Mineola works to get people to stay after work

THE VISION

Building on the vibrancy of the downtown, which bustles with office and hospital workers strolling to and from the busy Long Island Rail Road station and to lunch at various eateries. Idea is to extend the bustle to the evening and weekends, when those who work in Mineola's many professional offices or Winthrop-University Hospital go home. A village green or park is also envisioned.

HOW THEY DID IT

Convened a community-wide visioning process, during which people came together and brainstormed ideas. It revealed that residents wanted to see more housing downtown. To help this along, and other development, the village adopted an "overlay district" plan. For developers who want to build within the overlay district - essentially, the downtown - the village provides a streamlined approval process without being mired in the village's zoning restrictions.

The overlay district eased the development of a 22-unit condominium complex. As part of the deal, developers compensated the village with perks such as enhanced street lighting and $150,000 for future capital improvements.

In some ways, Mineola already worked, and the village was determined to build on Mineola's existing advantages, with mayor Jack Martins describing the village as "geographically blessed." It's anchored by a busy train station and bus hub, which is next to a major hospital and near the county seat. "A busy office presence in our downtown has worked to create the downtown we have today," Martins said.

Residents downtown already have walking access to businesses that range from dry cleaners to pubs to clothing shops to salons, said John Broder, second vice president of the Mineola Chamber of Commerce and vice president of external affairs for Winthrop. "Everything that people look for in their daily lives is right here," he said.

The village has also devoted annual federal community development grants of about $200,000 toward streetscape improvements such as lighting and pavers. Work is starting on repaving Station Plaza and building a small park, using grant money, Martins said.

"What they're trying to do in Mineola is absolutely a model," said Ann Golob, director of Long Island Index, a not-for profit research group.

WHAT'S NEXT

An office building on Old Country Road is being converted into 28 one-bedroom apartments and retail space. Two other condo complexes - one with 285 units and another with 257 units - have been approved and await construction. Developers have pledged more than $3 million toward capital improvements in the village.