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
Schedule of Events
In August 2006 Sustainable Long Island was hired by a group of community members now know 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 shop for all of its residents. Current membership of the coalition represents a broad cross-section of the community including representatives from the school board, BOCES, chamber of commerce, civic associations, library, county, town, fire district, retirees, and other local groups.
Sustainable Long Island and The Greater Bellport Coalition now garners the support of 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 will offer multiple opportunities for public participation including education workshops and a large community vision session where the public will have 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 Bellport community.
Calendar of Events
| Education Workshops |
Visioning Weekend |
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Safety, Health, and
the Environment
Wednesday, July 18
7:00 - 9:00pm
Click Here To Download the Presentation from the first workshop in PDF |
Vision Kickoff and
Introduction
Friday August 10
7:00 - 9:00pm
St. Joseph the Worker Church,
510 Narragansett Ave |
Land Use Planning/Zoning
Wednesday, July 25
7:00 - 9:00pm
Click below to download the following presentations from the second workshop in PDF. These are large files
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Visioning Day
Saturday, August 11
9:00am - 5:00pm
St. Joseph the Worker Church,
510 Narragansett Ave |
Economy, Transportation,
and Sustainability
Wednesday, August 1
7:00 - 9:00pm
Click Here To Download the Presentation from the Last |
Community Presentation
Monday, August 20
7:00 - 9:00pm
BOCES,
Bellport Academic Center
350 Martha Avenue
Click Here to Download the Community Presentation |
All Education Workshops are being held at :
Victory Church of God
1343 Montauk Highway
East Patchogue, NY 11772 |
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Photos from our work in Bellport
For more information contact
Debbie Ann Chang
516-873-0230 x 18
dchang@sustainableli.org
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 continues to work collaboratively with the Coalition, Town of Brookhaven, and other local partners and elected officials to complete the Sustainable Community Plan for Middle Country, which is expected to be adopted by the Town in late Summer or early Fall of 2007. The Coalition has hired an Executive Director, Kevin McCormack, and SLI continues to provide technical assistance as the Coalition moves into the implementation phase of the Sustainable Community Planning Process. A number of projects are already underway in response to the community’s vision including streetscape improvements along Middle Country Road, new community gateway signs, and a potential skate park.
Elected officials have been extremely supportive throughout the process with funding committed by State Senator John J. Flanagan, State Assemblyman Steve Englebright, County Legislator Joseph T. Caracappa, Town of Brookhaven Supervisor Brian X. Foley and Councilwomen Kathleen Walsh. Assemblywoman Ginny Fields has committed funding for post plan implementation projects. 
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Presentations related to the Sustainable Community Planning Process in Middle Country:
The Vision Weekend Community Presentation
Download the presentation (pdf format)
Transportation and Infrastructure Education Workshop
Download the presentation (pdf format)
Land Use and Zoning Education Workshop
Download the presentation (pdf format)
Urban Design and the Local Economy Education Workshop
Download the presentation (pdf format)
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Please download and fill out the community survey. You can fax back to 516-873-0706, mail it back 45A Seaman Aveunue, Bethpage, NY 11714 or bring it to a Community Education Workshop.
For more information contact
Wayne Tomac
516-873-0230 x 15
wt@sustainableli.org or visit
www.middlecountrysmartgrowth.com
Elmont
This summer and fall Sustainable Long Island will collaborate with Saccardi & Schiff, Inc. the Elmont Coalition
for Sustainable Development
, Town Supervisor Kate Murray, Councilman Ed Ambrosino, and other local leaders and community officials to undertake a milestone visioning process in Elmont. The visioning process will offer multiple opportunities for public participation including training workshops throughout the summer and fall, which will lead to a large public meeting where community members will be asked to envision the future development of Hempstead Turnpike.
Through the visioning process, the Town hopes to ensure that every resident of Elmont has an opportunity to contribute viable recommendations to address the issues that affect everyone who lives or works in the Elmont community. Specific targets will include improving Hempstead Turnpike; developing the community around the Belmont Racetrack; fostering economic development; facilitating community development; creating a range of housing options; and developing a unique look for Elmont.
The Elmont Coalition
for Sustainable Development
was formed by concerned citizens and community & business leaders to coordinate and direct the enhancement of Elmont communities by developing a safe, fun, and environmentally healthy place to live, work, and shop for all of our residents.
