Revitalizing Long Island, one downtown at a time
From left, a rendering of Cornerstone Hicksville, a mixed-use development to be built near the LIRR station in Hicksville; a rendering of the proposed Riverhead town square; and Baldwin Commons, an affordable apartment building in Baldwin. Credit: Terwilliger & Bartone, Town of Riverhead, Newsday / Steve Pfost
When Westbury won the region's first Downtown Revitalization Initiative grant in 2016, the state program was entirely untested.
Nine years later, it's clear that DRI, which provides $10 million to at least one Long Island community each year, has broadly told a story of success, allowing plans for new housing, retail and restaurants to take shape in key neighborhoods such as Huntington Station and Hicksville. Calmer streets, communal areas and walkable downtowns are, slowly, becoming a reality. And the accompanying New York Forward program, which has awarded $5 million to other areas like Farmingdale, Long Beach and Lindenhurst for small-scale development, provides an added boost for the Island.
In many winning communities, residents have readily embraced change. In others, the promise of remaking dilapidated areas, with significant community input and enormous financial incentives, is enough to bring residents on board.
But there's still a long way to go, even for communities that already won. Westbury is the only one of Long Island's nine winners to fully implement its DRI projects. Some have seen extensive stops and starts, with delays in part due to intransigence by town officials, disputes with state agencies and extensive infrastructure needs. Others, like the Village of Hempstead, Long Island's latest winner announced in March, are just getting started.
For all the winners — and for those still hoping for the win — there are lessons to be learned.
THE APPLICATION
Many communities, including Smithtown and Riverhead, applied multiple times before they succeeded. One Smithtown official told the editorial board it was "almost a happy accident we didn't get it" until 2024 because by then, the town — and the hamlet of Kings Park — were "really ready," in terms of community buy-in, infrastructure and more. Riverhead, too, tweaked its plans each time it lost — so its win was that much more fruitful. Just last week the town approved a developer for its new town square. Central Islip, meanwhile, may have won before it was ready — as it took time for infrastructure to fully be in place, although that was partly due to COVID-19 delays. Seven years later, Central Islip projects are finally moving forward.
THE PROCESS
A $10 million state grant unsurprisingly requires paperwork, lengthy to-do lists and multiple state agencies' involvement. Municipalities without the necessary personnel or expertise can find that a special challenge. One community official likened the process to Lucy pulling the football away from Charlie Brown, since after every filing, there seem to be additional hurdles. State officials said they've tried to simplify the process. But now, nearly a decade after the DRI began, the state should keep collaborating with recipients to streamline the interaction while still holding the local governments accountable.
THE MONEY
Budgeting remains key. Ten million dollars today doesn't go as far as it did in 2016. The lengthy process, combined with inflation, and now tariffs, means that projected costs often swell by the time the money is ready to be spent. State officials said they emphasize careful budgeting and more timely project completion. But they also should consider building a bump for inflation into the award and incentives for timeliness, so increasing costs don't hinder progress.
THE LEADERSHIP
Swiftness is crucial for another reason: Leadership. At times, elected officials who won the DRI leave office before the hard work begins. Successors may not have the same commitment or knowledge of the details. Former Hempstead Supervisor Laura Gillen won the award for Baldwin, but her successor, Don Clavin, was at times more hesitant. Clavin ultimately moved Baldwin forward, but now he, too, has left office. Similarly, Amityville Mayor Dennis Siry was recently replaced by Michael O'Neill, with the DRI there at a key juncture. New leaders should commit to continue what others began while still being able to adapt to changing situations. And, whenever possible, the state should put safety mechanisms in place, so work continues no matter who's at the helm.
THE FUTURE
Some Long Island DRI winners already are thinking about the next win.
The Town of Oyster Bay, on Hicksville's behalf, was the Island's second winner. After years of delays, Oyster Bay spokesman Brian Nevin told the editorial board, "We're well beyond all of that now." Major projects are moving forward, including walkable spaces below railroad bridges near the train station and hundreds of new housing units.
That's good news. But the town also would like to apply for the DRI for another area with much potential — the hamlet of Oyster Bay. To do that, the town would have to become a "pro-housing community" — the new designation now required to receive DRI and other state funds. While the tie between housing support and DRI money is appropriate, the state should make the pro-housing requirements more flexible. The state should encourage towns like Oyster Bay to build on initial success. Loosening the resolution's restrictive language could give more communities their own revitalization opportunities — even in towns once known for saying "No."
As the success spreads, Long Island wins many times over.
MEMBERS OF THE EDITORIAL BOARD are experienced journalists who offer reasoned opinions, based on facts, to encourage informed debate about the issues facing our community.
