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JP morgan Chase
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.
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JP Morgan Chase works to strengthen communities by expanding access to capital, leadership by example, serving low- and moderate-income communities, small businesses, and low- to moderate-income individuals and families as a credit, banking and technical assistance service provider. They also act as an advisory service to community groups and nonprofit institutions.
2009 Smart Growth Awards are Fast Approaching!Vision Long Island is pleased to announce the winners of the 2009 Smart Growth Awards!
The 2009 Smart Growth Awards will take place on Friday, June 19th from 11:30am-2:00pm at the Crest Hollow Country Club. Sponsorship packages are available. Be sure to register for the Awards by visiting www.visionlongisland.org and downloading a registration form. For more information, you can also contact our office at (631) 261-0242 or email info@visionlongisland.org. We look forward to seeing you there! To read about past winners or to find out more about the Awards, visit our website here. SAVE THE DATE! Register Today!
SPONSORSHIP PACKAGES still AVAILABLE! • Visionary package includes: Logo in materials and advertisements, prominent full-page advertisement in journal, special recognition at event and on website, banner display, table for 10 THanks to our sponsors gold sponsors
Sponsors
Register Now! __Visionary - $15,000 __Leader - $10,000 __Gold Sponsor - $5,000 Journal Ads Now Available for the The 2009 Smart Growth Awards are fast approaching and the Smart Growth Awards Journal is a great way to advertise your company while supporting the Awards and Vision Long Island. Ads are due by noon on Friday, June 5th. Contact our office with any questions. Details are as follows:
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Stakeholder Participation: Lori Baldassare of the Mount Sinai Heritage Center for the exceptional use of stakeholder participation in the planning of their facility and grounds.
Revitalizing Communities: Trammell Crow Residential is being honored for the Alexan at West Hempstead which will transform a blighted hotel into much-needed rental housing. 
Preserving Open Space: Lisa Ott of the North Shore Land Alliance is being honored for her efforts to pass environmental bond resolutions in multiple municipalities in Nassau and Suffolk
Mix of Uses: TRITEC is being honored for their development in the heart of downtown Patchogue, which includes office, retail, mixed-income housing, and a hotel.
Encouraging Walkability: Kingdom Family Holdings is honored for the Marquis at Mineola, a multifamily residential project in downtown Mineola that is part of the community's Master Plan. 
Providing a Range of Housing Types: The Nassau Suffolk Coalition for the Homeless will be honored for their work in helping Long Island’s homeless find sufficient housing and support services.
Creating a Sense of Place: Hon. Steve Flotteron and Hon. Phil Nolan of the Town of Islip are being honored for the reconstruction of the Bay Shore Marina, turning what was a large parking lot into a place for recreation. 
Compact Design: The Dennis Organization is being honored for Hawthorne Court, a multifamily housing project in Valley Stream which provides walkable access to the Valley Stream train station.
Providing Transportation Options: The Town of Brookhaven is receiving an award for the plan for the Ronkonkoma Hub, which will change zoning to allow for transit-oriented development and a variety of transportation options. 
Green Building & Energy Efficiency: The Village of Amityville is receiving the award for the green building renovations to Village Hall.
Providing Certainty: Glen Cove Mayor Ralph Suozzi will be receiving the award for making development decisions fair and predictable for the Glen Cove Master Plan. This plan successfully involves the community and lays the groundwork for multiple redevelopment projects from the waterfront to the downtown. 
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New Website from Transportation for America proclaims: My commute sucks!
"Snapshot" Shows Transportation Projects Sought.
Philanthropy New York Honors Long Island's Rauch Foundation
The story focuses on Rauch's lead work on the LI Index. "When governmental structure looks like the map above, making any kind of change at a regional level is very difficult," starts the story. Be sure to check out the story highlighting the regional thinking that Rauch has led on Long Island for years. By supporting local planning organizations, civic advocacy, and the environment, the Rauch Foundation has made a huge impact in Long Island's quality of life. Read all of the 30 stories here. Y.E.S. Pasta Dinner Great Success!
