From Sunrise Center to Senior Housing?

Developers are moving forward with plans for a five-story senior residence at the site of a former recreational facility in Long Beach that has remained vacant for several years.

The senior residence has been proposed to replace the former Sunrise Center, a three-story structure at 367 West Park Ave., which once housed orthopedists and physical therapists.

The city’s buildings department originally received plans for the senior residence on Aug. 2 and formally denied the request the following day, said Scott Kemins, buildings commissioner. Developers had 60 days from that time to respond to the denial, but no action had been taken, said Kemins.

“They have not acted upon that plan,” he said. “The [denial] letter is just sitting here.”

Josh Scarlata of JMS Architects in Syosset, the architect for the proposed residence, said the delay stems from the current owner of the property, Lancer Insurance, finalizing the sale with the new owners, developers Jobco Inc. of Great Neck and David Gallo.

Scarlata said developers intend to resubmit the plans to the city shortly.

The Sunrise Center has been left vacant for about four or five years, according to Kemins. The property is currently being used by Lancer for parking.

The developers’ plans call for the demolition of the existing building and the construction of 67, one-bedroom apartments for seniors.

“I don’t think senior housing has been built in Long Beach for many years,” Scarlata said. “There’s a big need for this. Various community people want to see a senior housing project there.”

But Kemins said the buildings department rejected the plans on four major grounds, citing that the proposed buildings exceeded the city’s height limitations and requirements for use and setback. The proposed building would be 67 feet tall and the city code requires no more than 25 feet; the city requires a five-foot setback from the street and the plans call for no setback.

In addition, the amount of parking spots developers were providing was not nearly enough. There would be off-street parking for 47 vehicles, far short of the 119 spaces required by the city for a project that size.

The building is zoned for commercial use and would have to be changed to residential. “It was denied for use because the property is not zoned for a multiple dwelling,” Kemins said.

Kemins said that after the buildings department denies a request, a variance for each requirement must be sought from the city’s zoning board.  

Scarlata said the proposed building would not be that much taller than the current building, which also won a variance to go above the height restrictions.

“I don’t know anyone who is upset with our project,” he said. “There are a lot of apartment houses already up and there are buildings on that street that are even taller than ours.”

He also said requiring developers to provide 119 spaces for a senior residence is off base because “seniors don’t drive.”

As for the denial for setback, Scarlata said developers wanted to give the seniors more space in the rear of the structure.

“We will soon file our plans again with the buildings department and if we get another denial letter, we are going to the zoning board,” he said.

Lancer Insurance and Jobco Inc. did not return calls for comment.