"The State of Nassau County is deeply troubled"
"Nassau County is not prepared for today's economic times"
"Nassau County residents have been overtaxed and abused for too long"

- State of the County address from Nassau County Executive Ed Mangano- Monday March 15, 2010

Beechwood Organization

Over the past thirty years, The Beechwood Organization has developed 55 communities, built over 5500 homes and is currently in the planning stages for several additional communities throughout Long Island and the New York area. The Beechwood Organization is the proud recipient of numerous, prestigious local and national awards for its communities including Residential Community of the Year, Best New Design, Best Model Home, Best Single Family Home and Best Single Family Attached Home. They also won a Smart Growth Award for Arverne by the Sea in the Rockaways.

Become a supporter of Smart Growth

Vision Long Island prides itself on having a broad range of supporters.  Become one today. A donation as small as $50 buys outreach materials to help a community build support for their vision. $500 sponsors an entire newsletter.  $5,000 makes you a lead sponsor of our Smart Growth Summit, buying 10 tickets and a key branding opportunity for your organization.
 
Your tax-deductible donation goes directly to Vision and lets you help strengthen efforts to put Smart Growth principles into action.

Register now for the 2010 Smart Growth Awards

The eight Smart Growth Awards will honor individuals and organizations taking leadership in advancing Smart Growth projects, policies, regulations and initiatives.

The Awards will be handed out on Friday, June 18th from 11:30am-2pm at the Crest Hollow Country Club.

Registration information is available here.

Long Island's first LEED-ND® conference is next week! Attend the event on Tuesday, March 23rd

Please attend the first Long Island LEED-ND® conference March 23rd from 8:30am-3:00pm at the Sustainability Institute at Molloy College in East Farmingdale. Come to this informative worksession to learn about LEED-ND®: LEED®'s newest neighborhood-based green design standards, led by some of the region's foremost experts. LEED-ND® (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design, Neighborhood Development) was developed in partnership with the US Green Building Council, Congress for the New Urbanism and the Natural Resources Defense Council. Workshops will cover: Smart Location & Linkage, Neighborhood Pattern & Design, Green Construction & Technology and Regional Priority Credit.

Sponsorship opportunities are available, starting at $500 and going up to $1000. Individual tickets are $75. A limited number of scholarships are also available. The event is sponsored by the Sustainability Institute at Molloy College, the US Green Building Council-LI Chapter, Vision Long Island and CNU-NY. The lead sponsor is PS&S.

LEED-ND® conference program

8:30-8:50 - Registration, Breakfast and Networking

8:50 - Opening Remarks
Vince Capogna USGBC- LI
Neal Lewis, Sustainability Institute at Molloy

9:05 - 10:45 - Smart Location & Linkage
Marc Wouters, Cooper, Robertson & Partners/CNU NY
Paddy Steinschneider, Gotham Design, CNU NY
Mike Lydon, Street Plans Collaborative & author of the Smart Growth Manual
Eric Alexander, Vision Long Island, Moderator
Smart location • Imperiled species & ecological communities • Wetland & water body conservation • Agricultural land conservation • Floodplain avoidance • Preferred locations • Brownfield redevelopment • Locations with reduced automobile dependence • Bicycle network & storage • Housing & jobs proximity • Steep slope protection • Site design for habitat or wetland & water body conservation • Restoration of habitat or wetlands & water body • Long-term conservation management of habitat or wetlands & water bodies •

10:45-12:30 - Neighborhood Pattern & Design
David Kim, Anderson Kim Architects
Jay Valgora, Studio V
Brandon Palanker, Renaissance Downtowns
Alex Latham, ADLIII Architecture
Elissa Ward, Vision Long Island, Moderator
•Walkable Streets • Compact Development • Connected and Open community • Mixed-use neighborhood centers • Mixed-income diverse communities • Reduced parking footprint • Street network • Transit facilities • Transportation demand management • Access to civic & public spaces • Access to recreation facilities • Visitability & universal design • Community outreach & involvement • Local food production • Tree-lined & shaded streets • Neighborhood schools • Innovative & exemplary performance

12:30-1:00 - Lunch

1:00-3:00 Green Infrastructure & Buildings
Hon. Steve Fiore-Rosenfeld, Councilman, Town of Brookhaven
Neal Lewis, Sustainability Institute at Molloy College
Vince Campogna, USGBC-LI Chapter
Tony Musumeci, EMTEC Consulting Engineers
Michael Levine, Dept. of Planning, Town of N. Hempstead
Keith Samaroo, PS & S, Moderator
Certified green building • Minimum building energy efficiency • Minimum building water effi ciency • Construction activity pollution prevention • Existing building use • Historic resource preservation & adaptive reuse • Minimized site disturbance in design & construction • Stormwater management • Heat island reduction • Solar orientation • On-site renewable energy sources • District heating & cooling • Infrastructure energy efficiency • Wastewater management • Recycled content in infrastructure • Solid waste management infrastructure • Light pollution reduction •

For more information or to RSVP, contact Vision Long Island at 631-261-0242 or email info@visionlongisland.org. Download the flyer for the event here. The Sustainability Institute at Molloy College is located at 7180 Republic Airport, East Farmingdale.

Rethinking Main Street

Growing “up” has never been so important for so many on Long Island.

