N. Bellmore business zone gets a face-lift

The Jerusalem Avenue business district in North Bellmore has become a little bit easier on the eyes. The newly refurbished streetscape was unveiled last week by the Town of Hempstead and representatives of Nassau County. The revitalization project was a joint effort with the North Bellmore Civic Association.

The project had been in the works for many years. The intersection of Jerusalem Avenue and Newbridge Road draws large crowds of shoppers, with stores like Stop & Shop and other small businesses in the shopping center. The North Bellmore Civic Association had called for a more aesthetically pleasing look for the Jerusalem Avenue area for many years.

The area now resembles the scenic shopping district along Bedford Avenue in Bellmore Village, with new brick-paved walkways and 20 Victorian-style streetlights. The improvements on Bedford Avenue were part of an earlier revitalization project, focused on the business district in that section of Bellmore.

The funding for the Jerusalem Avenue project came from a variety of grants, and required an inter-municipal partnership between the town and the county. The project cost $150,000, and used federal funds from the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act as well as money from the Empire Zone Community Development Commission and other community-development and revitalization agencies.

“We are pleased to work in tandem with the county and federal government to make upgrades to our neighborhoods,” said Town Supervisor Kate Murray.

County Legislators Dave Denenberg and Norma Gonsalves said they were pleased with the success of the project. Denenberg said that the revitalization was a long time coming, and that many people hope that the new look will bring even more business to the area.

“I’m glad that the project is finally happening,” he said. “It’s an investment in our commercial corridor and, hopefully, it will bring jobs and expand our revenue base in North Bellmore.”