Partnership nets Valley Stream Smart Growth award

The commitment to rebuilding Valley Stream’s downtown has become an award-winning effort, according to a regional smart growth advocacy group.

Vision Long Island hosted its 13th annual Smart Growth Awards last Friday afternoon at the Crest Hollow Country Club, with the village and Envision Valley Stream sharing an honor. They were recognized in the Mixed Use category.

Tom McAleer, the superintendent of buildings, accepted the award on behalf of the village, and David Sabatino, the president of Envision Valley Stream, was there for the non-profit community group he founded in 2009.

“I was honored to be recognized on behalf of Envision Valley Stream,” Sabatino said. “I think it shows that over time, community groups and local government can really work together and get things done.”

The award recognized several efforts in Valley Stream, including the construction of a mixed-use project near the village’s downtown. Sun Valley, an apartment complex with retail space on the first floor, is currently under construction at the corner of Sunrise Highway and Rockaway Avenue. Village officials approved a special zone to allow the project to go forward.

The village has also overhauled its zoning code to allow other mixed-use developments near the Long Island Rail Road stations in Valley Stream.

Last year, the village adopted complete streets legislation at the urging of Envision Valley Stream. Complete streets take into account all users of a road, in an effort to improve walkability and safety.

“These are all good projects for the village,” McAleer said. “It’s going to bring more people into the village and revitalize our downtown.”

The Valley Stream Community Fest, a six-block street fair which will be held for the third time in September, brings attention to the village’s downtown business districts. The festival was initially spearheaded by Sabatino and Envision Valley Stream, and is now organized by a committee of volunteers from the community.

Sabatino has also been promoting Valley Stream as “The Beginning,” playing off Montauk’s slogan, “The End,” and created a Facebook page that has more than 700 followers.

A three-minute video presentation at the ceremony featured Sabatino and Mayor Ed Fare talking about several of these initiatives, as well as the benefits of partnerships between government and community groups. Fare touched on the creation of a courthouse downtown, as well as the need for additional housing for young professionals and seniors.

Eric Alexander, president of Vision Long Island, said some of the best work is done through partnerships.

McAleer and Sabatino both said they learned a lot at the awards ceremony, which featured recognition for numerous projects and initiatives across Long Island. “There are a lot of ideas out there that I can bring home to Valley Stream and our mayor and board,” McAleer said.

Sabatino said it was inspiring to see people from all facets of Long Island — local government, businesses and community groups — come together for a common purpose. He said it shows that the region’s leaders recognize there is a need to reinvent Long Island to keep the area viable for the long-term future.

He said that Envision Valley Stream will continue its efforts to push projects locally that will improve quality of life in the village. Sabatino added that he also wants to ensure that the public is well-educated on these initiatives and the potential benefits.

Sabatino and McAleer both hope that another Smart Growth award will be in Valley Stream’s future. “I think we’re going in the right direction,” McAleer said. “This is only the beginning.”