The Village of New Hyde Park is requesting $225,000 in community development block grants, officials announced last week. The funds are federal monies from the Department of
Housing and Urban Development and administered through Nassau County Office of Community Development. New Hyde Park submitted three, $75,000 requests that concern commercial and residential rehabilitation as well as streetscape improvements.
The grants recently funded a major reworking of Jericho Turnpike in New Hyde Park, dubbed Operation Main Street. The plan included rounded corners that extend slightly into the roadway, along with installation of medians with plantings.
The idea for the plan was to set up modern traffic calming features that create a more pedestrian friendly and safer environment, while providing a downtown appeal for the shopping district. The project was completed in 2014.
“We’ve been doing this for a number of years,” Mayor Robert Lofaro said. “This was the primary fund for past improvements made on Jericho [Turnpike].”
Commercial rehab and streetscape in the current application covers updates from Hillside Boulevard to Cherry Lane, north of Jericho Turnpike and include facade renovation for new signs, lights and awning as well as implementation of design renderings and installations. Residential rehab is village-wide and includes low and moderate income homeowners to eliminate code violations to accomplish home improvements.
“Any village resident is eligible for [residential rehab] if they meet the income criteria,” trustee Donald Barbieri said.