In recent years, it has become increasingly obvious that there is just not much space left for Long Island’s various communities to grow outward. Though expansion can still come for these places, more and more it has begun to trend skyward instead of simply sprawling for miles in any direction. At the center of this recent revolution in our way of thinking is the lifeblood of any successful village: downtowns.

It’s commonly accepted that in order for a downtown to be successful, it needs people and one of the best way to ensure a steady supply of them is as residents in the downtown itself. Thanks to this realization, building taller in order to incorporate more residential space in close proximity to downtown has become the latest hot-ticket item in the world of downtown developers.

“We have to finally break the Robert Moses legacy in which the car was king,” said Michael White, who heads the Long Island Regional Planning Council and supports municipalities accommodating greater housing density in their downtowns to cut off sprawl and create vibrant village centers. Though it’s not easy, several downtowns on Long Island have begun to implement these methods in these downtowns, though not all have done everything they can.

One example has been Mineola, a village that has been working hard to capitalize on its expanded transportation abilities in the recent years and has recently approved several plans for large scale condominium projects near their downtown, including a nine-story, 285-unit building. Mayor Jack Martins has also put in place innovative zoning that will fast-track projects aimed at putting more housing downtown.

Others have not been so quick to work towards this goal. Baldwin has recently announced plans to place a new police precinct building in a shopping center parking lot since there is no more room in the community’s sprawl-centric downtown area. It has truly become an unwalkable haven for cars and asphalt. It may be fine for grabbing a latte, but no one will want to stay longer than they have to, and no one will want to live there.

Eric Alexander, Exectuive Director of Vsion was quoted in the article referencing the varying downtown projects and, in particular, Riverhead's downtown revitalization. This article appears in Long Island Business News here,

Mangano presents the State of the County

On Monday evening, new Nassau County Executive Ed Mangano presented his first State of the County address. The standout phrase in the media seems to be "The state of our county is deeply troubled."

Mangano listed many initiatives, insisting that he is acting quickly to repair the County. There was a heavy emphasis on the County's debt and budget. The Property Tax Assessment System has wasted up to $1 billion, said Mangano, so that must be reformed quickly. Mangano has cut government staffing by $22 million, including $2 million from the County Executive's staff, and plans to cut more after reviewing all of Nassau's 47 departments. "No more bloated management structures at the top," he said. Staff cuts were one of Vision's suggestions for reinstating the cuts to Long Island Bus a few months ago.

Here are Mangano's comments about Long Island Bus, which don't seem to directly address the massive County cuts: "I am proud to say that in just the past two months, as a result of a deal with Long Island Bus, we have generated cash and savings of over $550,000. In the past, the county allowed buses that were taken out of service to sit idle for long periods. Weather and vandals, as well as the cost of securing these buses, made that a costly exercise. Together with Long Island Bus, we have shortened the time old buses sit in the junkyard. By handling taxpayer money much like the way you would handle your own, we have saved over half a million dollars in just over two months and will continue this program with the MTA."

He also mentioned the MTA payroll tax, saying "It hurts because it makes it more expensive to hire people. Tonight, I am requesting Governor Paterson and the legislature to at a minimum amend the MTA payroll tax to exempt new hires who have been unemployed for more than 90 days."

Mangano mentioned the costly repairs that are needed for Nassau's sewers, promised to prioritize open space protection and the State Environmental Protection Fund, emphasized green initiatives, made note of the new housing project at Mitchel Field that will incorporate housing for Veterans, and encouraged an extension of the Empire Zone program (though we encourage the State to incorporate place-making into the equation). He also seeks "sensible regulatory reforms to the state environmental quality review act, or SEQRA. We believe the law can be amended to protect the environment but to provide developers greater certainty when they propose developments."

Of course, Mangano mentioned the popular repeal of the Home Energy Tax that he did on his first day in office, which will save taxpayers over $39 million each year. He plans to create an Office of Local Opportunity that will "provide the support and service to taxpayers and small businesses that need a leg up or guidance through the system." He also announced a business advisory council chaired by Vision Board Member Mike Puntillo, as well as Mark Fasciano. The County will work to maximize all federal and state aid.

Read the full transcript here.

Eminent Domain Threatens LI Businesses

Before the Declaration of Independence asserted the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, the wording left out the happiness part for a different principle: the right to own property. Today on Long Island, both happiness and property are being threatened with increasing use of eminent domain.

In the Oscar-winning cartoon film "Up," the main character grows old in his home, even as high-rise developments take over his entire neighborhood. Though developers offer him a lot of money to move out, the man refuses to leave his lifelong memories behind. With a little Disney Magic, he attaches hundreds of balloons to his house and flies away to have the adventure he always dreamed of. If the man had lived on Long Island, he wouldn't have held on to his house for so long. Instead, the government would have used the power of eminent domain to declare his home a "blight," seize it and sell it to the private developer. Talk about threatening the rights to property and happiness!

The appeal of eminent domain is that is can close blighted properties in order to make way for neighborhood revitalization, thereby increasing the local tax base. Of course, there are many negatives, primarily the gray area of the government being allowed to seize a private property to sell it to a private developer. Often eminent domain is used to transform small businesses or homes into large developments such as a supermarket or a hotel. Of course, there's also the issue of defining "blight."

