Mayor Michael Koblenz has been the mayor of East Hills for over 30 years. In his time in local government he has accomplished a lot including what Newsday calls the “deal of the century” completing the Park at East Hills in 2006, all while not raising taxes in over 14 years.
Koblenz was born in West Orange N.J, approxiamtely 45 miles from where he now lives in East Hills. Koblenz graduated high school and left New Jersey to study law at George Washington University in Washington D.C where he earned his bachelors, Juris Docturate and Masters in law. Koblenz spent eight years as a federal prosecutor in the nations capital before taking his talents to the big apple for 43 years.
Once working in Manhattan, Koblenz decided to move to long island and settled in East Hills in the 1980s, where he has resided since and has been involved in local government for over 30 years.
Koblenz’s greatest achievement as mayor is establishing the Park at East Hills from the Roslyn Air National Guard base. The base was was established in World War II and was used by the military from 1942-1959 until it was turned over to the New York air national guard until 1995. The base became fully inactive in 200o.
“The history of how [I acquired the land] goes before the land was even sold,” said Koblenz. “I rezoned the land even though the feds were here to protect the water. If I wasn’t here or had no authority to rezone it, the land could’ve gone to someone else.”
When the base closed Koblenz filed a claim with the US Air Force Base Conversion Agency, who specialized in surveying land and converting bases into public spaces. After an appraisal the land was determined by the US Air Force Base Conversion Agency to be valued at 3 million dollars, which seemed like a steal for East Hills.
Koblenz spent several weeks in the early 2000s in Washington while negotiating the deal. He used he background in law to give him the advantage in talks with the feds.
“Not everyone was happy,” said Koblenz. “The developers tried to lobby the pentagon claiming the land was undervalued. It didn’t matter, the appraisal said it was 3 million dollars. Everything was legal.”
To cover the 3 million dollar cost of the land mayor Koblenz got creative. He sold the land that city hall was on to cover the costs to buy the land from the National Guard essentially getting the land for free. This is what Koblenz called “the real estate deal of the century.”
The challenges of the creating the illustrious Park at East Hills didn’t end after acquiring the land. It would cost the village 17 million dollars to convert the grounds of the base into a suitable park. This included removing buildings with asbestos and redeveloping land for the parks many amenities. Koblenz did it all without raising village taxes.
“Back in the day I went to nearby villages and asked them if they wanted to participate in funding the park,” said Koblenz, “They all doubted we’d get the land or refused to help so we did it all on our own.”
Now the Park is only open to residents of the village of East Hills.
The park opened in 2006, nine months ahead of schedule and under budget. It now boasts two dog parks, a swimming pool, tennis and pickle ball courts, a theater and town hall.
