Musings: This isn't the hamlet I know
Shoppers in Baldwin. Credit: Debbie Egan-Chin
Baldwin is described as a hamlet with a true neighborhood feel. It’s said to be a suburban space with large lots and tree-lined streets. While I agree that there are quite a few large lots in Baldwin, the tree-lined streets have been decimated by horrendous trimming by PSEG Long Island every year.
To me, it does not have a true neighborhood feel like most neighborhoods with concentrated shopping areas such as Rockville Centre, Bellmore, and other South Shore locales where you can shop in many stores or have a nice meal in one of several restaurants. Baldwin doesn’t have that, and many stores that used to be occupied are now empty.
In 2021, Nassau County won a $10 million state grant for several developmental projects in Baldwin. It is 2026 and nothing has changed.
Mineola has seen significant growth with new luxury apartment buildings near the Long Island Rail Road, creating a transit-oriented, walkable environment. Huntington is known for its lively downtown with trendy restaurants, boutiques, and newer condos, plus proximity to harbors.
Baldwin has plenty of waterfront, but we get slated for “affordable” housing instead of luxury apartments or newer condos. Many towns have added village centers with revitalized “Main Streets” that are becoming pedestrian-friendly. I don’t think I will ever see that in Baldwin. I wish someone could find out why the promises that residents have been hearing for years are not kept.
— Regina Redmond, Baldwin
WE ENCOURAGE YOU TO JOIN OUR DAILY CONVERSATION. Just go to newsday.com/submitaletter and follow the prompts. Or email your opinion to letters@newsday.com. Submissions should be no more than 200 words. Please provide your full name, hometown, phone number and any relevant expertise or affiliation. Include the headline and date of the article you are responding to. Letters become the property of Newsday and are edited for all media. Due to volume, readers are limited to one letter in print every 45 days. Published letters reflect the ratio received on each topic.