Eminent domain is legal under federal and New York State laws, under the conditions that the property be used for a public use and that just compensation be paid. Though in the past, municipalities have used eminent domain for new public projects such as schools or parks, a 2005 Supreme Court decision (Kelo vs. The City of New London) gave governments the right to use it for economic development. As a result of the decision, 43 states (not including New York) passed laws that restrict the government's authority to seize private property for private development. On Long Island, the Supreme Court decision has led to an abuse of eminent domain power. Statewide, from 1998-2002, 146 properties were condemned or threatened to be seized for public use. A year after the Kelo decision, that number jumped to 734. The report that found those numbers called New York "perhaps the worst state in the nation when it comes to eminent domain abuse."

Eminent domain was almost used to redevelop the Courtesy Hotel in West Hempstead, a project that won a 2009 Smart Growth Award. Eventually, the hotel sold the property to the developer. Town of Hempstead Supervisor Kate Murray said eminent domain is "a tool but it is very much the last tool we would ever want to use." Village of Patchogue Mayor Paul Pontieri used eminent domain to complete two revitalization projects, but said "You do it very cautiously. It's an invasion." One of the two cases was for the Copper Beech affordable housing development, and the end result was a deal to move a 113-year old mansion two blocks away. The homeowner's son, Leonard DeFilippo, said "I still have this feeling that they're taking from the small guys so the big guys can make money, especially for development. I'm so very, very much against that." New Town of Riverhead Supervisor Sean Walter campaigned on an anti-eminent domain platform, though we have already seen great strides toward revitalization in the downtown. "I don't believe it's the government's function to take one person's private property and give it to a developer for private use," Walter said. "It may be legal that you can do it, but it's really not proper."

As exciting as a revitalization project may be, there are few cases where it is acceptable to force small business owners to sell their livelihood. Jay Oberlender, who is suing the Town of Hempstead over such a case in Elmont, said "to muscle a person into selling their structure - a home, a business, whatever it might be - is wrong." He continued, "I believe redevelopment, in and of itself, is a good thing. The question is the way they're going about it."

Read more at Newsday.

The 3/50 Project has a new campaign: Eat Down the Street!

They say: "It’s not just retail stores we love at The 3/50 Project; it’s all types of locally owned brick and mortars! Join us in supporting the cafes, coffee shops, bistros, diners, pizza joints, pasta shops, and white table cloth haunts that make our neighborhoods fun and fabulous. Let’s commit to eating once a week at an independent spot we’d hate to see disappear — doesn't have to be someplace pricey, just needs to be an indie (read: not a chain or national brand)."

The 3/50 Project is a national campaign that encourages people to buy locally by visiting 3 independent stores and spending $50 at them each month. Learn more on their website.

Ronkonkoma-to-Greenport line gets New Life

On Friday, March 19th, the MTA announced that it would be taking proposed cuts to weekday service on the Ronkonkoma-to-Greenport off the table. Cheered as a victory by transportation advocates, the announcement averts what was considered the most severe cut proposed for the LIRR to help the MTA curb its $400 million shortfall in 2010.

"Obviously it's important news. It's good news for that line," said state Senator Brian Foley (D-Blue Point). "They need to find ways to cut costs, but this was an unwise proposal.”

Non-summer weekend service will still be cut as planned.

New life for an old theater in downtown Riverhead

After years of legal snares and hold-ups, an agreement has finally been reached on the historic Suffolk Theater, an 800 seat art deco movie house, in Riverhead.

Located in Riverhead’s historic downtown the district, the theater has been the target of much legal discourse between the Town of Riverhead and Pike Realty until just recently, when a deal was struck between the two entities to drop their respective lawsuits against each other. The stalled project will now include a set of ground rules favorable to both sides and allowing them to finally proceed with renovations of the historic building, which is currently owned by Long Island City builder Robert Castaldi.

The theater, a victim of the growth of multiplex movie houses and lack of easy-to-find local parking, had previously been in operation from 1933 until its closing in 1987. It was purchased by the town in the 1990s for $400,000 and benefited from an extensive $600,000 renovation to fix a leaky roof and sagging façade. The building was then sold to Mr. Castaldi in 2005 for $700,000, at which point he claimed it would re-open in 2006.

However, problems related to the failed Apollo Real Estate Investors master developer deal bogged down the process to the point where it was placed on indefinite hold while the lawsuits were sorted out. Once Apollo was removed from the picture, the two sides agreed to start over and finally drop the lawsuits, paving the way for the building to be renovated as a performing arts center.

Under the new deal, Mr. Castaldi must file a completed permit request by August 22nd and will then have 24 months from the issuing date of the permit to complete all work on the building. The Town will also hold rights of approval to any third party sales of the building for up to three years after the project is finished.

Groundbreaking slated for downtown Riverhead hotel

A new 100-room Hyatt hotel is coming soon to downtown Riverhead. According to the Town of Riverhead Industrial Development Agency, Atlantis Marine World has until December 15th to begin construction on the hotel or it will lose its IDA tax abatements. Atlantis Principal Jim Bissett said that groundbreaking is likely occur for the hotel within the next month. Bissett told the Riverhead News Review that "Everything is looking good," but that the IDA deadline "put the pressure on" to get his financing in order. The hotel could open by May 2011.

The newspaper article continues, "the $21 million project will include the hotel, new exhibit space for the aquarium and a 350-seat banquet hall that will allow catered events to be held while the aquarium is open." The hotel enhances Riverhead as a destination center, attracting people from all over the region. The project was the recipient of a Restore NY grant last year.

