The Village Board and I would like to congratulate and recognize Vision Long Island for the amazing contributions helping to create Smart Growth communities across Long Island.
Vision Long Island is a not-for-profit that started in downtown Huntington in the mid 1990s and worked in 40 communities in Nassau and Suffolk. The group focuses on Main Street revitalization driven by local community residents and lobbies for our fair share of infrastructure investments. In 2006, Vision was engaged to start a visioning process for downtown Farmingdale’s Master Plan.
“It’s been an honor to assist in the revitalization of downtown Farmingdale under the leadership of Mayor Ekstrand and the Village Board,” said Eric Alexander, director, Vision Long Island. “At least twice a month we bring folks from around the region to visit Farmingdale’s business district to see the substantive improvements in action.”
Vision Long Island’s Smart Growth Awards honor people, places and projects that create sustainable communities through the expansion of economic opportunities, while protecting the environment, public health and improving overall quality of life. The annual event brings close to 1,000 local leaders from around the island and a competitive nomination process is the norm.
Several of the new Farmingdale transit-oriented development projects downtown won Vision Long Island Smart Growth Awards in the last few years.
- Bartone/Terwilliger & the Village of Farmingdale received a 2016 Vision Long Island Transit-Oriented Development award for The Cornerstone Farmingdale. The Cornerstone is just steps from the Farmingdale Long Island Rail Road and offers amenities such as a clubroom with a fitness center and a rooftop patio. In addition, the complex has solar supplemental power.
- Staller Associates garnered a 2015 Smart Growth Award for the mixed use project, The Loft at 231 Main St. The apartments are right on Main Street, near the train station, feature private balconies and are energy efficient with LED lighting.
- In 2012 Bartone Properties was awarded for The Jefferson at Farmingdale Plaza and again, in 2014, Bartone Properties and TDI won for “Best Smart Growth Project.” The Jefferson features a health club, billiards, game room, a courtyard and more.
The new developments downtown are contributing to the revitalization of Main Street and Farmingdale Village, bringing housing, jobs, economic activity and great adaptive reuse to the community with transit-oriented housing.
Vision Long Island also advocates for safety in communities and conducts tours of thriving downtowns with Smart Growth projects, including Farmingdale. Obviously, with every project, the Village Board looks at every detail to ensure what is best for the village and its residents.
As Vision Long Island celebrates 20 years, the impact of the dedication to supporting downtowns, main streets and other initiatives is vital.
Stay tuned for more updates and we hope to see you downtown.
