Kleiner’s Korner: Nassau County Surveys of Motor Parkway Property Transferred or Released (Garden City)
Several real estate transactions involving former Motor Parkway property in Garden City were made between Nassau County, the Town of Hempstead, homeowners and commercial developers. Here are documents provided by the Nassau County Dept. of Public Works and local newspapers with details.
The transactions of "surplus property" would prove beneficial to the homeowners and would further the development of Garden City.
Art Kleiner
1950-1951 Homeowner Transaction
Homeowners along Russell Road in Garden City whose property bordered the Motor Parkway negotiated with Nassau County to add 60 feet of former parkway property to each of their lots. (Nassau Daily Review-Star Jan. 4, 1951)
Homeowners were represented by neighbor Charles Vail; the agreement was to be finalized shortly after Nassau County agreed to it in early January, 1951. (Nassau Daily Review-Star Jan. 9, 1951)
Each of the 13 property owners paid approx. $132 for their additional 60 feet. (Nassau Daily Review-Star Jan. 9, 1951)
Public Works approved the release of the property in August, 1950, however it was not approved by Nassau County until January, 1951.
The properties released abutted the homes on Russell Road, south of Transverse Road.
The homes along Russell Road were developed by the County Line Development Corporation in the early 1940s, shortly after the closing of the Motor Parkway.
Ultimately each parcel of Motor Parkway property released was given a new lot number and was included in the deeds of each respective property owner.
A more recent view of the Motor Parkway property added to each lot.
Additional Property Released
Two adjacent parcels that were not originally included in 1951 were later released in 1954.
These were located directly south of Transverse Road. Opposite this on the other side of Transverse would be the Motor Parkway Mayan Ruins never-to-be built bridge.
1951 Commercial Development
In 1951 the Town of Hempstead rezoned certain parcels of original Motor Parkway property in Garden City for commercial development. (Nassau Daily Review-Star Jan. 10, 1951)
Nassau Daily Review-Star Jan. 10, 1951
1966 Commercial Development
Further east, former Motor Parkway property was released by Nassau County in November, 1966 near South Road and Stewart Avenue in Roosevelt Field.
The parkway ran east and west of South Road and continued into the woods abutting today's Meadowbrook Parkway. Several explorations over the years have found evidence of Motor Parkway posts. However, not sure if anything still remains.
2005
2017
Look for upcoming posts with similar Nassau County transactions involving former Motor Parkway property.
Comments
As always, cool stuff Art. I can faintly see the property owner names on the plot sketch, but don’t see Arthur Jasper. Know he’s been resided on Russell Rd for many years, but maybe he hasn’t been an original owner. Thinking today’s Covanta Plant is where Airborne Instruments was? Ward Bakery Depot? I’ll need to look through the older maps to see.
Thanks, Brian. According to Nassau County tax records, the address at which Arthur Jasper lives was originally owned in 1951 by Stephen and Olga Allio, Jr. Their names can be seen on the survey I’ve enlarged below. The house was built in 1941 but I’m not sure if the Allio’s were the first owners.
Below is one of your maps that I marked a bit, Art. Airborne Instruments is just west of todays Merchant Concourse, and Ward Bakery is further west, but before today’s South St. The map is facing southwest.