Suffolk Transit Wants MTA Takeover, But Not Likely
New York State recently added over $127 million in new fees and taxes to Suffolk County residents, including the MTA payroll tax. Suffolk County now generates over half a billion dollars to help run the MTA, or $347 per resident, not including fare revenues. The issue is that Suffolk County does not get the transit benefits it deserves. The only MTA transit in Suffolk is the Long Island Rail Road, which only runs about 5 trains a day east of Ronkonkoma and Patchogue. Suffolk County owns and operates Suffolk Transit buses independently, using a state subsidy. The County pays for 40% of the operating costs. Nassau County covers 10% of Long Island Bus, which is owned and operated by the MTA. Legislator Romaine said, "The MTA expects Suffolk taxpayers to pay more, but we do not receive services commensurate with the cost." To that end, the Legislators called for an MTA takeover of Suffolk Transit. The Ravitch Commission report also called for a consolidated regional bus authority run by the MTA. Unfortunately, a new bill by Assemblyman Robert Sweeney to provide for the consolidation does not seem likely to pass because it does not provide additional funds to run the system. Though Assemblyman Sweeney was told by MTA officials that no additional support was necessary, MTA spokesman Jeremy Soffin said that a takeover could not occur without financial support. "We remain supportive of the idea in theory, but we cannot assume responsibility for additional services without additional subsidy to cover their costs." Assemblyman Sweeney added, "A regional system makes a lot of sense in terms of efficiency and quality of service. I'd like to get something done as soon as possible without additional revenues I've been told we don't need them." Read more at Newsday. |
My commute sucks... and I'm not gonna take it anymore! Transportation for America, a coalition of organizations working to shape federal transportation policies and investments, has launched a website, 
"Where should our federal government focus its transportation dollars?" asked 
On Saturday, May 16th at 6:30pm, the LI Youth of Ethical Societies (Y.E.S.) held its 15th Annual Pasta Dinner at the Ethical Humanist Society of LI. There was a great turnout and folks of all ages really stuck around til the end, even with the loud metal music. The volunteer cooks were hailed for their great food, including Northport's own 
Sergio Argueta delivered a powerhouse keynote presentation on his experiences on the streets that led him to form his current organization, S.T.R.O.N.G. Youth, Inc. His commanded the attention of the room so strongly that you could hear a pin drop. Mr. Argueta is the Executive Director and Founder of 
Last week, Suffolk County Legislators Ed Romaine, Wayne Horsley, and Dan Losquadro held a news conference calling for the MTA to take over operations of Suffolk Transit. |
Condo Plan for Mineola Transit Hub
This project is the third proposal under the village’s Development Incentive Bonus Law, which allows projects within the village’s overlay district to appear before the Village Board rather than the Board of Zoning Appeals. In exchange for public benefits as determined by the village, the developer can gain additional stories for their project. This project will provide 397 parking spaces for residents in four underground levels below the building as well as a tax benefit of approximately $2 million. The additional residents so close to Main Street will also help support local businesses in the area, enhancing the local economy. Vision Long Island Executive Director Eric Alexander spoke at the hearing, saying it was exciting to see such a “tax positive” proposal for the community. Residents of Garden City also attended the hearing expressing concern for the impact the building will have on the apartments across Old Country Road to the south. Mineola residents however, felt that “this is a very good project for the village of Mineola.” Read more in an article by David Winzelberg at Long Island Business News or in Newsday. Riverhead Renaissance Begins as Developments Get Approvals When visiting downtown Riverhead, Smart Growth advocates are immediately struck by one thing: vacancy rates. Full blocks of gorgeous architecture along Main Street are ruined by boarded up windows and signs that say "we've moved" and "for lease." 'Potential' is a word that is thrown around a lot for this strategically located downtown. Riverhead is positioned to serve as the place to be on the East End of Long Island. Now, the "Riverhead Renaissance" has begun. Two mixed-use developments are moving forward quickly.
