As we witness the scale of Garvies Point come into focus – building after pre-fab building being thrown up in this highly polluted flood plain, we find ourselves asking: who wants to live here?
Not that there’s anything wrong with Glen Cove or the North Shore of Long Island, of course. But from a commuter’s point of view, Glen Cove is not an ideal place to live.
Even in the best of times, the trip down to the LIE from Garvies Point is 22 minutes according to Google Maps. But during rush hour? The drive around 8 or 9AM or back up after 5PM will easily take someone over 30 minutes, on a good day.
Traveling West from Garvies Point
Of course if you’re heading West, you need to cross Glen Cove Road and Northern Blvd – the intersection rated “most congested” anywhere on Long Island. Getting across this stoplight alone can easily tack 15 minutes on any drive to or from Garvies Point. (btw – all Long Islanders should know that RXR’s ingenious solution to traffic at this intersection, which decimates our quality of life, was to plant more trees. We can’t even make this stuff up…)
Traveling East from Garvies Point
If you’re heading East, you can enjoy the long, hard slog down single-lane Route 107, and all the way down to Jericho to get on the LIE. Slow car or big truck in front of you on 107? Well, you’ll just have to wait, as Brookville residents have ensured this artery will never be made into four lanes. And we should mention the local polices forces of these wealthy hamlets love to boost their towns’ revenue by setting up speed traps. So watch out!
I’ll just take the Glen Cove Ferry!
uhmm – what ferry? Despite what sales reps at the Garvies Point “Welcome Center” may have told you, there is still no ferry service planned to operate from Garvies Point. In fact, Glen Cove just pushed back another meeting on the subject.
The fact remains no ferry operator wants the route from Glen Cove to NYC, as it is not, and likely will never will be, profitable. Last year, during LIRR track maintenance a FREE ferry was provided by the LIRR. Even this free-of-charge ferry service was way below expected capacity. We’re talking 20 or so riders a day.
So what will a monthly ferry pass cost Long Islanders? I’ve heard $20 to even $40 per day to make this route feasible. Ouch! And even if all of this does come to pass, commuters still have to make their way from the Bronx or East River to Midtown or Downtown Manhattan.
Finally, don’t forget, even if inept Glen Cove somehow manages to coax a ferry service into Garvies Point, the Sound often gets very rough in Fall and Winter. This is not necessarily the calm, taciturn commute of an artist’s rendering.
Ok, I’ll take the Long Island Railroad from Garvies Point
Sounds good. Of course, you’ll still have to drive. This is because, as many of us who questioned the wisdom of this development from the beginning often pointed out, Garvies Point is nowhere near any LIRR train station. In other words, this is not so-called smart development.
The closest station is Glen Street, but of course parking is already over capacity, so good luck parking there. Sea Cliff Station? Also over capacity. Glen Cove Station? Parking is a little bit better there, though now you’re adding another 10 minutes on your commute each way.
But wait, you say, since Garvies Point “high density” housing is so gigantic, maybe they’ll be some type of shuttle service to the LIRR station? Maybe, though plans (or a budget) for such a service have yet to be announced. You can be sure RXR ain’t paying for it! And if such a service does somehow appear, well, what happens if your train is late? Or you need to work late? Or you miss it? Is this really any kind of convenience?
And of course most LIRR trains on this line require a transfer at Jamaica Station in Queens, which is always fun in the dead of winter.
An imagined LIRR Commute from Garvies Point
Leave Garvies Point Condo -> Walk to Shuttle Bus -> Wait -> Board Shuttle Bus -> Trip to LIRR station -> Board First Train -> Transfer at Jamaica to second train -> Commute from Penn Station to office
Count me out.