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New Hyde Park, NY- Nassau County Executive Tom Suozzi today commended Village Officials in New Hyde Park for their Downtown Revitalization Project. The County Executive was joined in New Hyde Park by Village Officials, Clerk-Treasurer Patrick Farrell, Trustees Don Barbieri and Richard Coppola, State Assemblyman Tom McKevitt, and Town of North Hempstead Supervisor Jon Kaiman.
“New Hyde Park is a prime example of best practices in Downtown Revitalization,” stated County Executive Suozzi. “Through sound planning and design, leveraging of a variety of grant funding sources and strong community support for the project, they have successfully completed Phase I of an ambitious downtown project.” Nassau County’s plan for a New Suburbia calls for revitalizing our downtowns, and also addressing the needs of emerging minority communities, encouraging the redevelopment of abandoned brownfield properties and developing Nassau’s ‘Hub’.
Federal Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Community Development Block Grant Funds in excess of $1.5 million obtained through the Nassau County Office of Housing and Intergovernmental Affairs (OHIA) were utilized in the project. In addition, The county Legislature contributed $100,000 in CPR funds. Improvements include the installation of design, engineering, brick pavers, decorative lighting, benches, trash cans and plantings of trees, flowers and shrubs along Jericho Turnpike between Ingraham Lane and Hillside Boulevard. These improvements as well as two pocket parks funded with $150,000 from the Town of North Hempstead, complete Phase I of the project. The goals of “Operation Main Street” are to revitalize the area by re-creating what was a pedestrian friendly, downtown destination spot that offers a full range of neighborhood services. Already, as a result of work completed, business owners have been inspired to replace storefronts and improve facades.
Phases II and III of the project will commence in 2008 and will include construction of decorative gates to distinguish the business zone and the installation of medians down the center of Jericho Turnpike, creating a more pedestrian friendly “downtown environment.” Congresswoman McCarthy has earmarked $1.6 million for these phases.
“The coordination among the Village of New Hyde Park, the County, through our Office of Housing and Intergovernmental Affairs, the Town of North Hempstead, the State of New York, and the federal government is a laudable example of a public-private partnership focused on achieving the goals of “New Suburbia” and I am happy to recognize their efforts and dedication and hold this up as a ‘best practice’ for other communities to emulate,” said the County Executive.
