State grant for Grand Avenue

Town of Hempstead awarded $458,000 for Grand Avenue to revive Baldwin’s busiest street

Posted

Big changes are coming to Baldwin, in the form of redevelopment of some of its most important business corridors. The Town of Hempstead has received a New York state grant for $458,000 to revitalize the downtown area.

The grant will be used to restore vacant properties from 2408 to 2416 Grand Ave., as part of a larger-scale revitalization project that officials say they hope will strengthen Baldwin’s infrastructure and economic stability.

“This substantial state investment will go a long way to the economic revitalization of Baldwin,” State Sen. Todd Kaminsky, a democrat from Long Beach, said. “Investing in smart development will ensure that Baldwin’s economy and neighborhood thrive. I was thrilled to have worked to secure this vital grant, and I will continue fighting to get more funding for the district,” Kaminsky added, referring to the 9th Senate District, which he represents. “I want to thank Governor Cuomo for continuing to prioritize the redevelopment of Baldwin.”

“I am delighted the state is investing in Baldwin’s downtown,” said County Legislator Laura Curran, a Baldwin democrat who is running for county executive.. “We have great potential here, and this will dovetail beautifully with our ongoing effort to ensure Baldwin lives up to its potential.”

The grant is funded by Empire State Development’s Restore New York Communities Initiative, which seeks to revitalize commercial and residential property to attract residents and businesses, and to encourage community development and neighborhood growth through the elimination and redevelopment of blighted structures.

The funds will be used as a sub-grant to Basser-Kaufman and the Engel Burman Group, the designated developers, to supplement the cost of redeveloping the blighted properties. That will be part of a larger project on Grand Avenue focusing on mixed-use development, with 25,000 square feet of retail space and about 140 apartments units. The total cost of the project is estimated at $53 million.

“Thank you to Governor Cuomo for the incredible grant for the people of Baldwin,” said Hempstead Town Councilwoman Erin King Sweeney, a republican from Wantagh. “There is nothing more important than bringing economic vitality to communities like Baldwin.”