NHCC and UNC Formalize CBA

By David Greaves

On September 15, 2008, Nassau Health Care Corporation (NHCC) formalized its commitment to a benefits agreement with the Uniondale Neighborhood Center (UNC) and the wider Uniondale community. The agreement was reached following a series of meetings between NHCC and various organizations in Uniondale, as part of the deliberations of an advisory board appointed by Nassau County Executive, Thomas Suozzi.

NHCC agreed to a community consensus for the A. Holly Patterson campus, which includes the refurbishment of a barn into a new community center, as well as the creation of recreational and open space on the campus. In 2008, the UNC and the Uniondale community received a letter of intent from NHCC, in which the organization promised to require a developer to set aside $2,000,000 for the construction of a new community center. As part of this vision, NHCC also considered refurbishing the old barn at the A. Holly Patterson Extended Care Facility to serve as the new community center and requiring adjacent property to be set aside as ball fields for the community to access.

To consider the feasibility of this idea, officials from NHCC conducted a tour of the barn and “poor house” at A. Holly Patterson Extended Care Facility, which was attended by UNC president David Greaves, Nassau County Legislator Kevan Abrahams, and other members of the community. During the tour, Executive Director Larry Slatky led the group through the historic buildings and discussed their potential as a community center.

The tour was a valuable opportunity for the community to learn about the history of the barn and poor house, and to see firsthand the potential for the buildings to serve as a community center. The community was grateful for the chance to participate in this discussion and looks forward to further progress on this project.

These specific items were agreed upon following a meeting between NHCC and David Greaves, the president of the Uniondale Neighborhood Center, and the Board of Directors. At the request of David Greaves, NHCC then put the agreements in writing in a letter to the Uniondale Neighborhood Center. The deal represented a long history of support from NHCC, dating back to before March 19, 2000, and a mutual desire to collaborate on the construction of a community center in Uniondale.

This formalization of the agreement between NHCC and the Uniondale community represented an important step towards creating a more vibrant and connected community.

“John J Byrne Community Center in Uniondale, New York, provides recreational, after-school, and community development programs in one physical infrastructure to help promote youth and community well-being.”

Building a Better Community Together!