L to R: County Legislator Patrick Williams, Patrick Duggan (Sustainable Long Island), Nassau County Executive Tom Suozzi, Hempstead Supervisor Richard Guardino, Hempstead Councilwoman Dorothy Goosby, and Deputy County Executive Peter Sylver.

Roosevelt N.Y. - Nassau County Executive Thomas R. Suozzi, joined by Hempstead Supervisor Richard Guardino and newly appointed Deputy County Executive Peter Sylver, announced today the first county-town sponsored, sustainable development initiative of Nassau's downtown and commercial corridors, to be implemented on Nassau Road in Roosevelt. The first step in effectuating this process will be a three-day charrette, scheduled for April 2002. The County and the Town of Hempstead will share the cost of the initiative equally.

"People define communities by their commercial areas. This area is plagued by a blighted and underutilized commercial strip. Despite the strong families and communities in Roosevelt, this commercial strip undeservedly defines this community in a negative light. We are going to change that. My goal is to develop a vision of Nassau Road that will encourage private investment and revitalize the commercial area, the image, and the pride of the Roosevelt community," stated County Executive Suozzi.

"I am delighted to partner with County Executive Suozzi and Sustainable Long Island, a leader in responsible growth, to bring about new approaches to development and growth in Roosevelt," said Supervisor Rich Guardino. "Mr. Sylver, along with the Town's new Planning Commissioner Curtis E. Fisher, will help to expand current revenue streams for redevelopment and explore enhanced community based approaches to planning."

The design process will be lead by Sustainable Long Island, an organization whose mission is to promote the economy, environment and equity for all Long Islanders, and Walkable Communities, Inc., a non-profit corporation specializing in urban planning. The project will be funded through the Nassau County's Office of Housing and Intergovernmental affairs with Federal grants designed to improve low and moderate income areas.

Charrettes are brief, intense design sessions that address urban problems or community visions comprehensively. The three-day planning process brings together community groups, local business groups, faith-based organizations, political leaders, and residents who will determine what their community will look like.

"Even though we are in a difficult economic crisis we will plan for the future of Nassau County, the first suburban county in the country. Here in Roosevelt and throughout Nassau County we will create sustainable, 'walkable' communities that empower residents as shareholders in their neighborhood's future. We will develop a comprehensive plan, on a community by community basis, to address transportation, open space, infrastructure, affordable housing and increasing the commercial tax base," stated the County Executive.

Deputy County Executive Sylver added, "Economic development in Nassau County under this administration will focus on everything from high-skilled, high-tech industry to neighborhood redevelopment. We are committed to the goal of making Nassau County the best county in the country, neighborhood by neighborhood."