Hamlet of Uniondale Chamber of Commerce business leaders push for downtown beautification, streetscape improvements

Calls to beautify Uniondale’s downtown are being heard once more, years after Nassau County and the Town of Hempstead announced a multimillion-dollar streetscape project along Uniondale Avenue. Business leaders say the street is still not attractive enough to draw customers.

The Hamlet of Uniondale Chamber of Commerce held its first meeting on July 14 at the American Legion Hall, where members called for streetscape improvements to follow up on a $1.5 million beautification project for Uniondale Avenue, from Front Street to Jerusalem Avenue, that was completed six years ago.

The Uniondale Avenue initiative, announced in 2019, was a yearlong project highlighted by the addition of new sidewalks, streetlights, trees and benches, financed by federal and state grants and county capital funding.

“Why can’t we have cobblestones like Garden City? Why can’t we have flowerpots hanging like Garden City?” asked Stacey Richardson, president of the Uniondale Empowerment Resource Center, who is helping lead the effort to promote the new organization in the community.

Unlike neighboring Garden City, which is an incorporated village with its own municipal government, Uniondale is a hamlet within the Town of Hempstead, and relies on the town and Nassau County for many public services and infrastructure improvements.

“It’s not something you can’t accomplish,” Richardson told community members. “If there’s money out there to do this, we want to do it for you. And whatever your needs are, just come to us now that we’re here.”

Mike Capillo, president of the chamber, led its first meeting. Capillo, a Vietnam veteran and the commander of Uniondale American Legion Post 1273, was followed in discussing topics for the business community by Vice President Ronnie Williams and Richardson.

Richardson stressed that if Uniondale had a more welcoming streetscape, it would attract more visitors and shoppers planning on visiting a small business and perhaps getting a bite to eat. Currently, the sidewalk on Uniondale Avenue is concrete interrupted by small sections of decorative pavers. On parts of the avenue, however, vegetation is growing in sidewalk joints.

Capillo and Richardson said they saw a need for community engagement, and that the new chamber could play a major role in uniting local businesses. They emphasized the importance of developing Uniondale into a downtown business district, from Front Street to Jerusalem Avenue — like Garden City.

“The broad hope is to bring beautification, reorganization and just general commerce stability to the area,” John Deldiujuice, the owner of Spotless Car Wash, on Nassau Road, said. “That needs to be organized to get that done, and that’s what the chamber needs to do. It needs to sort of [get] a handle on Uniondale’s problems and find the solutions.”

Mariano Ugalde, longtime president of the 42-year-old re-established Uniondale Chamber of Commerce, did not respond to requests for comment about beautifying Uniondale Avenue. The Town of Hempstead did not comment about its work, ongoing or completed, on the avenue.

“Your businesses are here — I’m here and I’m plowing, I’m cleaning out the snow, the mound was this high,” Capillo said of the severe winter weather, holding his hand at his hip. “That’s wrong — these are the things that we’ve got to get fixed.”

Resident Chris Doboe and Annette Trewick, owner of AJY1 Variety Store on Uniondale Avenue, raised concerns about homelessness, unregulated garbage disposal and their impact on local businesses and the community’s image.

In response to their concerns, Richardson emphasized the need for “no loitering” signs and improved garbage management across the downtown. Williams proposed a grading system similar to New York City’s to improve garbage disposal and maintenance.

Capillo suggested that community members and business owners raise their concerns at the Hempstead Town Hall meeting Aug. 4. 

Deldiujuice also spoke out about unauthorized mobile car washes in warehouses, highlighting the financial burden on legitimate businesses caused by unregulated ones.

Richardson explained the new chamber’s role in lobbying for business interests and securing grants, and emphasized the importance of networking and collaboration with other chambers and business councils to boost community awareness and support.

Williams said that the chamber’s plan for the next year is to foster business growth and provide resources to help businesses grow.

—Additional reporting by Stacy Driks.