Community
Revitalization
Sustainable Long Island
helps communities across Long Island identify priorities for development
and develop practical strategies to build safer, stronger, healthier,
and more vibrant downtowns. Our Community Revitalization Program
brings stakeholders back into the planning process, connects them
with the experts and resources they need to create a shared vision
for the future of the community, and helps them transform that
vision into reality.
By revitalizing our communities,
we can ensure that Long Island is prosperous and beautiful for
generations to come.
Learn more:
The
three E's: Economy, Environment and Equity
Sustainable Long Island promotes economic
development, environmental health and social equity for all Long
Islanders, present and future.
Economic development
is the process by which people connect profitable businesses
with other interests and values, including education, health,
housing, and the environment. Business becomes a means to accumulate
wealth and to make the local community more creative, inclusive,
and sustainable - now and 20 or 30 years from now.
Environmental
health is our protection from environmental factors
that may adversely impact human health or the ecological balance
that is essential to long-term human health, whether in the natural
or built environment.
Social equity
is the fair and equal access to opportunity that members
of a sustainable community enjoy. The principle of social equity
is based on a belief that everyone has basic needs that should
be filled, that burdens and rewards should not be spread too divergently
within or between communities, and that policy should be directed
with impartiality, fairness and justice toward these ends. Equity
implies a need for fairness in the distribution of gains and losses,
and the entitlement of everyone to an acceptable quality and standard
of living.
Sustainable
Long Island's Community Revitalization Program
Sustainable Long Island works in a
range of communities across Long Island, each with a unique history
and set of challenges and opportunities. But in each community
our goal is the same: to bring stakeholders back into the planning
process that impacts their everyday lives.
Learn how
Sustainable Long Island works with communities.
Learn more about our
work in Bellport, Elmont, Middle Country, New
Cassel, Huntington, Port Washington, Roosevelt and
Wyandanch.
Initial meetings:
Sustainable Long Island begins work in any community
by meeting the residents, business owners, civic leaders, clergy,
environmentalists, and town or village officials. Those initial
meetings are listening meetings, a chance for us to hear what's
happening in the community. Sometimes this listening period lasts
several months; in other communities, it might take a year for
a community to begin to understand its priorities and construct
a plan of action.
Public education
workshops: Wherever we work, we bring the stories of
other communities - not just here on Long Island, but all across
America - and how they have solved community problems with new,
innovative ideas. These workshops arm people with the research
and expertise of planners, architects, landscape designers and
traffic technicians, but they also foster simple, open exchange
among the community members to help them pinpoint their needs.
Community visioning
process: As communication improves, ideas develop, and
trust grows, a community is ready for a charrette, a community
visioning process. Sustainable Long Island brings in expert planners
and facilitators to run these meetings, which are open to everyone.
Over the course of the visioning process, plans are illustrated,
and groups tour the town to see for themselves how things might
look. In smaller groups, people actually plan a downtown center,
a park, a pedestrian-friendly walkway, a well-lit street. Each
group reports back to the whole; then the experts find the consensus,
create the plan, and develop a time line for implementation. Currently we are working on community visioning processes in Bellport, Middle Country, and Elmont.
Implementation
phase: With the creation of a vision plan that encapsulates
the needs of a community and the steps for fulfilling their shared
vision, implementation in partnership with the town or village
is ready to begin. As implementation proceeds, visible changes
materialize: façade improvements, the redevelopment of
abandoned properties, community clean-up programs, trees that
beautify the downtown. Sustainable Long Island remains an active
partner in the revitalization process.
In addition to Sustainable
Long Island's five major revitalization projects in Huntington,
New Cassel, Port Washington, Roosevelt and Wyandanch we have also conducted
community vision processes in Huntington Station, Oyster Bay and
Riverhead.
Interested in learning
more? Contact us or sign
up for our email newsletter.
Bellport
In August 2006 Sustainable Long Island was hired by a group of community members now known as The Greater Bellport Coalition to coordinate and direct the revitalization of the Greater Bellport community by developing a safe, fun, and environmentally healthy place to live, work, and play for all of its residents. Current membership of the coalition represents a broad cross-section of the community including representatives from the clergy, school board, civic associations, library, County, Town, fire district, ambulance, not-for-profit groups, retirees, and other local groups.
Sustainable Long Island and The Greater Bellport Coalition now garner the support of Assemblywoman Pat Eddington, Legislator Kate Browning, Legislator Jack Eddington, Supervisor Brian Foley, Councilwoman Connie Kepert, Commissioner David Woods as well as other Town of Brookhaven officials.