Huntington Station Residents Hail AvalonBay Project

Last Tuesday, March 9th, the Huntington Town Board meeting featured a special hearing on the AvalonBay project in Huntington Station. The hearing was on a proposed zoning change for the 26.6 acre property, located about a half mile away from the Huntington train station on the north side of East Fifth Street. Currently, the property is zoned for 109 single family houses, but the zone change to a "Huntington Station Transit Oriented District" would allow for developers AvalonBay Communities to install 530 housing units. The housing units would include 424 rentals and 109 for-sale townhouses. 132 units, about 25% would be affordable (rentals starting at $890 a month and for-sale units at $150,000-$160,000). Even with the additional units, the project would add fewer school-aged children to the Huntington School District than the single-family home option.

About 50 people spoke at the hearing, including Vision's Tawaun Weber. A good 75% of attendees supported the project, calling it Smart Growth and hailing the transit-oriented development concept and the concentration of next-generation housing. Several homeowners gave testimony on how their kids have left the Town, and that they would still be there if this project existed. People liked the project because it is a much-needed improvement to what is there now. Some had concerns about the project's height, increased traffic in the area, and the connection to the train station: the 10-minute walk is at the outer edge of walkability guidelines, so the planned walking paths between the station and the development will have to be well-lit and landscaped. However, the positives greatly outweighed the negatives.

The affordable housing component was controversial. Most agreed that the housing is much-needed for the area. Some said the project would bring an over-saturation of affordable housing. Others argued that people were only supporting the project because of its affordable housing component. The Times Beacon Record writes, "Noting that the median income of Huntington Station is $62,000, far lower than the $101,800 figure established by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development for Nassau/Suffolk, Robert Ralph of the Town's Fair Housing Committee asked that more units be offered at 80 percent of the median, and not 110 percent."

Town Supervisor Frank Petrone characterized the hearing as "the most productive in his 16-year tenure," according to the Times Beacon Record. Vision Long Island supports the project and hopes to see it move forward quickly.

Read more at Newsday and the Times Beacon Record. Vision's testimony is available here.

Historic preservation a hot topic in Northport's special election this week

In the Village of Northport, about 400 of the 2,700 homes in the four square-mile village are at least 100 years old. Just around the corner from the activity of Main Street, you can find a unique housing stock that is visually appealing for residents and visitors. The oldest house in the village, a 1761 cottage called Skidmore House on Main Street, went on the market last year, and has sparked some controversy over the possibility of a new owner tearing it down. The house is currently under contract and it looks like the buyers will go for restoration, but some who looked at the house considered tearing it down or doing extensive renovations. After Northport's historic Cow Harbor Inn was torn down last year to create a bank, the Village woke up to the importance of historic preservation regulations.

Mayor George J. Doll Jr., was pressured by many residents to save the Skidmore House. According to the NY Times, "He said he shared the wish to protect the village’s heritage but pointed out that 'it would be impractical for the village to buy every house that came up for sale.'" Doll's next step was to promote a historic review law that would "protect old houses from developers" or from owners who want to "expand their house but not take into consideration its historical style." The law requires that any plans (that typically require permits) to demolish or renovate houses that are at least 100 years old should be vetted by an architectural review board. The Village Board of Trustees passed the law last month. Mayor Doll submitted his own house for review.

A candidate in this week's special election for Board of Trustees, William Friedman, "a lawyer who lives in an 1880s boathouse with two trees growing through it," said that the new law impinges on property rights. He said, “In Northport the homeowner is a captain. They can’t micromanage what we do to our houses.” The Times article continues to assert that Northport's regulations are mild compared to many other Long Island villages.

Robert C. Hughes, a historian for the Town of Huntington, said "Historic preservation is not an impediment to livability. Houses grow and change over the years to meet changing needs” for practical kitchens and large open spaces. “Historic properties are what give the town its feel, its character."

In the end, the historic preservation activists won the special election: incumbents Henry Tobin and Tom Kehoe have worked tirelessly on downtown revitalization efforts, which includes preservation to enhance neighborhood character.

Update: Keep our State Parks open!

Several of Long Island's State parks are facing the threat of closure due to the Governor's budget proposal for the next fiscal year. A dozen parks could close or face serious cuts by summer, including Valley Stream, Hempstead Lake, Jones Beach (west swimming pool closure), Bethpage, Cold Spring Harbor, Trail View, Connetquot River, Brentwood, Nissequogue River, Caleb Smith, Heckscher, Brookhaven, Montauk Downs, and Orient Beach. State Parks have seen funding reductions of 40 percent over the last two years, and these cuts would see an additional 16 percent cut. Closing these parks would be incredibly detrimental for local communities. In these difficult economic times, State parks are affordable places where families can gather and engage in both recreational and cultural activities. This is the last action the State should be taking to close its budget gap.

The park cuts come from cuts to the Environmental Protection Fund (EPF), the state's only dedicated source for environmental funding. The EPF was instituted 16 years ago to provide a consistent stream of revenue for open space protection, farmland preservation, park creation and expansion, recycling and a number of other critical environmental programs. Investments made through the EPF not only protect our natural resources and public health; they also play an important role in New York’s economic well-being. Programs funded by the EPF create jobs, eliminate solid waste, prevent pollution, provide clean drinking water, protect ecosystems and community character, and connect communities and our children with the outdoors. In short, every county in New York benefits from EPF-funded programs. Funded by a real estate transfer tax, the EPF has been a tremendous success, preserving the irreplaceable beauty of New York State for generations to come. However, in recent years sizeable chunks of its funding—now nearly $500 million in all—have been swept out of the Fund and into other programs to help balance the state’s budget. The EPF is facing a 33% cut in the next budget, which will be acted on by April 1st. If passed as proposed, New Yorkers would see a $69 million cut to the EPF and an indefinite halt to open space protection projects, as well as over $40 million of cuts to our state parks.