Calendar of Events
| Education Workshops |
Visioning Weekend |
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Suburban Planning
Wednesday, September 5
7:00 - 9:00pm
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Vision Kickoff and Introduction
Friday September 28
7:00 - 9:00pm
Elmont Memorial High School
555 Ridge Road
Elmont, NY 11003 |
Transporation, Infrastructure and Safety
Monday, September 10
7:00 - 9:00pm
Click here to download the Transportation, Infrastructure and Safety Presentation
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Visioning Day
Saturday, September 29
9:00am - 5:00pm
Elmont Memorial High School
555 Ridge Road
Elmont, NY 11003 |
The Elmont Economy
Tuesday, September 18
7:00 - 9:00pm
Click Here To Download the Presentation from the Economy Workshop |
Community Presentation
Tuesday, October 16
7:00 - 9:00pm
Elmont Memorial Library
700 Hempstead Turnpike
Elmont, NY 11003
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All Education Workshops are being held at :
Elmont Memorial Library
700 Hempstead Turnpike
Elmont, NY 11003
7 - 9 PM
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Photos from our work in Elmont
Elmont Coalition for Sustainable Development
Goals
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Facilitate Community Revitalization by working with professional visioning, community development and architectural/engineering agencies/corporations to develop a safe, fun, and environmentally healthy place to live, work, and shop for all of our citizens.
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Improve Hempstead Turnpike by working with the DOT to improve the Turnpike, which is on the State Department of Transportation’s Calendar for major renovation in 2008?. This includes but is not limited to repaving, traffic lights, bulb-outs, medians, turning lanes and sidewalks.
Work with Town Council Representatives to introduce legislation that informs the DOT that our community has a Elmont Coalition for Community Revitalization and that we are developing a land use plan.
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Develop a Land Use Plan.
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Pursue the idea of burying or moving to the outer perimeters electric, cable and phone wires.
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Create a Business Improvement District (BID)
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Create a business incubator environment including the possibility of a specially designed WiFi network.
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Work collaboratively with the Town and County to market the advantages of the Empire Zone designation to attract businesses to Elmont.
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Create recreational opportunities for youth as determined by visioning plan.
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Encourage the creation of teen services offered by the schools, youth organization (GYO) and library working in partnership.
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Encourage local business to address the recreational and workforce development needs of youth.
Member Organizations of the Elmont Coalition for Sustainable Development
| Advent Lutheran Church |
Locustwood – Gotham |
| Alden Manor |
Nassau County Legistlature |
| Americans of Pakistani Heritage, Inc. |
New Hope Lutheran Church |
| Argo Civic |
NYRA |
| Chamber of Commerce |
Parkhurst |
| East End Civic Association |
Nassau County Police Department Problem Oriented Policing Unit (POP) |
| Elmont Herald |
St. Boniface |
| Elmont Union Free School |
St. Vincent de Paul |
| Elmont.org |
Town of Hempstead |
| Gateway Youth Outreach |
Tudor Manor |
| HAFALI |
Valmont |
| Jamaica Square |
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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)
To view this video you need
Windows Media Player.
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. In 2001, Sustainable Long Island came together with civic leaders in the community and the Town of North Hempstead to plan an ambitious revitalization for the struggling downtown. Out of those initial meetings Sustainable Long Island helped to form the Unified New Cassel Community Revitalization Corporation (UNCCRC). Together with UNCCRC and the Town of North Hempstead, Sustainable Long Island facilitated a multi-day community visioning process in Spring 2002 entitled "Seeking a Shared Vision for New Cassel."
The visioning process brought together 600 community residents, business owners, civic groups, clergy, and elected officials to create a viable Vision Plan for Prospect Avenue, New Cassel's main commercial corridor. The Vision Plan that came out of that process was adopted by the Town of North Hempstead, and in December 2004 groundbreakings began on projects identified by the community as priorities in the Vision Plan. |
(Play the New Cassel Video)
To view this video you need
Windows Media Player.
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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Ron Rudaitis, The Vision Neighbors, and Sarah Lansdale, Executive Director Sustainable Long Island
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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)
To view this video you need
Windows Media Player.
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)
To view this video you need
Windows Media Player.
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 |
