February 27, 2007

Suozzi and Hall Announce $3 Million Investment for Downtown Hempstead

Comprehensive Visioning Plan Includes New Gateways, Beautification
of Franklin Avenue and Peninsula Boulevard

Hempstead, NY - Nassau County Executive Thomas R. Suozzi and Village of Hempstead Mayor Wayne J. Hall, Sr. today announced a $3 million investment initiative for the revitalization of Franklin Avenue in the Village of Hempstead’s downtown.

"We are pleased to be working with Mayor Hall and the Village Trustees to support their efforts to help Hempstead realize its economic potential,” Suozzi said. “The Village of Hempstead has many assets: it is a major public transportation center with rail and bus terminals, it has a large downtown, and most importantly, it is centrally located. These improvements will reflect the pride of the residents of the Village of Hempstead and help spur economic activity. There is no reason that Hempstead can’t be a growing and vibrant business center, similar to suburban business centers in other counties, like New Rochelle or White Plains.”

“Improving the image and overall quality of life in the Village of Hempstead is not only critical to economic growth in the Village and the Hub at large, it also helps create the kind of community that we want our children - and their children - to grow up in,” said Mayor Hall. “The revitalization of Franklin Avenue is just the beginning.”

The plan calls for a new Franklin Avenue streetscape, which will include the construction of brick pavers sidewalks, decorative street lights, benches, and trash cans. The $3 million cost will be covered by funding from Nassau County’s Capital Project and construction is anticipated to begin in Spring 2008, following a series of public meetings. Nassau County has selected the firm of Urbitran Associates, Inc. to provide design services.

A public meeting hosted by County Executive Suozzi and Mayor Hall to discuss plans for North Franklin Avenue as well as overall planning efforts, which include the ongoing update to the Comprehensive Plan and joint visioning efforts by the county and village, has been scheduled for Monday, March 5, 2007 at 7:00PM at Hempstead Village Library.  

In addition, as part the county’s “Community Environment Improvement” project, a county-wide effort to beautify specific areas throughout Nassau County, the center median of Peninsula Boulevard from Franklin Avenue to President Street will be upgraded to include decorative paved edges, the installation of an aesthetically pleasing guide rail and the planting of over 70 trees.

“Village of Hempstead gateway” signs welcoming visitors to downtown Hempstead from northern and southern approaches also will be incorporated into the project, Suozzi said.

County Executive Suozzi and Mayor Hall have agreed that County “Visioning” funds will allow the Village to take the planning recommendations for the downtown, developed as part of the update to the Comprehensive Plan, to provide a forum for more community involvement in the plans.  The Village is currently preparing an update to its Comprehensive Plan, using the planning consultants Ferrandino and Associates, FX Fowle and Urbitran Associates, Inc.

The Village recently approved an estimated $2 billion conceptual proposal from UrbanAmerica, which gives them the green light to begin the development process. Their proposal to revitalize a 3-square mile part of the village would include 2,800 units of housing, along with new retail space, and a performing arts center.

"The coordination between the County and the Village of Hempstead is an example of a partnership focused on achieving our goals for “New Suburbia” that includes revitalizing our downtowns,” said Suozzi. “Mature suburbs like ours won't generate enough economic growth if we do nothing and just allow them to stagnate.”