Friday, October 2, 2026
The Village of Valley Stream has been awarded $10 million through New York state’s Downtown Revitalization Initiative, an investment local and state officials said will support infrastructure improvements, housing development and economic growth throughout the downtown corridor.
Gov. Kathy Hochul announced the funding May 13 at American Legion Post 854 in Valley Stream alongside local and state leaders, including Assemblywoman Michaelle Solages, Nassau County Legislator Cynthia Nuñez and Village Trustee Kevin Waszak.
The DRI, launched in 2016, provides funding to communities across New York for locally driven development projects to strengthen downtown areas and encourage long-term economic investment.
Hochul described Valley Stream as a strategically located community with strong transportation access and a vibrant downtown that is positioned for continued growth. She said the state’s approach allows municipalities to shape their own plans rather than having Albany dictate projects.
“I knew as governor, if I could invest more money into communities and not tell them what to do, but to allow them to come up with their own vision, what their residents want to see,” Hochul said. “That’s why I love this downtown revitalization program so much, because that’s exactly what it does. It empowers localities to fund a vision they otherwise could not.”
According to the governor, proposed projects include improvements to pedestrian and bicycle access, upgrades to lighting and signage near Long Island Rail Road overpasses, expanded public and cultural spaces at the Village Green and new mixed-use housing development opportunities.
Officials also highlighted plans for what would become Long Island’s first “cottage court” development, a housing concept centered around smaller single-family homes built around a shared public green space. The project would be developed on a former industrial property that has remained vacant for years.
Housing affordability and supply were central themes throughout the announcement. Long Island communities are facing increasing pressure from rising home prices and rents, and more housing near transit hubs is necessary to help younger residents and families remain in the communities where they grew up.
“This village is full to the brim of families who are searching for opportunity, small business owners who are looking to invest in our corridors, young people hoping to build a future here and seniors who have spent decades investing in the community, it is truly diverse,” Solages said. “This is why DRI funding is so important. It’s not about beautification. It’s about creating a downtown that truly reflects our culture and our community. It’s about making sure we harness all that energy and make Valley Stream one of the best places to live in America.”
Nuñez called the award transformative, saying the planned improvements would create a safer, more vibrant and more walkable downtown for residents, commuters and local businesses. She also emphasized the importance of expanding housing opportunities while preserving the village’s character.
Valley Stream joins several other Long Island communities that have previously received Downtown Revitalization Initiative funding, including Westbury, Baldwin, Huntington Station, Central Islip and Riverhead.
Waszak said the funding will help Valley Stream improve public spaces and strengthen connections throughout the downtown area. He said investments in infrastructure and housing are critical for retaining young families and seniors in the village.
State officials said community planning efforts will now continue as Valley Stream develops specific proposals and determines how the $10 million award will be allocated in the coming years.