Members of a Long Island State parks advisory committee have been meeting to look for ways to keep the budget cuts from closing the parks, including seeking corporate sponsorships/selling the naming rights to some parks, a longer park season that includes collecting fees, and raising beach fees. According to NYLCV, with the closure of some State parks increasingly likely, "To soften the blow, the governor has since offered amendments that would divert $5 million from the state's Environmental Protection Fund, earmarked for park capital improvements, into park operating expenses. He also has proposed allowing state parks to raise fees to raise an additional $4 million."

There are several ways to speak out against the closures, including rallies and petitions (some events have already past):

Petition to save Nissequogue River State Park
The Park Advocate and the Nissequogue River State Park Foundation are working together to protect the Nissequogue River State Park. The Nissequogue River State Park is home of Tiffany Field, a marina used by many community boaters and a popular summer science camp. Help send a message to the State letting them know that Long Islanders oppose these closures by signing the online petition. The petition tells the Governor, New York State Parks Department, and State Legislators that closing community parks will have a negative impact on all New Yorkers and we must find a way to save them! More information is available on their website.

Sign on to a letter to Governor Paterson
Sign on to the following group letter to Governor Paterson as soon as possible. Signers can include local businesses (especially chambers of commerce), friends groups, and other organizations. Please include signatures and detailed contact information (as well as logos, if applicable), and send to Rachel Boehr, Campaign to Save New York State Parks: rboehr@malkinross.com or (845) 269-0570.

March 2010

The Honorable David A. Paterson
State Capitol
Albany, NY 12224

Dear Governor Paterson:

We are writing to request that $11.3 million in operations funding for the Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (OPRHP) be included in the final FY 2010-11 State Budget. Without this funding, 91 state parks and historic sites are at risk of closing and another 40 are subject to possible service reductions. We recognize that the State is facing an unprecedented fiscal crisis, but cutting funding for state parks and historic sites will only hurt local economies and threaten stewardship efforts that provide recreational opportunities for all New Yorkers, as well as further the State’s conservation goals.

The OPRHP budget has been cut disproportionately when compared to most other agencies. Over the past two years, the agency’s budget has been cut by $46 million, which equates to 25% of its operating budget. With 85% of the agency’s operating budget going directly toward running New York’s 213 state parks and historic sites, there is no more excess to cut. The agency has already eliminated 1,000 permanent and seasonal workers and last year’s budget cuts resulted in service reductions at 100 state parks and historic sites.

State parks and historic sites bring countless benefits to New York in the form of tourism, economic investment and environmental protection. In total, nearly 57 million people visited New York parks last year. A recent study commissioned by Parks & Trails New York showed that for each dollar the State spends on parks and historic sites, the State and local economies receive five dollars in economic investment. This is a yearly total investment of $1.9 billion. Given the State’s current fiscal condition, slashing OPRHP’s funding will be a huge blow to New York’s fragile economy. In addition, state parks and historic sites contribute to the rich cultural opportunities across the state, while playing a central role in preserving the State’s open spaces and habitats.

In the Long Island region alone, where there are 16 parks and sites in danger of closure or service reductions, 19.9 million people visited the parks, nearly double the number that visited the Niagara region. Additionally parks provided the area with $410 million in economic output and nearly 4,000 jobs. In these tough times, we cannot afford to be losing economic activity nor should we be shutting down low-cost areas for families, Long Island families and visitors alike.

As you work to make the difficult decisions that must be made this fiscal year, we ask that you remember the value that state parks and historic sites provide to New Yorkers. Please include $11.3 million for OPRHP operations funding in the final FY 2010-11 State Budget and keep our state parks and historic sites open.

Sincerely,

(your name and organization)

Tune in to WGBB radio this Saturday night for "Labor Lines"

Be sure to tune into “Labor Lines,” a bi-weekly radio show on WGBB 1240 AM radio hosted by Vic Fusco, this Saturday at 6:30 pm. Vision Long Island’s Executive Director Eric Alexander will be appearing on the show to discuss a wide range of subjects including downtown revitalization, transportation, job development, and the importance of smart growth in Long Island’s future.

The show will also be simulcast online here.

LIPC celebrates 31 years on March 27th

The Long Island Progressive Coalition and REP-LI invites you to celebrate 31 years of LIPC Fighting for Social and Human Dignity. The annual luncheon will be on Saturday, March 27 from 11am-2pm at the Timber Point Country Club, Great River Road in Great River and will honor: Kirk Kordeleski, Bethpage Federal Credit Union with the Paul Gutierrez Award for Contributions to Human Dignity; Michele Lynch, SEIU Local 1199 with the Bill Pickering Labor Leader Award; Supervisor Steven Bellone, Town of Babylon with the Award for Environmental Vision in Sustainable Development; Serge Martinez & the Hofstra Law Clinic as a Long Islander Who Has Made A Difference; Gerry Mooney, Group for the East End as a Long Islander Who Has Made A Difference; Amparo Sadler as a Long Islander Who Has Made A Difference; and Pastor Mack Smith, Trinity Evangelical Lutheran as a Long Islander Who Has Made A Difference.

