Bringing focus to disjointed Wyandanch downtown

THE VISION

To take a disjointed downtown with an incongruent mix of residential, commercial and industrial uses and transform it into a vibrant transit-oriented downtown. The Town of Babylon's "Wyandanch Rising" calls for the redevelopment of more than 60 acres at an estimated cost of $500 million, much of which the town has said will come from private development.

At the center is a $45-million mixed-transportation facility adjacent to the LIRR station that will house a parking structure to accommodate 2,000 vehicles, along with buses and bicycles. Nearby will be buildings with residences above businesses, and European-style plazas, including fountains and space for outdoor concerts, ice skating and a farmers market.

Dangerous main road Straight Path will be narrowed, and a sewer line put in along the business corridor.

OBSTACLES

Hooking up the business district to sewers is critical, experts and town officials agree. But recently revised figures show the town only has $5 million of the estimated $15 million cost: $2 million in grant money for the downtown section and $3 million from its solid waste fund to connect to the town ashfill. The town has applied to the state Environmental Facilities Corp., which provides low-cost financing for infrastructure projects, for $9.5 million.

More money is also needed for the $45-million transportation hub. The town has pledged to bond for $15 million, money it said will be recouped from parking revenue. The rest will come from federal grants, officials said.

The business community, supportive of revitalization, remains wary of how it might affect existing merchants. Community members also say the area's crime rate and the perception of the area being unsafe must be addressed. Seven murders were recorded in Wyandanch from Jan. 1, 2008, through Nov. 30, 2009. "The problems continue to exist and need to be addressed," Suffolk Legis. DuWayne Gregory (D-Amityville) said earlier this year. Gregory represents the area. Over the same period, Straight Path had 324 reported traffic accidents.

PROGRESS

Wyandanch Rising has been embraced by the community and supported by local, state and federal political leaders. This is key to any revitalization, experts said. Last year the area was named one of three "spotlight" communities statewide for a new initiative to support redevelopment of 250 brownfield sites. Babylon has already received nearly $7.5 million in grants used for planning and has acquired 19 properties for $15.5 million. The town has made improvements and beautification efforts along Straight Path, including new Colonial lighting and flowers.

In November the town opened a resource center in Wyandanch to assist residents with job training, home ownership and other services. In February, Babylon signed a contract with Maryland-based Torti Gallas and Partners to come up with an overall design. In April, County Executive Steve Levy signed legislation to waive sewer connection fees for new development within Wyandanch's downtown corridor. Last week, Torti Gallas, the town and community leaders took part in a weeklong charrette, an intense design process made up of work and public input sessions that is essential to revitalization efforts. The town plans to begin construction on the sewer line in July.