Tell Us: Improving Main Street

Last week, nearly 150 people attended “Main Street Visioning” public meeting hosted by North Hempstead's Supervisor Jon Kaiman and Councilwoman Dina De Giorgio at Schreiber High School.

Many in the audience cited concerns about the current considerations, which include allowing building owners on certain blocks to apply via the Town Board for a special permit for a mixed-use designation to accommodate one story for business and two for residential. Among the audience members' concerns: more automobile traffic, increased enrollments in Port Washington Public Schools, and pressures on the community's infrastructure. 

Yet others have pointed out that doing nothing could mean deterioration for Main Street, and the inability to attract quality businesses to the peninsula.

Which has us wondering: what happens if the zoning code isn't changed? How do you think Main Street will look in five years? What do you think would help incentivize building owners to improve their properties? And how can Port Washington attract new businesses? Are there lessons to apply from the newly revamped Port Commons?

Tell us in the comments.