Hicksville was awarded a $10 million New York State grant that will fund much-needed improvements to the community’s business district that have been in the planning stages for years, officials announced Wednesday.
The investment comes as the Long Island Rail Road is about to spend $121 million to rebuild the Hicksville train station that is at the heart of the downtown area where several major roadways and LIRR branches merge.
“When you put this downtown revitalization, together with a brand new $100 million train station, and a transformed LIRR that is reliable once again, I think Hicksville is going to be stronger than it has ever been before,” Gov. Andrew Cuomo said.
Hicksville is the lone Long Island community to win the $10 million grant this year as a part of the state’s Downtown Revitalization Initiative in which municipalities statewide submit plans to compete for the funding. This is the second round of $100 million grants divided between the state’s 10 regions. The Village of Westbury was LI’s winner last year.
The Hicksville train station is where the Port Jefferson and Ronkonkoma branches of the LIRR meet. It’s also near where Routes 106 and 107—Newbridge Road and South Broadway, respectively—intersect. The transit and road mergers have long contributed to a congested yet disjointed business district in Hicksville.
The goal of the grant is to create jobs and support sustainable redevelopment that attracts workers as well as residents to the ethnically diverse community. The funds will also be used to create a public event space and make the downtown area more pedestrian friendly. The Town of Oyster Bay will kick the process off by developing a $300,000 Strategic Investment Plan in which government officials, community leaders and planning experts will identify projects that will support their vision.
“I look forward to working with my colleagues from the town, state and more importantly the community to see our downtown revitalized in a way that will rejuvenate our neighborhood like never had been seen before,” said Nassau County Legis. Rose Marie Walker (R-Hicksville).