Ms. Muma said of both developments, "This is just a part of a whole Riverhead renaissance, of creating a district where people live, work and play...We're all cooperating in helping Riverhead round the corner. We've seen other towns that were in tough shape turn around. You have to create an interesting district, something unique, something that's not going up in strip malls or big centers. We want something that's unique to itself and that brings out what's best about the area." Read more in the Riverhead News-Review here and here. Port Washington Residents Angry Over Parking Garage
To remedy this situation, the Town of North Hempstead and the Port Washington Public Parking District have proposed a 2 1/2 story, 483-space garage directly adjacent to the LIRR station. This would add 212 new spaces to the existing surface lot. Officials estimate the cost to be $12-13.5 million, which would be funded by increased parking fees and taxes.
The existing building stock on Main Street Port Washington is already 2-3 stories, so the garage would not necessarily stand out. Creative design elements could even wrap a coffee shop or small restaurant around the outside of the lot. The structure could alleviate congestion problems and help local businesses. Don Donatelli of Residents for a More Beautiful Port Washington said that the garage could help bring more shoppers to the area and "a possibility for us to do a restructuring of parking here." Alternative ideas were thrown around for the downtown, such as building a garage on a less centralized lot, utilizing a trolley for commuters, or limiting the number of parking stickers available, though these ideas do not seem to have any traction. 'New Village' Coming Soon to Patchogue
Patchogue Mayor Paul Pontieri supports New Village and says it just makes sense. “If you plan it right and do it right, then you can make a dynamic change,” he said. This project is being honored at Vision's 2009 Smart Growth Awards in the mix of uses category. Visit the project's website to learn more, or read an article from Long Island Business News. |
On Wednesday night, the Mineola Village Board heard plans to replace a five story office building near the Mineola train station with a nine story, 257 unit condominium building. The proposed development would be less than a five-minute walk from both the train station and Main Street, further enhancing the area's walkability. 
Summerwind will be a 5-story, 45,000 square foot mixed-use apartment building overlooking the river off Peconic Avenue, at the site of two current aging buildings. 52 one-bedroom units will all be affordable, and the first floor will include a 100-seat restaurant and 5,700 square feet of retail space. To qualify to rent the $1,100 per month apartments, applicants must make no more than 80% of the median income for that area, which here amounts to about $54,000 per person. Developer Ray Dickhoff's project got unanimous approval with no conditions from both the Suffolk County Planning Commission and the Riverhead Town Board last week. The next step is for Suffolk County to approve the funding that will make the units affordable, officially termed "workforce" housing. For the development to qualify for rental subsidies, at least 20% of the units must be workforce (Summerwind is 100%). As soon as this approval is received, construction will begin, which is expected to last about 10 months.
Just north of Summerwind, local residents Dee Muma and her husband Ed Tuccio recently purchased the building at at 1 East Main Street. The couple plans to open a restaurant and create four duplex apartments on the second and third floors. The duplexes will include office space so they could serve as live/work spaces. The second floor will also include a communal conference room. Ray Dickhoff of Summerwind was hired to oversee construction, though a time frame has not yet been set. Up until about six years ago, the building was considered an eyesore and at one point was boarded up and declared unsafe. 
One of the central issues of downtown Port Washington is parking. With a popular commuters' LIRR station at the heart of Main Street, nearby parking lots and on-street parking fill up early in the morning. Residents are even rumored to rent out their driveways to commuters who want a guaranteed spot. This leaves daily traffic in the downtown congested, as business owners and patrons cannot find parking easily. Though additional parking spaces as a rule may add capacity, it is something to consider when it is a zero sum game and downtown businesses are suffering. 
This is an explosive issue in Port Washington. A public meeting to address the plans lasted three hours last Wednesday night, May 13th, with a majority of residents fervently rejecting the plan. Concerns included increased traffic (which would impede emergency vehicles response time), an increase in crime from enclosed spaces, and of course, that the garage would be an eyesore that would ruin community character. One must look no further than Great Neck or Mineola to see how a parking garage can work in a downtown. 