Our goal is to build consensus in a community of diverse ideas through the creation and implementation of a sustainable community plan that serves as a roadmap for the future development of Bellport. The project will provide recommendations to support the community’s vision in the following areas already identified by the community:
- Improvements to Station Road and Montauk Highway
- Enhance transportation options
- Improve street safety
- Foster economic development
- Create one or more “downtown” areas
- Develop a range of housing options to attract and retain the young worker
- Enhance the environment
- Other issues as identified by the community throughout the process
The Sustainable Community Planning process offered multiple opportunities for public participation including education workshops, focus groups and a large community vision session where the public had the opportunity to define their vision for the future of the community. The goal of the Sustainable Community Planning process is to identify and implement solutions to the issues that affect everyone who lives or works in the Greater Bellport community.
Some highlights since the visioning weekend:
- Formed Safety committee to work on safety issues - i.e. reducing crime, improving street lighting
- Formed Economic Development committee-worked on 72H property transferring guidelines
- Formed Youth/Recreation committee to address activities for after-school involvement
- Draft of plan completed-final document is expected to be completed by August 2008
- Identify funding options for the implementation of community development projects
- Continue to work collaboratively with Sustainable Long Island, Town of Brookhaven, and other local partners and elected officials to complete the Sustainable Community Plan
Click Here to Download the Community Presentation
Photos from our work in Bellport
For more information contact: Erin Thoresen
Middle Country
Spawned by local interest in improving the quality of life and addressing significant safety issues along State Route 25, Sustainable Long Island facilitated a Sustainable Community Planning Process in the Summer and Fall of 2006 for the communities of Selden and Centereach, collectively known as Middle Country. In partnership with the Middle Country Coalition for Smart Growth and the Town of Brookhaven the community vision session was one of the most successful in Long Island history and identified 11 goals the community focused on for improvement.
- Beautify the Community
- Create Additional Recreation and Entertainment Options
- Improve the Middle Country Road Corridor and Enhance Public Transportation Options
- Enhance Pedestrian Access Throughout the Community
- Improve the Local Economy and Business Offerings
- Create Town Centers and Community Spaces
- Improve Safety for Pedestrians and Motorists
- Enhance the Local Utility Infrastructure
- Develop More Housing Options
- Improve Government Policy and Responsiveness
- Create a Sense of Place and Enhance Community Pride
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Sustainable Long Island worked collaboratively with the Coalition, Town of Brookhaven, and other local partners and elected officials to complete the Sustainable Community Plan for Middle Country, which has been submitted to the Town and is expected to be adopted in the Summer of 2008. SLI continues to provide technical assistance to the Coalition to further organizational development and implementation of the Sustainable Community Plan. A number of projects are already underway including the reincarnation of Hobbs Farm as a working community organic farm, education and retreat center.
Elected officials have been extremely supportive throughout the process with funding committed by State Senator John J. Flanagan, State Assemblyman Steve Englebright, former County Legislator Joseph T. Caracappa, Legislator Brian Beedenbender, Town of Brookhaven Supervisor Brian X. Foley and Councilwoman Kathleen Walsh. Assemblywoman Ginny Fields has committed funding for post plan implementation projects.
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For more information contact: Erin Thoresen or visit www.middlecountrysmartgrowth.com
Elmont
Along Hempstead Turnpike between the Nassau/Queens border and Franklin Square, the Elmont landscape has become another victim of suburban sprawl. Across from Belmont Park many of the businesses have not seen their full potential since the running of Sercretariat, Seattle Slew and Affirmed. The former Argo Theater located at the community corners has transformed from a place for youth to go to another string of variety stores that can be found anywhere in the community. Further west Hempstead Turnpike turns into a non-descript Long Island community with strip malls and national chains.
But that is about to change. Over the past two years the community, Nassau County and the Town of Hempstead have come together to find solutions that will recapture the Gateway to Nassau. Over 600 stakeholders participated in Best Practice Tours, Education Workshops, Surveys, Bus Tours and design days to make sure that their voices were heard in the creation of a Vision for the future of Elmont.
During the visioning the community addressed issues with housing, job and business development, youth, seniors, transportation, beautification, social equity and land use. Although the vision has recently been created the implementation has already started. The Town of Hempstead has secured a $2.5 Million grant for improvements around the Argo Theater site. Nassau County has submitted recommendations from the community for new and upgraded bus shelters. And a new partnership is being forged between the community and the New York Racing Association.
Photos from our work in Elmont
For more information contact: Lyle Sclair or visit www.elmont.org
Huntington
Sustainable
Long Island’s first community revitalization project,
the redesign of Gerard Street in Huntington, demonstrated
how successful planning could happen when community stakeholders
are at the table.
In February 2000, Sustainable Long Island invested $30,000
in a community visioning process to redesign Gerard Street.
Over 600 community members participated, producing a vision
plan to make the Gerard Street area safer and more welcoming.
