ALBANY – (March 20, 2009) – New York Secretary of State Lorraine Cortés-Vázquez, Assemblyman Robert Sweeney, and Babylon Town Supervisor Steve Bellone announced the kickoff of the Brownfields Smart Growth "Spotlight Communities" Initiative, at an event in Wyandanch, Long Island today. This initiative is designed to advance, through a state-local partnership, how existing state programs can support and complement local efforts to redevelop brownfields and simultaneously achieve neighborhood revitalization and smart growth objectives.
Wyandanch is one of three communities state-wide that has been selected to be a part of the "Spotlight Communities" Initiative. The other two are the South Bronx and South Buffalo. The Wyandanch revitalization initiative is unique among the three “Spotlight Communities” chosen because it would become what is to be known as a Transit Oriented Development, or TOD. A TOD is a compact, mixed-use, walkable/bikable community planned on a traditional village scale and built around a transit station. TOD is viewed as one of the best examples of Smart Growth.
Today’s event follows Governor David A. Paterson’s announcement of the Brownfields Smart Growth Spotlight Communities Initiative, which links communities participating in the state's Brownfield Opportunity Areas (BOA) Program with agencies on the Governor's Smart Growth Cabinet and others to improve coordination to support the timely implementation of redevelopment projects.
Secretary of State Lorraine Cortés-Vázquez said: “Smart Growth is about environmental clean-up, economic revitalization and socio-economic equity. The Wyandanch project shows tremendous potential for all three goals. Once this project is completed, Wyandanch will serve as a shining example in our state of how to plan livable, healthy and vibrant communities. The Wyandanch project is the perfect example of Smart Growth planning at work -- a bottom-up process driven by the localities and supported by the state.”
Babylon Town Supervisor Steve Bellone said: “The current financial crisis is having dramatic effects on states and local municipalities– limiting our ability to effectively pursue investment in communities that are already struggling. The Brownfields Smart Growth Spotlight Communities Initiative will ultimately translate to jobs, economic investment, and spur public private partnerships. I applaud Governor David A. Paterson and Secretary of State Lorraine Cortés-Vázquez for their forward thinking response and their recognition of the importance of an effective and holistic brownfield program.”
Assemblyman Robert Sweeney said: “The Spotlight Communities initiative represents an investment in a sustainable future, for Wyandanch, the region and the entire state. With government resources growing scarce, we need to target state investments toward Smart Growth and sustainable development to create a prosperous and competitive New York in the 21st century economy. The Governor and the Secretary of State have taken a bold and innovative step toward long-term economic and environmental sustainability by launching this exciting initiative here in Wyandanch.”
“Governor Paterson’s Spotlight Communities Initiative offers a breakthrough opportunity for a coordinated state response to downtown revitalization progress across the state. We support and encourage this coordinated, smart growth approach that integrates planning and revitalization,” said Jody Kass, Co-director of New Partners for Community Revitalization. “The mobilization of state resources that is being spearheaded today in Wyandanch will create a model of cost-effective, meaningful investments of state community development resources that will have impact from Long Island to the Bronx and Buffalo.”
Brownfields Smart Growth "Spotlight Communities" Initiative is an example of the state using innovative collaboration, bridging the already existing Governor’s Smart Growth Cabinet and the Brownfield Opportunity Areas (BOA) Program to enhance New York’s communities for New York’s residents. The Governor’s Smart Growth Cabinet defines Smart Growth as sensible, efficient growth that integrates economic development with community quality-of-life by enhancing the built and natural environments. Smart Growth encourages growth in existing municipal and regional centers, like the hamlet of Wyandanch.
The state’s Brownfield Opportunity Areas (BOA) Program empowers municipalities and community organizations to prepare area-wide revitalization plans that include market studies, environmental investigations, site-specific redevelopment plans, local laws, design standards and renderings, and public relations materials to promote brownfield redevelopment and community revitalization. The program is being used by close to 100 local communities across New York State to establish reuse plans that have the potential to convert thousands of brownfield sites into productive, job creating and tax revenue generating properties. The program is administered by the Departments of State and Environmental Conservation.