Saturday, April 26, 2025
Persistence paid off this year for the Village of Hempstead Community Development Agency when its third application for the state’s $10 million Downtown Revitalization Initiative grant proved a winner.
Village leaders made the announcement of the grant On Monday morning on Bedell Street, in front of a pair of mixed-use apartment buildings scheduled for completion during 2026.
Conifer-LeChase Construction LLC, a joint venture between Conifer and LeChase Construction Services, is the developer that will build the two buildings, which will contain 258 affordable housing units and 30,000-square-feet of retail space.
Also on Bedell Street, across Main Street, another apartment building by Estella Housing will add 96 units, half reserved for military veterans.
Hempstead village received state certification as a Pro-Housing Community based on the three buildings. The certification qualified the village to apply for the DRI grant.
“It was an intense effort by the whole village,” said CDA Commissioner Danielle Oglesby, referring to the creation of the winning grant proposal.
Anthony Arce, an architect for AA Architecture PC in West Hempstead, and Matthew Michael, who owns the former Woolworth building, across Fulton Avenue from the historic Hempstead Bank building at Main Street and Fulton avenue, were also in attendance.
Arce has been designing plans for artists’ lofts and fine retail in the Hempstead Bank building. Michael plans to open a new pizzeria on the ground floor of the Woolworth building, renovate the second and third floors, and add a lighted clock tower.
“Our initiative is focused on these two buildings,” Michael said, “because they sit directly at the heart of the village.” The two projects are located in the target revitalization area.
“This award comes at a perfect time,” said Mayor Waylyn Hobbs, Jr., “as we have just recently gone to closing on the Helen Keller building, which will be the new Village Plaza. And so we are moving in the right direction.”
The 80,000-square-foot, $8.7 million-dollar Helen Keller building stands across Denton Green from the current Hempstead Village Hall.
“That happens to be the area that’s been the main focus of the Downtown Revitalization Initiative,” said Deputy Mayor Jeffery Daniels, “so we are hoping that moving over there … will help spur further development in that area.”
Besides using the DRI dollars for needed infrastructure upgrades, the village wants to add new retail to the revitalization area, as well as family entertainment like movie theaters and concert halls.
“The Village of Hempstead was one of the first communities on Long island that applied to become a Pro-Housing Community,” said Robert Calarco, assistant secretary for Long Island Intergovernmental Affairs, part of Gov. Kathy Hochul’s office. “They committed themselves to build housing networks, doing what makes sense for their community in a way that shines and allows everybody to succeed.”
“It takes a community to do this,” said LaShawn Lukes, president of the Hempstead Chamber of Commerce, “and it takes us working together as a collective.”
The goal is to enable both senior citizens and young college graduates to find housing and amenities that they can afford in the village.
“It’s about delivering the resources for our community,” Hobbs said.
“We are the Hub, a transit-oriented community, with the LIRR and bus terminals. So it’s the perfect community for our young people to come, live, find entertainment, and just have a wonderful time.”
