The downtown of Hempstead, the country’s largest township located right on Long Island, is getting a $10 million facelift after years of economic struggles.
The investment was announced Monday by Hempstead village officials and state leaders who promised to breathe new life into the area that was once the center for cultural arts and home to landmark retailers like Abraham & Straus and Gimbel’s.
“Long Island’s downtowns are more than hubs for business, they’re the infrastructure that inspires people to build a better world around them,” Gov. Kathy Hochul said in a statement announcing the funding.
Gov. Kathy Hochul announced that Hempstead will receive $10 million in funding as the Long Island winner of the eighth round of the Downtown Revitalization Initiative. Hans Pennink
The $10 million revitalization project aimed at restoring Hempstead’s downtown, which for decades was known as “the hub” of culture and business across the island, is set to bring major changes that include infrastructure upgrades and new buildings.
This includes improving water, sewer, and transportation systems as well as building more affordable housing in the neighborhood and moving all of the essential government departments in Hempstead’s village to one location.
Additionally, state and local leaders say their focus on restoring widespread access to the arts, entertainment, and public spaces will restore the vibrancy that made the area a go-to destination for both shoppers and tourists decades ago.
State and local leaders say they will focus on restoring widespread access to the arts, entertainment, and public spaces. Newsday via Getty Images
Hochul’s office also announced on Monday that Farmingdale will receive $4.5 million in revitalization funds.
“We’re creating stronger communities that honor their history and possibility — paving a path for generations of Long Islanders to experience all they have to offer,” the governor said.
Hempstead’s downtown used to draw over 10,000 visitors daily and boasted a bustling retail scene that made it a key commercial center on Long Island.
The $10 million revitalization project is aimed at restoring Hempstead’s downtown. Dennis A. Clark
However, the area was hit by the rise of nearby malls, a shrinking manufacturing base, and a series of development projects that displaced local businesses, and by the 1960s, the opening of Roosevelt Field Mall and the loss of Mitchel Field Airbase were the nails in the coffin for Hempstead’s once-booming economy.
Now, state and local leaders say this $10 million revitalization initiative is aimed at reversing those trends.
With the historic downtown area plagued with boarded-up storefronts and struggling businesses, the plan is to attract new opportunities, and create thousands of jobs for the town’s growing and diverse population, which includes Long Island’s largest African American and Latino communities.
“Hempstead is a proud, hardworking community, and this $10 million investment will go a long way in making our downtown a place where families, businesses, and visitors can thrive,” Hempstead Mayor Waylyn Hobbs told reporters.
State and local leaders say they are optimistic these efforts will attract new private investments and create economic opportunities for residents, who many feel have been left behind in a town that’s seen better days.
