Joe Campolo moderated the HIA-LI Economic Development Task Force program, “From Vacancy to Vibrancy: The Future of Mall Redevelopment on Long Island.” He was joined by Scott Burman, Founder & Principal of Burman Real Estate; Frank Vero Jr., CEO of Aurora Contractors; and Anthony W. Kim, P.E., Department Manager – Electrical and Assistant Vice President at H2M architects + engineers.
The panel led an insightful discussion on innovative redevelopment projects such as The Shops at Broadway in Hicksville, the Stony Brook Medicine Advanced Specialty Care Facility in Lake Grove, and Belmont Park Village in Elmont. The speakers shared their insights into redeveloping vacant malls as dynamic shopping, dining and entertainment destinations. They discussed the significant challenges that come with developing large-scale projects on Long Island, from navigating zoning and infrastructure hurdles to addressing community needs and market demands. Emphasizing that success requires more than just innovative ideas, the panel underscored the critical importance of assembling the right teams—developers, architects, engineers, and community stakeholders—whose collaboration is essential to turning these ambitious projects into thriving, sustainable spaces.
The event was sponsored by Strata Alliance, whose support underscores their commitment to fostering dialogue and innovation around economic development and community revitalization initiatives on Long Island.