Tickets are $75 each, 2 for $125 or $700 for a table of 12. Additional sponsorship opportunities are available. To purchase your ticket or for more information, contact Debbie-Ann Chang at 516-541-1006, ext 14.

Historic Rehabilitation Tax Credits: the free workshop on April 6 (Rescheduled)

Rehabilitation tax credits provide real financial incentives for the reuse of historic buildings. Under-utilized on Long Island, these credits are not limited to distressed census tracts, have great potential in downtown revitalization, and can apply to both commercial and residential properties. Learn more about the full scope of the federal and state programs from industry experts and the New York State Historic Preservation Office for a workshop discussion on program eligibility, application procedures and how credits can be monetized. This free workshop will include program overviews with information on National Register eligibility and listing, financing information (including syndication opportunities for non-profits), case studies and time for question and answers. Developers, preservationists, local governments, property owners and architects will have special interest.

The workshop will take place on April 6th (rescheduled due to snow) from 7-9pm at Riverhead Town Hall (200 Howell Avenue in Riverhead). It is hosted by the Society for the Preservation of Long Island Antiquities (SPLIA) & Town of Riverhead Landmarks Preservation Commission. Speakers will include Elizabeth Martin, Historic Sites Restoration Coordinator and Virginia Bartos, Historic Preservation Program Analyst at New York State Historic Preservation Office; Ward Dennis, Partner at Nixon Peabody, LLP; and Charlotte Lee, Associate at Higgins Quasebarth & Partners, LLC. Introduced by James Wooten, Riverhead Town Council; Alexandra Wolfe, Preservation Services Director, SPLIA; and Richard Wines, Riverhead LPC.

For more information or to RSVP, contact Alexandra Wolfe at SPLIA by phone 631-692-4664 or email awolfe@splia.org.

Northport ArtWalk kicks off April 11th

Starting on Sunday, April 11th from 4-7pm and continuing May 2nd and June 13th during the same hours, the Northport Chamber of Commerce and the Northport Arts Coalition are hosting a new event, Northport ArtWalk. The free event includes a self-guided walking tour of established and emerging artists at many galleries, studios and eclectic gallery-for-a-day venues in Northport's Main Street area. Enjoy possible performances, music, restaurants, antique shops, boutiques and cafes. It's a great way to check out Northport's bustling and diverse art community.

If you are interested in being a host merchant, you will work with the artist to display their work in your place of business. Formal details on the arrangements are available online here. Completed applications should be returned to Caffe Portofino, 249 Main St., Northport, NY 11768, attn: Lisa/ArtWalk coordinator. Applications are available online here. The deadline is March 15th. Contact Lisa Harris with any questions at 631-262-7656.

Innovation and the American Metropolis: Regional Plan Association's 20th annual Regional Assembly on April 16th

Regional Plan Association presents its 20th Annual Regional Assembly, "Innovation and the American Metropolis" on Friday, April 16th from 8am to 4pm in the Grand Ballroom of the Waldorf Astoria, 333 Park Avenue at 49th Street in New York City. The Regional Assembly is New York City's premiere civic event, bringing together top business, civic and academic leaders and professional planners, with municipal, state and federal officials and architectural, design and engineering firms from across the metropolitan region and the nation.

This year’s Assembly will focus on how cities can use new design and management techniques and harness emerging trends in technology and data to improve quality of life and economic competitiveness. Among the eight panels at this full-day conference are Building a Green Infrastructure, Radical Housing, America’s Energy Future, and Smart Transportation: Changing Urban Mobility. Featured speakers include Richard Ravitch, Lieutenant Governor of New York State; Richard Burdett, Centennial Professor in Architecture and Urbanism, London School of Economics and Founder and Director, LSE Cities Program; and William A. McDonough, Founder William McDonough and Partners.

Registration is $250 for non-members, $225 for members. For sponsorship opportunities, please contact rivanova@rpa.org. Visit RPA's website to register and for more information.

Long Island Business News honors top real estate and development professionals on April 27th

Long Island Business News presents the 2010 Real Estate and Development Awards, taking place on April 27th from 6-8pm at the Crest Hollow Country Club in Woodbury. Many projects and companies are being honored this year that Vision has supported in the past.

For Top Smart Growth Project, Hawthorne Court in Valley Stream is being honored. Created by The Dennis Organization, the project won a 2009 Smart Growth Award for Compact Design (watch a video here). The Top Mixed-Use Project went to Four Corners in Patchogue, as developed by Tritec Real Estate Company. The project, titled New Village, also won a 2009 Smart Growth Award for a Mix of Uses (video is here). Tritec is also being honored as Commercial Developer of the Year. The company consistently plans great Smart Growth projects throughout Long Island. The award for "Rising Star in Commercial Real Estate" is going to Developer Scott Burman of The Engel Burman Group, whose company is a strong supporter of Vision's work. Top Residential Development (multi-home/units) goes to The Aqua at Long Beach, developed by The Engel Burman Group. Finally, the Residential Developer of the Year is Matt Whalen from Avalon Bay Communities. Mr. Whalen has been a friend of Vision through Avalon's affordable housing projects in communities like Coram, Glen Cove, and the current proposal in Huntington Station.

