Valley Stream gives business district a makeover

In the next phase of community upgrades, the village recently approved a contract agreement with Nassau County for streetscape development on North Central Avenue. A small part of the road, from Felton Avenue to McKeon and Meyer avenues, is currently undergoing improvements, which village officials hope will add a new spark to the street’s businesses.

The cooperative agreement between the village and county Office of Community Development allows officials to use money — $400,000 in total this year — from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The community development program has been running for 36 years, with grants given out to states and local governments. Specifically, the department awards community development block grant funds to the county, which are used by the village to execute its streetscaping or other beautification projects.

“We use the money for business areas that are in need of sprucing up,” said Valley Stream Village Clerk Vinny Ang. According to Ang, the village on average receives $200,000 to do these street rehabilitation projects. But this year, the village was awarded a larger amount of funds to do the aesthetic upgrades in front of a handful of businesses on the portion of Central Avenue.

Village officials estimate the work will be finished sometime this month.

“Much of what is done is based on the amount of money we get, which varies each year,” Ang said. He noted that the first area done was Rockaway Avenue — between Merrick Road and Roosevelt Avenue — over three years about a decade ago. Since then, parts of the Gibson area were also improved and Ang said Central Avenue became a target area in recent years. The current construction will serve as a significant step in upgrading the look the Central Avenue business area.

The grant funds will go toward replacing sidewalks, installing brick pavers and adding new decorative lighting. Several business owner said that they feel this is a good move for the village. “I think it is a great idea,” said Catherine Maywald, owner of a 7-11 store located at 190 N. Central Ave. “Anything to beautify the area and make it safer.”

Central Avenue has been an area of interest for streetscape improvements for the village for some time. Village officials discussed details for the next round of streetscaping a few months ago, Ang said. The new contract was approved at the Nov. 15 board meeting.

“We make a submission, ask for money and the board approves it,” Ang said. “Based on what we got, the board moves forward.”

And that move is garnering some praise from Mickie O. Francis, owner of Kwabena Cecil’s Café. “It is going to look better when they are done,” Francis said. “They may not be moving fast enough for the businesses right in front of the work, but it will help businesses.”

Ang shared similar sentiments. “The business district will look nicer and more attractive,” he said. “There will be nice lighting and benches so people can walk out. It will change the look of the downtown area. It will be aesthetically more pleasing. There is a limit to what aesthetics are going to do, but it can provide an environment conducive for them.”

John E. Alexander, owner and exclusive agent at Allstate Insurance, where the streetscaping is going on right in front of his office, is wondering about how the construction will specifically improve his business. “It could bring in more business,” he said, “but I am not sure how it will help to bring in more business.”

The village will be spreading its wings again, with plans to tackle South Central Avenue between Merrick Road and Sunrise Highway in the future. Ang estimates this will be about a two-year job unless the village gets a large amount of money. Following that construction, they plan to work with the Town of Hempstead to improve a shopping area on Central Avenue at the north end of the village, which is half in the village and half in the town.

The county money is also used to help senior citizens, with a substantial amount of funds set aside for residential rehabilitation. “It is important to work on their homes,” Ang said. “To work on their windows, doors, roofs and to keep their houses warm.”