Site work for a transportation facility in Hicksville, New York. Completed plans call for site work for a transportation facility.

https://www.governor.ny.gov/news/governor-hochul-announces-groundbreaking-hicksville-station-and-public-space-improvement Project Will Improve Access to Station and Create New Open Public Space To Enhance Commuter Experience $11.6 Million Project Received $5.8 Million From State's Downtown Revitalization Initiative Governor Kathy Hochul today announced the groundbreaking of the Hicksville Station and Public Space improvement project as part of the Hamlet of Hicksville's Downtown Revitalization Initiative award. The project will improve access to Hicksville Station -- one of the busiest stations on the Long Island Rail Road -- and create a new open public space to better accommodate commuters. The $11.6 million project received $5.8 million in funding from the State's Downtown Revitalization Initiative. "Long Islanders deserve a transit system that is safe, accessible and welcoming, and this transformative investment in Hicksville Station will deliver just that," Governor Hochul said. "By creating public spaces and improving access for both commuters and pedestrians alike, we are reimagining what it means to connect with our communities. This is a smart investment that builds stronger downtowns, and a stronger Long Island." New York Secretary of State Walter T. Mosley said, "The groundbreaking of this project represents a major milestone for Hicksville, which serves as a gateway for thousands of Long Islanders every day. Once complete, the new and improved Hicksville Station will not only ease access to one of the busiest transit hubs on Long Island, but also create vibrant public spaces that enhance quality of life for commuters and residents alike. Through our Downtown Revitalization Initiative, we are continuing to build stronger, more connected downtowns on Long Island and across all of New York State." The project will make improvements to public areas around the Hicksville Long Island Rail Road Station to improve access for both cars and pedestrians and to create a new entry drive to relieve traffic congestion. The project will also create new public open space adjacent to the station to accommodate commuters and provide green space for residents to enjoy passive activities. In addition, both a new pedestrian passageway will be created to establish a safer and more engaging walkway from the station lobby to Jerusalem Avenue and nearby parking lots, and existing public open space will be transformed into a new Festival Plaza. The Hamlet of Hicksville in the Town of Oyster Bay was named a Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI) Round Two winner for the Long Island region. In addition to Hicksville Station, other projects funded by the Hicksville DRI include: Complete Streets - $2,890,000: Pedestrian safety enhancements, walkability improvements and beautification along Broadway (Route 107) from James Street to Old Country Road, and along Newbridge Road (Route 106), as well as improve access to the Hicksville Long Island Rail Road Station. Mixed-Use Transit-Oriented Development at Hicksville Station - $1,000,000: Redevelopment of an underutilized property adjacent to the Hicksville Long Island Rail Road Station on Nelson Avenue for a mixed-use development. The new development will include three buildings with nearly 200 mixed-income residential units, below-grade parking and retail and restaurants on the street level. A public plaza will provide green space for the community at a key location near the train station. MTA Chair and CEO Janno Lieber said, "The Hicksville Station TOD project is a smart investment that capitalizes on LIRR's fast, frequent and reliable service to create a more dynamic, walkable community. It's a win for transit users, drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians alike." LIRR President Rob Free said, "The MTA has invested hundreds of millions of dollars upgrading Hicksville station, adding a second track to Ronkonkoma and a third track between Hicksville and Floral Park. All that work is in addition to a massive increase in service from Grand Central Madison that has the Long Island Rail Road breaking ridership and performance records. We are delighted to work with the State and Town of Oyster Bay to improve pedestrian access to the station, while fueling the local economy through transit-oriented development." Assemblymember Charles D. Lavine said, "The Hicksville Station and Public Space Improvement Project is a game-changer for our community. As one of the busiest transit hubs on Long Island, Hicksville deserves infrastructure that meets the needs of both commuters and residents -- and this investment does exactly that. I'm proud to support this along with previous and future steps forward for Hicksville and I thank Governor Hochul and the Department of State for their continued commitment to revitalizing our Long Island communities." Oyster Bay Town Supervisor Joseph Saladino said, "With millions of dollars from the public and private sectors being invested into Hicksville, we're enhancing and transforming the business district into a vibrant downtown. We thank Governor Hochul and Secretary of State Mosley for their partnership in revitalizing this vital economic hub in the Town of Oyster Bay." Nassau Suffolk Building Trades Council President Matthew Aracich said, "Today the Building and Construction Trades Council of Nassau and Suffolk Counties applauds Governor Hochul for announcing the approval of a new open space park project. The park located just steps away from the Hicksville Train Station is designed with accessibility and environmental sustainability in mind and will serve as a critical connection point between public transportation and the surrounding neighborhood. This is a fine example of the Governor's broader vision for revitalizing public spaces and enhancing the region's busiest transportation hubs. By situating the open space park near the train station, the project aims to make the area more pedestrian friendly. The combination of public investment, union labor, and community engagement will ensure that this project benefits everyone, both today and in the years to come." Hicksville Downtown Revitalization Committee Director Eric Alexander said, "The revitalization of Hicksville's downtown needed to include pedestrian safety improvements and public space to compliment the new housing and commercial space. These projects have had consistent support from local residents and business leaders. New York State's investments are critical, so special thanks to Governor Hochul and her team for making these plans a reality." In the FY25 Enacted Budget, Governor Hochul made the "Pro-Housing Community" designation a requirement for cities, towns and villages to access up to $650 million in State discretionary programs, including the Downtown Revitalization Initiative and New York Forward. To date, more than 300 municipalities across the State have become