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Public Hearing to be held for Pilgrim State Property: May 28
A public hearing will be held on the DGEIS, including zone change applications, on Thursday, May 28 at 6:30pm at Brentwood High School's Sonderling Center, 52 3rd Avenue in Brentwood. Comments on the DGEIS are requested and will be accepted through July 28th (mail to Islip Town Hall, 655 Main St, Islip, NY 11751). The developers proposal is available online here. To read a notice from the Town on their areas of disagreement, learn more here. Take Action on the "Clean Energy Bank" provision: No Unlimited Money for Nuclear Reactors!
The Nuclear Information and Resource Service wants you--the environmentalists and advocates for safe communities--to help stop this misguided piece of legislation, which few Congress members have even read yet. Click here to send a letter to your Representative in Congress, or click here to write to Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi. |
Last month, the Town of Islip adopted the Draft Generic Environmental Impact Statement (DGEIS) for the redevelopment proposal of the Pilgrim State Psychiatric Center Property, located in Brentwood at the crossing of the Long Island Expressway and the Sagtikos State Parkway. Heartland Town Square would be "a unique mixed-use development of approximately 9,130 residential units, 105,000 square feet of civic space, 1,030,000 square feet of retail space and 4,150,000 square feet of office space to be built over a 15-year period." 
Legislation proposed by Senator Jeff Bingaman (D-NM) and Representative Jay Inslee (D-WA) would create a "Clean Energy Bank," which seems to be anything but clean. The fund would allow UNLIMITED taxpayer loan guarantees for technologies such as clean coal (which does not exist) and nuclear reactors (which are not safe). Fourth Annual Energy Conference at NYIT June 5th
Visit their website for more information or contact sustainable@nyit.edu. Sponsorship information and opportunities to display at the conference are also available; please contact lschranz@nyit.edu. Free Seminar for helping Homeowners In Need June 8th
The conference is not intended for homeowners in need and is particularly targeted to those who are in a position to help them - constituent services liasons, clergy, nonprofit organizations, public agencies, and community leaders. "Helping Homeowners Through Hard Times" runs from 9:30am to 1pm on Monday, June 8th at the Plainview-Old Bethpage Public Library Auditorium at 999 Old Country Rd., Plainview. Please RSVP to eanderson@cdcli.org by June 3rd. For additional information, contact Eileen Anderson at 631-471-1215 ext. 145 or Susan Jourand at 212-269-6553 ext. 25. CNU 17 in Denver Runs June 10th-14th
Connect and collaborate with other New Urbanists, experience traditional urbanism firsthand through local tours, learn how practitioners are applying the Charter for the New Urbanism in the field, stay on the cusp of the latest New Urbanist trends, contribute your own ideas and experience to take New Urbanism to the next level, and learn about new products and the latest innovations at CNU exhibits. Denver will serve as a laboratory to explore in depth why New Urbanism is the "convenient remedy" to some of society's most pressing issues, including rising carbon emissions, unpredictable fuel costs, and a projected 50 million unit increase in demand for new residences by 2030, with demand growing fastest in walkable communities. Connect with new people, get your toughest planning questions answered, and take home specific strategies to apply these New Urban remedies. Register online and see costs here. CNU members receive significant discounts. Thursday's Child of Long Island Spring Gala set for June 17th
The gala will honor Long Islanders who have made unique contributions to Thursday's Child, including Suffolk County Executive Steve Levy and members of the Suffolk County Legislature, Cameron Alden, Jon Cooper, Lou D'Amaro, Jack Eddington, DuWayne Gregory, and Lynne Nowick. The fund raiser will take place at Flowerfield Celebrations, 199 Mills Pond Road in St. James. Sponsorships are available and individual tickets are $75-100. Call (631) 447-5044 or see the Thursday's Child website for more info. African American Media Network Presents Strong Island Live June 24th-28th
Three performance locations in the area will air on channel 18. Bands must be live: no background CDs! To register or for more information, call 516-478-4334 or 516-503-6282, or see the website here. |
New York Institute of Technology (NYIT) is hosting the fourth annual energy conference “Innovative Technologies and Green Collar Careers.” The conference will be on Friday, June 5 from 8:30am – 4:00pm at de Seversky Center on the Old Westbury Campus of NYIT. Speakers include representatives from Noresco, The Rocky Mountain Institute, Clean Edge, Global Insight, and The Albanese Organization. Sessions include An Energy Services Company's Role in the Green Economy; Clean Tech: A Pathway to a New Era of Job Growth and Opportunity; Energy and Comfort in Existing Buildings, Campuses, and Communities; Current and Potential Green Jobs by Metropolitan Area; and Innovative Technologies Put into Practice- A Developer's Perspective. A panel discussion on Green Energy Programs from the Developer's Perspective will feature Russell Albanese of the Albanese Organization, Michael Watt of LI Builders Institute, and Albert Harsch of Eastern Energy Systems. The final panel on Green Energy Programs from the Municipal Perspective will include Lisanne Altmann of LIPA, Supervisor Kate Murray of the Town of Hempstead, Energy Director Dorian Dale of the Town of Babylon, and Gary Krieger of National Grid.
