By KIMBERLY ACEVEDO
The New York State Empire Opportunity Fund provides financial assistance to projects involving the development of capital facilities or an infrastructure that helps retain jobs and increase business activity. Long Beach is preparing an application that officials hope will lead to a roughly $375,000 grant from the fund, covering one-fourth of the project.
The city is looking to pick up only a quarter of the total, itself, by dividing the cost in half with the expected Superblock developer, Philips International. Sitting at the south end of Riverside, the Superblock would benefit from the street reconstruction plan, officials argue.
As plans for the Superblock include the construction of a 100-room boutique hotel and two condominium towers, city officials believe the proposed development meets the criteria for the Empire Opportunity Fund grant.
While it may be necessary to also reconstruct part of Broadway, the city will be working on the underlying problems of Riverside Boulevard. The city is seeking to replace the sanitary sewer system, the water distribution system, upgrade the storm sewer pipes, the street lighting system, construct new concrete curb cutters, sidewalks and gutters, and reconstruct the roadway, itself. New landscaping and design were also included in the $1.5 million figure.