certified. To further support localities that are doing their part to address the housing crisis, Governor Hochul is creating a $100 million Pro-Housing Supply fund for certified Pro-Housing Communities to assist with critical infrastructure projects necessary to create new housing, such as sewer and water infrastructure upgrades. About the Downtown Revitalization Initiative The DRI was launched in 2016 to accelerate and bolster the revitalization of downtowns and neighborhoods in all 10 regions of the State to serve as centers of activity and catalysts for increased local investments. Led by the Department of State, DRI communities benefit from partnerships with and coordinated technical assistance provided by the Department of Housing and Community Renewal (HCR), Empire State Development (ESD) and the New York State Energy Research & Development Authority (NYSERDA). The DRI represents an unprecedented and innovative "plan-then-act" strategy that couples strategic planning with immediate implementation. Through eight rounds, the DRI has awarded a total of $900 million to 91 communities across every region of the State. _______________________ https://www.newsday.com/long-island/towns/hicksville-parking-lots-downtown-aclz5jvc The Town of Oyster Bay will close two commuter lots by the Long Island Rail Road station in Hicksville next month and is expected to seize four nearby properties as it prepares to launch a multimillion-dollar revitalization of the downtown. The work includes a new pedestrian path to the station to be called Festival Plaza, converting a parking lot next to the station into green space that extends Kennedy Park and establishing The Underline, a new area under the train trestle with pop-up shops and outdoor cafes. The projects will take up to a year to complete and cost $13.6 million, town officials said. While work is underway, two commuter parking lots off Jerusalem Avenue — H-5 and H-6 — will be closed starting May 3, town officials said. Also this month, the Town of Oyster Bay moved to acquire four properties on Herzog Place, between Broadway and Jerusalem Avenue, by eminent domain to build new parking near the station. The town in January 2024 initially expressed interest in seizing the properties, which include an auto repair shop, a hair salon and tire store, Newsday reported. “This continues to be an exciting time for Hicksville, as downtown revitalization projects are proceeding with millions of dollars being invested in the community,” Oyster Bay Supervisor Joseph Saladino said in a statement. “With many public and private investments, the Hicksville business district will transform into a vibrant downtown with something for everyone.” Revitalization underway New York State awarded the Town of Oyster Bay $10 million to revitalize Hicksville as part of the Downtown Revitalization Initiative. Town officials previously allocated $1 million of that funding for a mixed-use project on Newbridge Road, and spent another $300,000 on consultants. The price tag for the revitalization has risen to $13.6 million since the state first announced the grant funding in 2017, town officials said. The town also plans to allocate $2.8 million in federal coronavirus relief aid for the open space projects and $2.1 million for streetscape work, town spokeswoman Marta Kane said. The streetscape work is expected to start later in the summer, town officials said. “COVID came along and the prices of everything went up, so our initial estimates of the work that was designed increased significantly,” Jim McCaffrey, the town’s director of operations, told Newsday in an interview. The pedestrian and streetscape projects will be vital to the success of the downtown, said Eric Alexander, executive director of Vision Long Island. “You’ve got a lot happening with new development, so that’s going to be more people walking,” Alexander said in an interview. “You want people to park and walk and you want a climate of safety.” Town to seize properties The Town of Oyster Bay will use eminent domain to acquire properties on the north side of Herzog Place for future parking lots. “We always make good-faith efforts to avoid eminent domain and try to purchase the property outright because it was for sale,” McCaffrey said. He added the town and the owner of the properties weren’t able to agree on a price. James O'Brien, an attorney for the property owner, declined to comment. In an eminent domain case, the court determines a fair value for the acquisition. The case has a return date of May 6 and McCaffrey said he expects the town to be transferred the title shortly after. The town plans to demolish the structures “soon after the rights of the property are turned over to us,” McCaffrey said, adding that work would likely begin this summer. Construction on several mixed-use developments also is underway. In late 2023, construction began on the first such development in downtown Hicksville — a 189-unit project with 338 parking spaces and 7,660 square feet of commercial space. Late last year, the Nassau County Industrial Development Agency granted tax breaks to a 20-unit apartment building as well as a 104-unit mixed-use complex, both near the train station. Town officials said at least two other projects — one bringing town houses to the area and another development with a rooftop bar — are also expected to boost the number of residential units in the area. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Town of Oyster Bay was awarded a grant for downtown Hicksville from New York State through the Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI) Program, whose goal is to transform downtown neighborhoods into vibrant centers that offer a high quality of life and are magnets for redevelopment, business, job creation, and economic and housing diversity. These compact, walkable downtowns are a key ingredient to helping New York State rebuild its economy from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as to achieving the State's bold climate goals by promoting the use of public transit and reducing dependence on private vehicles. This project includes the construction of the following elements around the Hicksville Long Island Railroad station: Festival Plaza Conversion of the southern half of the Town parking lot between Newbridge Road and Jerusalem Avenue, adjacent to the Underline, to be converted into a raised walking path surrounded by landscaping and seating areas. New Station Plaza Conversion of the existing parking lot at the south end of the existing JFK Memorial Park into greenspace that would connect to the Festival Plaza and Underline projects, bringing a sense of place to the downtown. The Underline Rehabilitation of the area under the Long Island Railroad train trestle between Newbridge Road and Broadway, to brighten the area and allow for pop-up shops and outdoor cafes. This would include lighting under the trestle for pedestrian safety. This area will allow for direct access from the future development of 99 Station Plaza mixed-use development.