Long Beach Gets $4.5 Million In State Funding For Renovations

LONG BEACH, NY — As part of the state's NY Forward initiative, four projects are planned for Long Beach.

With a total investment of $4.5 million, the overhaul includes redesigning Kennedy Plaza ($2.150 million) by renovating the civic space and the surrounding area. The plan calls for paving, landscaping, wayfinding, lighting and enhanced pedestrian crossings.

"These projects will ... enhance the quality of life for residents, draw visitors, and spur economic opportunity throughout their communities for generations to come," Gov. Hochul said.

Long Beach will also see, overall, improved streetscapes and pedestrian conditions ($1.209 million). The two-part project will include better walkability and safety through sidewalk and crosswalk upgrades.

A commercial building with a performance space ($941,000) will be built in Long Beach with the remediation of a contaminated site and construction of a new site. It will have feature four retail spaces on the ground level and performance spaces on the second floor.

The NY Forward funds will also be used to convert five single-family homes into two-family homes ($200,000) in the North Park neighborhood.

City of Long Beach Manager Daniel Creighton said: "I would like to thank Governor Hochul, the Department of State, Empire State Development and the Long Island Regional Economic Development Council for their recognition of the needs of our barrier island community. Thanks to their hard work, this investment will help transform our Central Business District into a more vibrant and thriving economic hub for the region."