Imagine living in a village temporarily hosting the United Nations. That was Lake Success from 1946 to 1951. The Village of Lake Success holds a unique place in history. It briefly served as the temporary home of the United Nations. The UN occupied the Sperry Gyroscope Company headquarters on Marcus Avenue.
Lake Success has earlier roots as a European settlement dating back to 1783. It was initially known as Lakeville. The name Lakeville was common until the Village of Lake Success was incorporated in 1927.
William K. Vanderbilt II acquired land near Lake Success in the early 20th century. He wanted to build a home there. In 1939, the U.S. government purchased land for the Sperry Gyroscope Company. The company produced military and aerospace equipment. During World War II, the Sperry plant employed 22000 people.
After the war, part of the plant transformed into the temporary UN headquarters. This lasted from 1947 to 1952. The UN headquarters in New York City was under construction then. The facility covered 1.5 million square feet. Various companies used it for defense production including Unisys and Loral Corporation. Lockheed Martin purchased the plant in 1996. They closed it in 1998. An environmental cleanup followed overseen by New York State. The building was repurposed as I-Park. Northwell Health leased a significant portion of it in 2005.
In 1954, the village approved the construction of the Lake Success Village Pool. Residents approved a $125000 bond for the project in 1955. Hain Celestial Group had its headquarters in Lake Success for about ten years. In 2023, they moved elsewhere. Northwell Health subsequently purchased the space.
The Village of Lake Success gets its name from a kettle lake. Local lore says its Native American name was Sucut. The lake formed during the Ice Age. Glaciers carved it out. The surrounding land is some of Long Island’s highest. The lake is about 75 feet deep. Fishing and boating are not allowed.
Lake Success spans 1.9 square miles. Most of it is land. A small portion is water. The village shares borders with Queens and several Nassau County communities.
Several companies have offices in Lake Success. Broadridge Financial Solutions has its headquarters there. Canon USA’s corporate headquarters was once in Lake Success. It later moved to Melville.
Lake Success is part of the Great Neck Union Free School District. Lakeville Elementary School and Great Neck South High School are within the village.
The Long Island Expressway and Northern State Parkway run through Lake Success. There are no Long Island Rail Road stations within the village. The Lake Success Police Department serves the village.
The mayor of Lake Success is Adam C. Hoffman. The deputy mayor is Gene Kaplan.
Lake Success is a unique blend of history and community. From its Native American roots to its time as a temporary world stage it holds a special place on Long Island.