The first priority identified by the community was a roundabout
to slow traffic on the street in order to make it a safer
place for pedestrians.
In 2002, Sustainable Long Island leveraged $200,000 in public
financing to build the Gerard Street roundabout. The roundabout
was completed in 2003.
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(Play the Gerard St. Partnership video)
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Walking
tour on design day
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| Youth brainstorm new Gerard Street |
Construction begins |
Roundabout unveiling |
New Cassel
The community of New Cassel in the Town of North Hempstead is in the midst of a rebirth that has brought over $80 million in private real estate development to this downtown.
The c ommunity planning process was held in 2002. Since then Sustainable Long Island has worked closely with the Unified New Cassel Community Revitalization Corporation and the Town of North Hempstead to help the community break ground on what will be their first bank, pharmacy and supermarket along Prospect Avenue. Above these businesses will be rental units. $80 million dollars has been infused for a total of 201 units of market-rate and affordable housing.
The new downtown New Cassel will offer 39,989 sq. feet of retail space and 114,714 sq. feet of residential. Sustainable Long Island has been and will continue to be working alongside the community of New Cassel and the Town of North Hempstead to complete these plans.
Sustainable Long Island commissioned a study from Hofstra’s Center for Suburban Studies to track the successes, challenges and lessons-learned from the revitalization of downtown New Cassel, along Prospect Avenue. Read the New Cassel Monograph.
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(Play the New Cassel Video)
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Residents brainstorm at design table |
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| Vision unveiled in New Cassel |
Youth presentations |
Property destined for development |
Port Washington
| Over 1,000 Port Washington community members, youth, civic groups, business owners and elected officials from the six villages and the unincorporated areas participated in the Shared vision process through open forums and a design event weekend which included tours and brainstorming sessions that led to the design of shared comprehensive goals for the future of the Peninsula. Sustainable Long Island’s Shared Vision Neighbors made their debut in Port Washington, a standalone collection of five life-sized cutout figures with recorded messages that described the shared vision process and encouraged community participation.
The Vision Plan was adopted for the Port Washington peninsula by the Town of North Hempstead Board and an implementation committee comprised of technical experts, elected officials and community members was formed to inform implementation decisions and assume responsibility for action items required to execute specific projects that realize the community’s goals.
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Roosevelt
The community of Roosevelt in the Town of Hempstead is currently implementing the vision plan that was drafted by the community in 2002. Then, Sustainable Long Island facilitated a community visioning process called “Seeking a Shared Vision for Roosevelt” that sought to revitalize the Nassau Road corridor in Roosevelt’s downtown. The visioning process convened 500 stakeholders, in partnership with the Nassau County Executive Thomas R. Suozzi and Town of Hempstead Supervisor Richard V. Guardino, Jr.
Following the visioning process, Sustainable Long Island helped draft a community revitalization and economic development plan for Roosevelt and identified 15 brownfields along the main commercial corridor. In 2003, Sustainable Long Island organized over 100 volunteers from the Roosevelt community to construct a new playground at the Washington Rose Elementary School, one of the projects identified in the community vision plan. The playground, which took three days to build, was designed by youth from the Roosevelt community.
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(Play the Roosevelt Video)
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Designing a new playground |
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| Press conference in Roosevelt |
Youth present their vision |
Vision becomes reality |
Wyandanch
The hamlet of Wyandanch in central Suffolk County is currently in the process of implementing a community vision plan created with Sustainable Long Island's assistance. In 2003, Sustainable Long Island facilitated a community-based planning event called "Wyandanch Rising," in partnership with the Town of Babylon and Wyandanch Weed & Seed. Wyandanch Rising brought together over 500 homeowners, renters, business and property owners, civic groups, clergy, planners, architects, and government officials from June 5-9, 2003. Over the course of those five days, the participants crafted the first comprehensive plan for the community in over a generation.
In September 2004, the Town of Babylon adopted the Wyandanch vision plan and immediately began moving forward with the plan's implementation. Goals set forth by the vision plan include a family-style restaurant, bicycle lanes, on-street parking, wider and better-lit sidewalks, safer crosswalks, mixed-use buildings, and community clean-up initiatives. Longer-term goals included the development of civic groups, public art, community festivals, and the beautification of building facades.
Sustainable Long Island remains engaged in the implementation phase of Wyandanch's downtown revitalization campaign. Sustainable Long Island will be assisting the Town and the community to create work-force housing, extend Babylon's sewer system into the hamlet of Wyandanch, and spearhead a local business association to create support for future economic development in the community. |
(Play the Wyandanch Rising video)
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Press conference that launched
Wyandanch Rising, June 2003
Banner hangs on Long Island Avenue |
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Residents set priorities |
Rendering from design day |
Cleanup on Straight Path |
