For a blog post this sure was deep. My original idea was to gather many short interviews (almost sound bites) from as many Nassau County residents as possible. A combination of lack of willingness to talk to me and a realization that less may be more in a two minute video piece led me to concentrating on the few who did, and the best things they had to say.
This led to some bites that were great and some that weren't, but the piece was about what any random person who lives in one of the areas affected by potential development and what was on their minds, so I went with what I got. As unpolished as some of the people were, I think in the end what each was trying to say came across in a clear enough manner to distinguish their beliefs.
The most interesting thing was that it really was a distinct divide in every way from person to person, something I would have to deal with in the storytelling. I had to craft the story so that it wasn't just an inconclusive piece, but that it tried to shed as much light on why residents are divided as I could in two minutes. That is where I think the personal nature of each bite plays a large role.
I have worked with hyperlinked blog posts before in the work I do with music blogs, so the concept of that part of the project was not out of the ordinary for me. Crafting a piece that is cohesive with a subject I'm not all too familiar with was the hardest part, both in learning about it and having a drive behind wanting to learn about it.
The hardest part is just pacing, both in workflow and in presentation. You have to pace the planning very well just like the video (and even the post itself) has to be paced.
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
Commercial Development in Nassau County - Who Wants It?
Sean O’Kane
JRNL 80B
Final Article
Nassau Commercial Development
4/15/08
Recent proposed commercial developments such as Donald Trump’s ‘Trump on the Ocean’ have seen their share of initial legal resistance, but deeper in the Nassau County community the feelings are mixed.
“I don’t want it,” Barbara Richardine declared, a long-time resident of Point Lookout. “I think we’re really quite developed now.”
“Not in this area,” Long Beach resident Pat Williams said. The lifetime Long Island native then expanded from the ‘not-in-my-backyard’ position; “The rest of Long Island is just too crowded,” she added.
But other Nassau County residents were much more inclined to the idea of commercial development. Larry Legend, another Long Beach resident, said that for him it’s a matter of being able to balance the good and bad.
“I think it’s beneficial if it’s done in a proper manner, and people can still enjoy the beauty of the beaches and the environment,” he said. One concern he did hold was whether or not the cost of large projects would actually be balanced in the end by the jobs and revenue they promise to create.
The Lighthouse Project, a massive revamping of the Nassau Coliseum area into a full-fledged community and entertainment based shopping center, promises to do just that. Not only would the development itself require hundreds of new jobs, but the developed area would become a hub for commerce in Nassau County.
That the economy could see a boost would be helpful in a time of economic distress, said Lake Success resident Seth Elliot. While he said it is not a solution to any national crisis, he would take pride in seeing a “community be able to come together behind a project that can keep us afloat,” in tough times.
As promising as it can sound, there still is concern. And while developers in Nassau County continue to try and push across their projects, it has become clear that a collective voice of the people won’t be enough of a representation. Every Nassau County resident has a different opinion, and each one as valid as the next.
“If there [are] big buildings it will only look like Manhattan,” East Meadow resident Kamal Williams said, “and who wants two Manhattans?”
JRNL 80B
Final Article
Nassau Commercial Development
4/15/08
Recent proposed commercial developments such as Donald Trump’s ‘Trump on the Ocean’ have seen their share of initial legal resistance, but deeper in the Nassau County community the feelings are mixed.
“I don’t want it,” Barbara Richardine declared, a long-time resident of Point Lookout. “I think we’re really quite developed now.”
“Not in this area,” Long Beach resident Pat Williams said. The lifetime Long Island native then expanded from the ‘not-in-my-backyard’ position; “The rest of Long Island is just too crowded,” she added.
But other Nassau County residents were much more inclined to the idea of commercial development. Larry Legend, another Long Beach resident, said that for him it’s a matter of being able to balance the good and bad.
“I think it’s beneficial if it’s done in a proper manner, and people can still enjoy the beauty of the beaches and the environment,” he said. One concern he did hold was whether or not the cost of large projects would actually be balanced in the end by the jobs and revenue they promise to create.
