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Community Corner

'Vision' for Revitalized Main Street Unveiled

Residents for a More Beautiful Port Washington announces county has selected Port Washington as pilot program for downtown development at gala.

Goodbye empty storefronts, hello destination dining and shopping. So long snarls of traffic, welcome increased parking, transit-oriented development and bike and jogging paths. Residents for a More Beautiful Port Washington (RFMBPW) has a vision of Port Washington's future and it centers on a revitalized and vibrant Main Street.

Last weekend at its annual gala at the Clubhouse at Harbor Links, RFMBPW announced that the county has selected Port Washington as a pilot program for a downtown development strategy.

Picked from a pool of 156 other Long Island communities studied by data-gatherer Long Island Index, Port Washington was identified as having the potential for the transit and tourist-area development necessary to create jobs, encourage affordable housing and revitalize a mixed-use downtown.

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"We have a railroad station at the center of town, so somebody can live in an apartment, jump on the train," said Mindy Germain, executive director of RFMBPW. "They can hop down for some culture in our antique district, enjoy our waterfront, enjoy some dining and culture. We have the library, we have Landmark, we have parks. We have all of these things that are footsteps away."

Working with "visioning" partners including the Town of North Hempstead, Port Washington police and fire department, the Greater Port Washington Business Improvement District, homeowners associations and all five mayors, RFMBPW is now proposing the creation of two "overlay districts" for Port — geographical zones that define special resources.

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The proposed districts include a transit-overlay, focusing on upper Main Street and the area around the LIRR station and a tourist-overlay, encompassing lower Main Street with its antique district, shopping, dining and waterfront resources.

Accessible and easy transportation and a lively cultural and recreational atmosphere are viewed as key requirements for attracting and sustaining a desirable population mix, defined by Germain, as groups that "improve our economic base but do not drain our community."

"Next generation, the 20-somethings just starting careers, they have lots of time and money to spend on Main Street, but they have a limited number of cars, limited-to-no school-age children so they won't overtax our community," Germain said. "Empty nesters are the same thing. What are these people looking for in a community? They are looking for a vibrant Main Street."

So what's holding Main Street back? RFMBPW representatives said challenges include the downtown's limited mix of retail, increasingly empty storefronts, congestion, shortage of smart parking and lack of a well-designed pedestrian orientation.

"It's not easy to walk all around Port Washington or to bike ride around all of Port Washington," Germain said.

RFMBPW officials are recommending that new transportation routes and connections be considered during the redevelopment process, with an eye to linking all waterfront and creating a "parallel" road to Main Street for pedestrians and cyclists.

Other wish list items include: design guidelines providing a cohesive façade for Main Street emphasizing Port's nautical roots and increased and smarter commuter and shopper parking. Empty storefronts are also in the cross-hairs; RFMBPW board members said they want to strategize to get them filled.

A vibrant Main Street catering to both Port Washingtonians and visitors is welcome news for many Port businesses-owners.

"It's vital to bring in people from the outside,' said Ayhan Hassan, owner of Ayhans's restaurants. "We need more municipal parking, better up kept storefronts, and a better variety of stores to attract outside shoppers. We need to make Main Street a destination."

County Executive Ed Mangano attended the gala with Deputy County Executive for Economic Development Pat Foye, a Sands Point resident, who was recently tapped to spearhead economic development for the county.

"I understand how long a road it's been to get here," Mangano said. "Here at Nassau County we're here to assist you. Our vision in Nassau County is getting things done. We're into measurable results, so let's work to get your vision done."

In addition to outlining a vision for the future, the gala celebrated two honorees: Annette Oestreich, founder and owner of Port-based and State Bank of Long Island.

A life-long Port resident and local entrepreneur, Oestreich's company employs 17 people locally, distributing power equipment in the northeast. A board member of RFMBPW and an active Harbor Acres resident, Oestreich has served as the treasurer of the Board of Directors of the Property Owners Association of Harbor Acres for over 16 years. She has also served on the Residents Club Commission of the Village Club of Sands Point and is a founding member of the Astor Lane Residents Association. She is also active in the Sons of Italy and the North Hempstead Business Association.

Oestreich is supportive of RFMBPW's commitment to making Port a business-friendly downtown. "It's the heart and face of the town," Oestreich said. "You can have all the beautiful houses, but if you don't have a Main Street and business, you have no town, you have a shopping mall. Local business is our identity."

Long Island commercial banking institution State Bank was also honored and represented by First Vice President Lucy Mazany, a former RFMBPW board member. State Bank has a branch in Port Washington on Port Washington Boulevard and a history of supporting local community charities with time, money and resources. Mazany said that State Bank is a "big supporter" of RFMBPW's mission. "Our two organizations are very similar in their roots, origin and commitment to the Long Island community," Mazany said.

Residents for a More Beautiful Port Washington is also slated to be the Whole Foods Charity of the Day on April 7. Five percent of sales from the Whole Foods, located at 2101 Northern Boulevard in Manhasset, will be donated to the organization.

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