News Nearby: Wyandanch Begins to Rise Once Again

The project known as "Wyandanch Rising" became a reality yesterday as government officials, local representatives and others joined in on a ground-breaking ceremony at a site that will become the cornerstone of the hamlet's redevelopment process.

"The story of Wyandanch Rising begins with this community," county executive Steve Bellone told the hundreds in attendance. "This is a community filled with hard-working people...dedicated to making it a better place, so it is only fitting to have this ceremony here."

He added: "It's never been about just building new buildings, but about helping people to change lives."

The project, headed up by the Albanese Organization, will include a brand-new downtown for the hamlet, headed up by four to five-story buildings filled with new apartments, storefronts, a brand-new park and redesigned Long Island Rail Road station.

Con. Peter King told the crowd the new development would give Wyandanch "the opportunity to come forward and to live up to all of its potential."

Kevin Law, co-chair of the Long Island Regional Economic Development Council, also praised the project for its ambitious way to bring new life into an area.

"This will be the model," he said. "This will show how people can come together, work together and get projects done."

The first phase of the project, which began with the groundbreaking, is a five-story mixed use development with 91 units of rental residences on four floors above the ground floor, where commercial and retail businesses will be located.

The new apartments will include one-, two- and three-bedroom units targeted at a mix of different incomes.