Village to survey businesses

Many of the community’s business owners will soon be getting a survey from the village as it looks to begin its downtown revitalization plan. The survey will be one step in the process to breathe more life into Valley Stream’s main business district.

Village Clerk Vinny Ang said he expects the survey will go out within the next week or two. “It’s important that we get their input,” he said. “We don’t want the businesses to just get them and throw them out.”

Barbara DeGrace, a member of the village’s business improvement committee, said the survey is being funded through the $95,000 grant secured by Assemblyman Bob Barra and Sen. Dean Skelos for the downtown study.

DeGrace, too, hopes that merchants take advantage of this chance to offer their input. “I think it is a very important part of the process,” she said, “because it gives the business community the opportunity to tell the village what’s needed for them.”

The survey will be mailed to all businesses on Rockaway Avenue, from Maple Street south to Peninsula Boulevard, as well as well on the adjacent side streets.

Mayor Ed Cahill said he knows some of the issues that will likely be addressed by store owners –– parking, taxes and building codes. But he also hopes the merchants will make suggestions as to what type of other businesses they would like to see. He said anything they think would improve Rockaway Avenue should be included. The more ideas the village gets, the more the business committee will have to work with.

Chamber of Commerce President Debbi Gyulay said she encourages local merchants to take this survey seriously. “Fill out the form and mail it back,” she said. “It will provide important information and feedback for the future of our village.”

P.J. Harper’s owner Paul Pandolfi said he looks forward to filling out the survey and hopes his fellow merchants do the same. “The village needs feedback from the business owners so they understand the challenges that we’re faced with,” Pandolfi said. “The avenue needs a lot of help.”

Pandolfi’s biggest issue, which he plans to make clear in the survey, is the condition of vacant storefronts. He said absentee landlords are not taking care of the empty spaces, hurting the appearance of the downtown area. “Besides the lack of foot traffic,” Pandolfi said, “the biggest concern of mine is the look of the avenue.”

Village officials said they are also considering the possibility of doing a resident survey later this year.