Tickets for the Awards are $75 until 4/19, and $95 thereafter and at the door. To purchase tickets visit libn.com or call 631-737-1700.

Teen Arts Festival on May 15th: teen talent sought

The Third Annual Teen Arts Festival will be held on Saturday, May 15th at The Ethical Humanist Society of Long Island in Garden City, beginning at 1:00 pm and running throughout the afternoon. The free festival is for local middle school and high school students to share their talents with each other and the community. The organizers are currently recruiting talent: musicians, artists, dancers, poets and more. Teens and their parents are invited to go online to download a registration form. Registration is due before May 7th. The Youth of Ethical Societies (Y.E.S.) Group is hosting the festival, with the theme: “YES We Do…Have A Voice,” to celebrate the often-overlooked power of young minds. The festival will feature hours of live music from classical to metal, art on display, dancing, poetry readings, interactive activities, refreshments and more throughout the Ethical Humanist Society building and grounds.

The festival is free, but donations are requested: nonperishable food items for the Interfaith Nutrition Network (INN), baby items for Ethical Friends of Children, or a monetary donation to the Ethical Humanist Society. Sponsorship opportunities are available, ranging from $25 to $500.

Immediately following the Festival will be the Y.E.S. Group’s 16th Annual Pasta Dinner, beginning at 6:00pm. The Pasta Dinner includes a tasty meal, a keynote speaker and even more live entertainment. The cost for the dinner is $10 for adults and $8 for students. The fee will be split between the speaker’s organization (TBA) and programming for the Y.E.S. Group throughout the year, including travel to the National Y.E.S. Conference in Chicago in November 2010.

The Ethical Humanist Society of Long Island is located at 38 Old Country Road, Garden City. For more information about the Teen Arts Festival, Pasta Dinner, sponsorship opportunities and more, contact Phyllis Herschlag, Office Manager at 516-741-7304, office@ehsli.org, or visit ehsli.org.

Walk/Bike conference to be held on Long Island June 7th

June 7th is the first ever Walk/Bike New York conference for Long Island: Encouraging Sustainable Movement. Creating walkable and bikeable environments requires an active collaboration of people with interests in safety, land use, economic development, transportation, education, law enforcement and health promotion. This one-day symposium is expected to draw approximately 200 attendees from various disciplines and provide participants with the tools to work together to create walkable and bikeable communities in New York State. A keynote address will be delivered by Dr. Arthur Wendel, Medical Officer for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Environmental Health, Public Health and Built Environment Initiative. Topics will include Complete Streets, Safe Routes for Seniors and Youth, Education & Encouragement, Law Enforcement, Local Highlights, Funding Sources and Legislative Updates. Help make Long Island's roads safer!

The conference is a Quality Communities Symposium sponsored by the NYS Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee, the NYS Department of Health, and the Institute for Traffic Safety Management & Research in conjunction with the NYS Department of Transportation, NYS Department of State, New York Bicycling Coalition, Parks & Trails New York, Federal Highway Administration, NYS Association of Chiefs of Police, Inc., NYS Metropolitan Planning Organization Association and AARP.

The event will take place at the Hyatt Regency in Hauppauge. Early Registration fee $40 (postmarked by May 14); Late/On Site is $50. Due to limited capacity, early registration is recommended. You can register online here. For more information, contact Janine Schultz at 518-453-0291 x104 or email jschultz@itsmr.org.

S.T.R.O.N.G. Community Unity Gala on June 10th

You are cordially invited to the “Decade of S.T.R.O.N.G., Community Unity Gala,” which will be held on Thursday June 10th 2010. This momentous event is being held in part to celebrate the tenth anniversary of S.T.R.O.N.G. Youth, Inc. In addition, they will be humbly honoring a handful of outstanding individuals and organizations that have played a pivotal role in their successful journey. The gala is an excellent venue to network with like-minded individuals focused on consciously making a difference in our communities.

Ten years ago, S.T.R.O.N.G. Youth, Inc. had never envisioned to be one of the leading gang prevention/intervention agencies in our region. They only wanted to play a positive and impact role in reuniting our new generation. During that time, they had the opportunity to educate many young people on alternatives to violence and gang life, while creating opportunities for many youth who were seeking redirection and redemption.

All proceeds generated by this event will support the ongoing effort in continuing S.T.R.O.N.G.’s mission. If you have any further questions regarding this event and to get your tickets, call 516-408-3798 or email strong.gala@gmail.com.

Request for Letters of Interest: Smart Growth implementation assistance

The Development, Community and Environment Division in EPA’s Office of Policy, Economics and Innovation is seeking applications for technical assistance from communities that want to incorporate smart growth in their future development to meet environmental and other community goals. This request is being coordinated under the interagency Partnership for Sustainable Communities. Staff from HUD and DOT will assist in the provision of this technical assistance. Selected communities or states will receive assistance in the form of a multi-day visit from a team of experts organized by EPA, HUD and DOT and other national partners to work with local leaders. EPA plans to assist three to four communities over a period of twelve months. The Agency anticipates announcing the selected communities this fall.

Eligible entities are tribal, local, regional and state governments and nonprofit organizations that have a demonstrated partnership with a governmental entity. Letters of interest are due at 3:00 pm EST, April 9, 2010. For more information and application materials, click here.

