New York State is preparing to award $10m in grant money, and Oyster Bay officials want a part of the funding to go to revitalizing downtown Hicksville. HKS Architects, based in New York City, is consulting on the project. Associate principal Erik Wood said the concept is to create attractive public spaces in the Hicksville downtown that would encourage private development.
Wood said that open spaces encourage more foot traffic, which means more customers coming to businesses in those areas. That, in turn, increases the value of the area.
Among the projects under consideration are constructing a new entrance from West John Street to the Long Island Rail Road station, and building a new plaza at the station. Building a new entry to the depot would mean moving 71 parking spaces, reconfiguring adjacent streets, and putting up a new canopy in the passenger drop-off area.
A list of 23 projects was first developed, and that has now been narrowed to seven. The seven are looking for $18.8m. David Ashton, who is with the New York Department of State, suggested the town should ask for $12-15m.
The deadline for submitting the grant proposals is March 31, with awards made early in the summer.
Efforts like this have the potential to impact many residents, so officials might work with a flyer printing company to create an informative mailer.
Location
191 Broadway
Hicksville, NY 11801
Get Directions →
Phone
Hours
Mon: 9:30 - 5:30
Tue: 9:30 - 5:30
Wed: 9:30 - 5:30
Thu: 9:30 - 5:30
Fri: 9:30 - 5:30
Sat: Closed
Sun: Closed