$13.7M Sewer Project In Central Islip Supports Development: Hochul

CENTRAL ISLIP, NY — Central Islip's $13.7 million sewer infrastructure project along Carleton Avenue has been completed, Governor Kathy Hochul and the Department of State announced Wednesday.

According to a statement, the project was part of the community’s Downtown Revitalization Initiative and will support compact, mixed-use development in the downtown around the Long Island Rail Road station, including housing, small businesses, cultural attractions, walkable streetscapes, and public amenities.

"New York’s downtowns are the lifeblood of our state, and the Downtown Revitalization Initiative helps our communities transform into even better places to live and work," Hochul said. "This new sewer line will unlock a host of opportunities for Central Islip, creating more housing for residents and driving economic revitalization for businesses and local communities."

The sewer project includes the installation of around 4,500 feet of new sewer line that will serve Central Islip with an average flow of 277,000 gallons per day, the statement said. Prior to the new line, businesses and housing within the DRI along Carleton Avenue were served only by septic systems, which prohibited the development of certain "wet use" establishments, including restaurants, and restricted mid- and high-density development over two stories tall.

According to Hochul's office, the project was made possible with funding from several organizations, including $2 million from the New York Department of State’s Downtown Revitalization Initiative; $7.2 million from the U.S. Department of Commerce; $1 million from the Town of Islip IDA; $1.8 million from Suffolk County; and $1.7 million from the Town of Islip.

"The completion of the Carleton Avenue sewer extension represents what's possible when every level of government works together with the community. This transformational project not only modernizes our infrastructure but unlocks Central Islip's potential for smart, sustainable growth while protecting our environment," Town of Islip Supervisor Angie Carpenter said. "We are proud to deliver this essential upgrade to the community."

Central Islip’s DRI Strategic Investment Plan focuses on the Carleton Avenue corridor between Suffolk Avenue and South Street. Before the DRI award, the area was lacking in public realm and physical amenities and a desirable mix of land uses, which prevented the community from functioning as a vibrant downtown district, the statement said.

Central Islip is the Long Island Region’s Round 3 winner of a $10 million DRI award in 2018. Other Long Island DRI winners include Westbury, Hicksville, Baldwin, Amityville, Riverhead, Huntington Station, and Smithtown/Kings Park. The Long Island Regional Economic Development Council is currently reviewing applications for DRI Round 8 awards.

According to Hochul's office, the DRI was launched in 2016 to bolster the revitalization of downtowns and neighborhoods in all 10 regions of the State to serve as centers of activity and catalysts for increased local investments. Led by the Department of State, DRI communities benefit from partnerships with and coordinated technical assistance provided by the Department of Housing and Community Renewal, Empire State Development, and the New York State Energy Research & Development Authority. The DRI represents an unprecedented and innovative "plan-then-act" strategy that couples strategic planning with immediate implementation.

To date, DRI has awarded a total of $800 million to 81 communities in its first seven rounds and invested in the creation of over 4,500 new housing units. It is estimated that every dollar invested in the DRI generates $3 in additional investments as the revitalization accelerates and projects are completed. This catalytic effect will continue well after DRI communities complete all their projects.

In 2022, Hochul created the NY Forward program to build on the momentum created by the DRI. The innovative program, which is funded at $100 million in this year's Enacted State Budget, supports a more equitable downtown recovery for New York's smaller and rural communities with a focus on hamlets and villages. NY Forward is meant to serve smaller communities and support local economies that often have a feel and charm that is distinct from larger, metropolitan urban centers funded through DRI. To date, NY Forward has awarded a total of $200 million to 43 communities over two rounds.

So far, the DRI and NY Forward have invested in the revitalization of 124 communities throughout the State, with a total statewide investment of $1.2 billion.