Last night, nearly 90 residents of the Village of Freeport turned out to the Bethel AME Church to lend their voice to the efforts to imagine a new vision for the Village's North Main Street and train station area. The project (below), led by RPA, will result in a community-driven plan to revitalize an aging commercial corridor and struggling station area. Working together in small groups around maps of the study area, residents collaborated to provide insights into their community and their hopes for a "better Freeport." Overall, residents are hoping for a safer, greener, more connected Freeport that offers appealing destinations that they - and visitors from throughout the region - can walk to and enjoy.
A brief description of the project:
Regional Plan Association - in partnership with Moule & Polyzoides and Sustainable Long Island - is working closely with the Village of Freeport to develop a new, community-driven, implementable vision for the North Main Street corridor and train station area that improves Freeport's social, economic and environmental sustainability. This project is generously supported by Representative Carolyn McCarthy, Nassau County and the Village of Freeport.
Guided by the community and a coalition of governmental, business, civic and religious representatives, the team will convene national, regional and local experts for a week-long charrette to imagine a new future for this aging commercial corridor and struggling station area. The outputs of the charrette will result in a final report that elucidates region-specific, implementable steps towards improved public realm, transit oriented development and smart growth opportunities that will be illustrated in a draft form based code for the area.
The project, which was launched in September, is being carried out over 4 phases, including:I. Research & outreach
II. Design charrette
III. Final report and development code
IV. Municipal training and information sharing
Freeport, on the south shore of Long Island, is New York State's largest incorporated Village and home to the famous "Nautical Mile." When complete, this project is likely to serve as a regional and national model for aging commercial corridor and station area revitalization.
Check back here for project updates. If you have any specific questions, please contact robertf@rpa.org.
@RegionalPlan