The foundation walls for the new four-bay truck garage have been put up, as construction is well underway for the new Department of Public Works facility in New Hyde Park.
The project, which started in June, is funded by a $5.1 million state grant. It comes after the nearly 100-year-old DPW storage facility started to deteriorate, and the village was looking at ways to upgrade the property.
Christopher Devane, mayor of New Hyde Park, said the original plans for the new DPW building came in a few years ago at over $7 million, which was more than the village’s budget of $5.1 million and has led to the delay on a bid until this past January.
Devane said the DPW employees deserve a new building “within reason” that includes an administration building with a new break room, offices and working area.
Igor Sikiric, superintendent of the New Hyde Park Department of Public Works, said the first part of this project involves knocking down two buildings at the current DPW site. A five-bay garage was “dilapidated” and unusable, which was torn down to make way for a brand new four-bay truck storage building.
“We tore down the salt shed that was in the far left corner and then that salt shed is going to the far right corner,” Sikiric said.
The construction site is next to Nuzzi Baseball Field, which is temporarily closed until construction is finished. Nuzzi Park will also be renovated once the new DPW building is finished.
Sikiric mentioned that the road in the DPW parking lot is in bad shape due to years of heavy trucks driving in and out of the lot. The road will also be refurbished and additional concrete pads will be placed in areas where the dumpsters will be located.
The project is expected to be completed by June.
