Rockaway Avenue building would be a good addition

There has been talk of revitalizing Valley Stream’s downtown for the better part of a decade. As recently as a few years ago, the number of vacant stores on Rockaway Avenue was nearing two dozen.

That’s no longer the case, as an influx of new or relocated businesses in the past year has helped. But the revitalization of Rockaway Avenue is far from finished. Village officials say they believe they have a solution, or at least part of one, to turn the street back into a thriving business district.

The village is looking to purchase the old municipal building, which served as Village Hall from 1936 to 1955, and turn it into Village Court. Over the past five and a half decades, the building, at 195 Rockaway Ave., has mostly been used as a bank, and now houses a law firm on the second floor.

Though the building is up for sale, the village is looking to acquire it through eminent domain, a procedure that officials say is beneficial to taxpayers because, according to law, the village can’t pay more than fair market value. The building’s owner is asking $1.2 million, and the village is looking to pay $800,000. A yet-to-be completed appraisal will determine the true worth of the property.

According to its bond rating, Valley Stream is, financially speaking, one of the best-managed villages in New York state. It has the money to buy the building, and it has the credit backing to get a good interest rate should it decide to borrow the funds. And village officials are already looking into grants that could offset the purchase price, as well as renovations for a new courtroom.

We believe the building is worth buying. It would show that all of the talk of revitalizing the village’s downtown is more than just talk. Busy with court proceedings, the building would bring a few hundred people to Rockaway Avenue several nights a month. People would also visit the court during the day to pay tickets or ask questions. Many of them might do some shopping or grab a bite to eat downtown.

Anyone who has complained about the state of the downtown business district should be in favor of this idea. This is a solution that could make an impact almost immediately, as opposed to redevelopment ideas that would take years to bring to fruition.

The village is also pressed for space, and the purchase of the building would help alleviate some overcrowding concerns. While Valley Stream is rich in parkland, it has little spare building space. Moving the court offices and a few departments out of Village Hall would alleviate some pressure there.

The village recently lost the use of the Hendrickson Park administration building after it suffered water damage in an August rain storm. Recreation Department offices have since been moved to the Firemen’s Field Clubhouse, but are sharing close quarters with Public Safety. Mayor Ed Fare wants to move Public Safety to Rockaway Avenue and provide the Recreation Department with adequate office space at Firemen’s Field.

We support the village’s plans to buy the building on Rockaway Avenue. The risk is low and the potential reward is high, especially for Valley Stream’s downtown owners. And a thriving business district would provide a strong tax base that would benefit everyone. This idea makes good sense.