rockelein said regretfully.