The Long Island Chapter of the NYS Coalition for Excellence in Homeownership Education is sponsoring a free conference, "Helping Homeowners Through Hard Times: Providing Long Island leaders and helpers with information they need to guide residents at risk of foreclosure. The conference promises to educate attendees on the scope of the problem on Long Island, how foreclosures happen and what can be done to prevent them, how Long Island's nonprofit housing community can help homeowners, and about the foreclosure rescue scams exploding on Long Island.
Each year, the Congress for the New Urbanism hosts a multi-day conference on New Urbanism and Smart Growth. This year, CNU 17: "Experiencing The New Urbanism: The Convenient Remedy" will take place in Denver, Colorado from June 10-14. The weekend's expected attendees include 1,500 leaders from diverse fields who will participate in breakout sessions, lectures, tours of Denver, and great social and networking experiences. 
On Wednesday, June 17th from 6:30-9:30pm, Thursday's Child of Long Island presents their Spring Champagne Gala to benefit their new children's summer program, "A Day of Fun in the Sun at the Long Island Game Farm," part of an initiative called Safety Net Project which provides an array of family services designed to maintain medical care and personal dignity for HIV/AIDS patients. Thursday's Child is an HIV/AIDS community service charity that reaches out and provides assistance to hundreds of Long Island families each year who are living with this disease. This event celebrates 20 years of service to the community. 
The Long Island based African American Media Network will be hosting "Strong Island Live" music festival from June 24-28. Several days of live music performances will include gospel, rock, rap, R&B, jazz, blues, reggae, and salsa. These genres will compete for prizes including studio time, a music video, and cash. |
S.T.R.O.N.G. Youth Holds A Night Of Fun-Raising Laughs Tonight!
Memorial Day Festivities
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Kick off your Memorial Day weekend by celebrating for a cause! Join S.T.R.O.N.G. Youth, Inc. as they try to raise funds to continue their mission of reducing youth and gun violence. Come down to Club Giggles tonight, Friday May 22nd, from 9pm-3am: 468 Peninsula Blvd in Hempstead. This event is for adults 21 and older. The night will also feature comedy, poetry, music, dancing, raffles, giveaways, and auctions.
Enjoy Memorial Day Weekend outside with friends and family. There are a variety of Memorial Day Parades on Monday May 25th- look for one at the downtown near you to give thanks to the veterans of Long Island while spending time with your neighbors in your own community. Events are also taking place at Jones Beach, the Quogue Wildlife Refuge, and at the Montauk Green, so stop by and enjoy the beautiful weather.|
"As individuals, we are weak and foolish. As a society, we are wise and powerful" - Edmund Burke |
SMART GROWTH NEWS Newsletter Editor: Michelle Dutchen, Director of Communications We strive to provide continued quality publications such as this each week. If you are interested in becoming a newsletter or news blast sponsor, please call the office at 631-261-0242 for rates and opportunities. If you have any news or events that you would like to add to our newsletter, submit them to info@visionlongisland.org for consideration.
For more information about Vision Long Island, visit http://www.visionlongisland.org or contact us at: |
