Urban planners seek residents’ ideas for Baldwin downtown

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The Baldwin Downtown and Commercial Corridor Resiliency Study has completed Phase Two of its public engagement plan, focused on improving the economy and aesthetics of the community. Members of the study group set up a booth at the Baldwin Day Picnic on Aug. 6, where they met with residents to get a better gauge of developments they want to see.

Sean Sallie, senior planner for the Nassau County Department of Public Works, said the study is an outgrowth of the New York Rising Community Reconstruction Plan, which was taken over by the state in 2013, in the wake of Hurricane Sandy. “That planning process was altered in the community, putting forth a series of priority projects that they wanted to see to improve resiliency in Baldwin,” Sallie said. “One of those projects was actually this downtown study.”

The resiliency study group hired VHB, an engineering consulting team, to manage its project. They have met with community members for the past three months in small meetings, and at the picnic on Baldwin Day, residents had the chance to speak with the urban planners about the changes they wanted to see. Sallie said that a series of larger public meetings starting this fall will address redevelopment plans.

“Ultimately, we want to come out with a study that has actionable recommendations,” he said. “We want to see whether it’s the type of businesses that are appropriate or desired in Baldwin, reuse of existing commercial space or residential, and see how we can work with the community and the municipalities to move those recommendations toward implementation.”

Residents got to pick and choose the kind of businesses they want to see on Grand Avenue, the parking they want for businesses and the LIRR, and the safety measures they want to see for pedestrians and motorists. Some of the initial suggestions that Sallie has heard include developing more restaurants and clothing stores, adding residential apartments and creating more community parks. County Legislator Laura Curran said she appreciated the resiliency study’s giving people a chance to voice their opinions on the improvements that need to be made.

“They really want to be responsive to what their community wants,” Curran said. “They’re not coming in to impose what they think is right. They want to do what they think the community wants, so I think the more community input you have, the more successful the outcome.”

Sallie said that there are easy improvements when it comes to addressing some of the projects, like adding more trash receptacles in the community to limit loose garbage. He said the long-term plans will take some time to complete, but he feels they will eventually pay off.

“There are some quick wins that we can implement short-term and things that take a little bit longer,” he said, “but we’re committed to seeing things through in the long haul.”