Plainview firm to redevelop NY Avenue

The Huntington town board has chosen a Plainview firm to oversee a master redevelopment plan for the New York Avenue corridor.

Renaissance Downtowns, which is also handling the redevelopment of downtown Hempstead Village, will turn its attention to a roughly half-mile stretch of New York Avenue from Olive Street to just south of the Long Island Rail Road's Huntington Station.

"Today is a special day to take this to a new dimension," Town Supervisor Frank Petrone said, adding the move will "make the Station the vibrant economic base that it should be."

The town board voted to use Renaissance Downtowns at its Tuesday night meeting. The two parties are expected to sign an agreement within the next several weeks.

The developer will bear the cost of the planning -- more than $1 million initially, Petrone said.

Wednesday, town officials and Renaissance representatives gathered at Town Hall to announce the partnership.

Don Monti, president and chief executive of Renaissance Downtowns, said his firm plans to conduct intensive outreach, including community meetings and online polling of residents on what they'd like to see in Huntington Station. "We're looking to co-create something in the village of Huntington and Huntington Station that represents the wishes of the people, the stakeholders, private property owners, everyone," Monti said.

Petrone said the firm, which will open an office in the area, will begin reaching out to the community as soon as next week. "What they're telling us is, 'Give us your time. We want to work with you. We're going to help your community,' " he said. "And what they're telling the community is, 'We're investing in you. Invest in yourself now.' "