April 29, 2014

By Steve Levy

Published on Long Island Business News

Patchogue Village’s renaissance is the quintessential example of what can happen when a
community simply says yes to the right redevelopment.

Patchogue’s downtown was emblematic of the blight that was evident in so many of our
Long Island communities. After decades of experiencing middle-class flight and huge
vacancy rates, a sense of hopelessness developed around this and many other downtowns.

But just a few years ago a new paradigm entered into the debate, one that ceased calling
development a dirty word. A number of planners and elected officials came together and
concluded that there was a recipe for success: Let’s start building higher density
downtown workforce housing, which could supply the patrons needed for our local
stores. This coupled with vibrant nightlife would give young people a place where they
would want to hang out and even live.

It’s why in 2004 my Commissioner, Jim Morgo, and I convinced the legislature to pass
my proposal to allocate $15 million in matching funds to any locality showing us that
they were willing to refurbish their downtowns. Many didn’t want the flack that comes
from the NIMBYs who provide a knee jerk “no” to anything new. But Patchogue was
different. Mayor Pontieri came to our Commission and made the case that with our
funding, his board would be able to provide a rebirth in this once proud area.