State to reimburse $2M to town for Wyandanch sewer service

New York State will reimburse Babylon Town for $2 million of the cost of providing sewer service to Wyandanch's central business district, an official said Thursday.

The board of directors of Empire State Development, the state's primary business-aid agency, unanimously approved the grant, which defrays a portion of the project's total price tag of $18.6 million.

The state Environmental Facilities Corp. also has provided a $12.6 million mortgage.

The sewer line underneath Straight Path connects Wyandanch to the Southwest Sewer District, which serves other parts of Babylon Town.

The line is a crucial element in the Wyandanch Rising development around the Long Island Rail Road station.

Barry Greenspan, program administrator in Empire State Development's Hauppauge office, said, "Wyandanch . . . has suffered for decades from high poverty rates, high crime and lack of business investment. One of the critical issues preventing development . . . was the lack of sewers."

He told the board that construction of the sewer line, which has been completed, "would enable future businesses to invest in Wyandanch. . . . It acts like a spine for future development."

Greenspan also said construction was nearing completion on two buildings that will have 177 apartments and 35,000 square feet of retail space. He predicted the $70 million complex would open early next year.

The LIRR is building a $20 million parking garage for commuters. It will accommodate 920 vehicles per day.