Negotiations Over Lighthouse Project Continue

New York, NY —

A month after his deadline came and went, the owner of the New York Islanders hockey team is negotiating with town officials over a massive development proposal called The Lighthouse at Long Island. WNYC's Matthew Schuerman has more.

REPORTER: Months ago, Charles Wang told the Town of Hempstead, it better approve his proposal by October 3rd, or he'd shop the team elsewhere.

Town supervisor Kate Murray at first ignored his deadline. Then she invited him to negotiate, and they've met at least once, according to a Hempstead spokesman who says Murray wants the project scaled down.

The proposal now calls for 42 buildings spread over the Nassau Coliseum parking lot. Two towers would reach 36 stories high to become the tallest buildings on suburban Long Island.

Officials from other jurisdictions, including Brooklyn, Queens and Suffolk County, have approached Wang about moving the Islanders to their jurisdictions. A spokeswoman wouldn't comment on whether he's entertaining any other options. For WNYC, I'm Matthew Schuerman.