National Endowment for the Arts seeks applications for Challenge America Fast-Track program

The National Endowment for the Arts is accepting applications through the Challenge America Fast-Track project. Challenge America Fast-Track offers support primarily to small and mid-sized organizations for projects that extend the reach of the arts to underserved communities—those whose opportunities to experience the arts are limited by geography, ethnicity, economics or disability. Eligibility includes non-profit organizations; state or local governments; private, public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; or federally recognized Native American tribal governments. Individual awards are not to exceed $10,000.

The deadline for submission is Thursday, May 27th. For more information, contact the National Endowment for the Arts, 1100 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20506; 202-682-5700; fasttrack@arts.gov.

Volunteer with North Shore Land Alliance

Help protect the lands that protect your drinking water and natural areas! Volunteer your time, knowledge and experience to the North Shore Land Alliance (NSLA) and its work to protect and improve the natural areas of our communities which provides clean drinking water, locally grown food and recreational opportunities for today’s residents and for the generations that follow. NSLA needs your help to provide educational outreach, assist with data entry and online research and perform stewardship activities such as maintaining trails, pulling invasive vegetation, and conducting and documenting site visits. They also need volunteers to take photographs of and document occurrences of plants and wildlife and lead nature walks.

By volunteering with the NSLA, you can learn new things while helping to educate others, meet new friends while affecting positive change and spend time outside in some of Long Island's most beautiful and peaceful places as you get a little exercise.

To start volunteering with the North Shore Land Alliance please contact their Volunteer Coordinator at 516-626-0908 or email to volunteers@northshorelandalliance.org. To learn more about the North Shore Land Alliance, visit their website.

Vision Long Island Seeking Interns

Vision Long Island is seeking unpaid interns for Spring and Summer 2010. If you are interested in suburban/urban planning, community development, local government, or sustainability, consider working for us part time.

Our staff likes to say we "wear many hats," and interns will have to do the same. Interns will assist with planning, design, outreach, event planning, writing, research, attending meetings, reporting, photography, and more. Bring your unique skill set to the table! We are looking for energetic and conscientious individuals with an interest in suburban/urban planning from a bottom-up perspective. This is a valuable opportunity to work with great people in a small office environment and learn about the issues impacting Long Island. Strong writing skills a plus.

Note that hours, start date, and end date are all flexible. Although this is an unpaid position, we will gladly work with you to provide college credit and transportation reimbursement. We will also work with you to make sure you have a great experience that is tailored to your specific interests and skill set.

Individuals interested in learning more are encouraged to contact us at info@visionlongisland.org. Please put "Internships for 2010" in the subject heading. You are welcome to include a resume and/or letter, and please indicate if you are available in the Spring, Summer, or both.

Come see Opera Night in Costume at Bethany in Huntington Saturday night

Opera Night comes to Bethany Presbyterian Church this Saturday, March 20, at 8pm. This event will feature many of Long Island’s best tenors and sopranos performing arias from Mozart, Verdi, Puccini, and others. The evening is titled "Opera Night in Costume," and singers will wear costumes designed by local artists. All of the singers have professional training and some may one day grace the stage of the Met.

The Opera Night series is a monthly performance held at the St Paul’s Methodist Church in Northport on first Fridays. It has drawn a very nice crowd — averaging over two-hundred each month. Each Opera Night performance features about an hour-and-a-half of opera highlights which are preceded by a half-hour of chamber music.

Opera Night at Bethany is designed as a fundraiser for the church, which faces a budget gap. The performance is directed by Isabella Eredita Johnson, who runs the Northport series. Isabella will also perform a short piano concert as a prelude to the opera. At the end of the evening, refreshments will be served and the audience will be able to meet the performers.

Admission is $15 dollars per person and can be purchased at the door. The church is located at 425 Maplewood Road in Huntington Station. For more information about this event and Opera Night in general, log on to their website.

2U at Port Jazz Tonight

Tonight, Friday March 19th, Port Jazz in downtown Port Jefferson is hosting 2U: a tribute to U2, at 9pm. Later at 11pm, DJ Brett B will be spinning club music. Port Jazz is your place to go for the finest in entertainment and spirits. Featuring only the very best in live music as well as the top LI DJs, Port Jazz is a satisfying and fun experience from the time you walk through its doors 'til the moment you leave.

Situated above Starbucks coffee at 201 Main Street, this club has a sophisticated New York City-like appeal. Come on down, walk upstairs, sit and relax (or dance your butt off!) and have fun. The party's at Port Jazz! Learn more about Port Jazz and their events here.

SMART GROWTH NEWS

Newsletter Editor: Michelle Dutchen, Director of Communications
Contributors: Eric Alexander, Executive Director; Tara Klein, Planning Coordinator;
Tawaun Weber, Assistant Director; Elissa Ward, Director of Sustainability; Juliana Roberts Dubovsky, Planning Consultant; Chris Kyle, Program Coordinator

We strive to provide continued quality publications such as this each week. If you have any news or events that you would like to add to our newsletter, submit them to info@visionlongisland.org for consideration.

If you are interested in becoming a newsletter or news blast sponsor, please call the office at 631-261-0242 for rates and opportunities.

For more information about Vision Long Island, visit visionlongisland.org or contact us at:
24 Woodbine Ave. Suite One Northport, NY 11768.
Phone: (631) 261-0242. Fax: (631) 754-4452.
Email: info@visionlongisland.org