The Lighthouse Project, a massive revamping of the Nassau Coliseum area into a full-fledged community and entertainment based shopping center, promises to do just that. Not only would the development itself require hundreds of new jobs, but the developed area would become a hub for commerce in Nassau County.
That the economy could see a boost would be helpful in a time of economic distress, said Lake Success resident Seth Elliot. While he said it is not a solution to any national crisis, he would take pride in seeing a “community be able to come together behind a project that can keep us afloat,” in tough times.
As promising as it can sound, there still is concern. And while developers in Nassau County continue to try and push across their projects, it has become clear that a collective voice of the people won’t be enough of a representation. Every Nassau County resident has a different opinion, and each one as valid as the next.
“If there [are] big buildings it will only look like Manhattan,” East Meadow resident Kamal Williams said, “and who wants two Manhattans?”
Harshita Thakkar video and transcript
Transcript
Sean O’Kane
JRNL 80B Final
Harshita Thakkar Transcript
Sean O’Kane -- So how do you feel about commercial development on Long Island?
Harshita Thakkar -- Honestly, I haven’t kept track of that so it would not really affect me as much.
Sean O’Kane -- You don’t mind, you wouldn’t mind living on Long Island with more commercial development, or less?
Harshita Thakkar -- No, I think it’s good actually, it will help with, whatever with whatever activities is going on I guess.
Kamal Williams video and transcript
Transcript
Sean O’Kane
JRNL 80B Final
Kamal Williams Transcript
Kamal Williams -- I don’t think they should industrialize Long Island only because it’s a nice place to live, but if there’s big buildings it’ll only look like Manhattan. And who wants two Manhattans.
Pat Williams video and transcript
Transcript
Sean O’Kane
JRNL 80B Final
Pat Williams Transcript
Sean O’Kane -- So what’s your name?
Pat Williams -- Pat.
Sean O’Kane -- And where do you live?
Pat Williams -- In Long Beach.
Sean O’Kane -- And what do you feel about commercial development on Long Island?
Pat Williams -- Well, here in Long Beach it’s completely, there isn’t much commercial development. There’s too much residential development.
Sean O’Kane -- Do you think there needs to be more commercial development?
Pat Williams -- Not in this area, I don’t think the geographically can support it. I just, I don’t know about, the rest of Long Island is just too crowded.
Barbara Richardine video and transcript
Transcript
Sean O’Kane
JRNL 80B Final
Barbara Richardine Transcript
Sean O’Kane -- Okay, what’s your name?
Barbara Richardine -- Barbara.
Sean O’Kane -- And where are you from?
Barbara Richardine -- Point Lookout.
Sean O’Kane -- And do you, are you looking forward to having more commercial development on Long Island or is it something you don’t want?
Barbara Richardine -- I don’t want it.
Sean O’Kane -- You don’t want it? Why?
Barbara Richardine -- I think we’re really quite developed now and I think right now the young people are having a hard time having jobs.
Seth Elliot video and transcript
Transcript
Sean O’Kane
JRNL 80B Final
Seth Elliot Transcript
Sean O’Kane -- Alright, so, your name?
Seth Elliot -- Yeah, Seth Elliot.
Sean O’Kane -- And where are you from?
Seth Elliot -- I’m in the Lake Success area.
Sean O’Kane -- Okay and, what do you feel about Long Island development.
Seth Elliot -- I could echo what Larry just said, if it’s done in good taste. I’ve been at the restaurant over where Trump is the, uh, that um, it’s a uh restaurant as well as a-
Sean O’Kane -- Yeah like a dining hall.
Seth Elliot -- Catering dining hall. Uh there’s nothing there for a long time so it’d be nice to have something upscale to bring some people out. Maybe have something for everybody. So I think it’s a good deal, I think it’s a win win for everybody. Again, I think some of the people might have objected because they might have been going, I don’t know if it’s the basement, or it’s too high. But I think it’s a good deal overall for everybody concerned.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)