New York State Route 110 is a major north-south artery located in western Suffolk County near its border with Nassau County. The Route 110 corridor offers a diversity of employment opportunities as it contains large office buildings, light industrial space, retail centers, service businesses, and a small airport, along with a variety of housing. This corridor is fully contained within the Towns of Babylon and Huntington. Route 110 begins in the incorporated village of Amityville and continues north through North Amityville, East Farmingdale, Melville, West Hills, South Huntington, Huntington Station, Huntington, and Halesite.
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Understanding the potential, as well as the problems of Route 110, the Towns of Babylon and Huntington formed a unique partnership to revitalize this significant corridor on Long Island. We believe that this is the first time that adjoining municipalities have worked together in a cooperative spirit to enhance the economic development of a region. Their partnership was later officially incorporated as the Route 110 Redevelopment Corporation. In order to achieve the goals of this organization the two towns are not only working together, but have forged a unique working partnership with the public and private sectors. This partnership includes each level of government, Federal, State, County and Town, the business community, as well as the residential community. Working together the Route 110 corridor could be redeveloped as a thriving economic hub for Long Island with the ability to compete with other regions of the country for high paying, environmentally friendly hi-tech jobs.
WHY DO WE NEED THE "110 PARTNERSHIP" PROJECT?
Over the last forty years the Route 110 Corridor has grown to be a regional economic engine. Corporate flagship office buildings have sprouted along Route 110, from Northern State Parkway to Republic Airport. The Long Island Expressway intersection area has become a particular focus of development interest.
But, overall the Route 110 corridor is now past middle age. And now, it's time for rejuvenation and redirection. The free market, free-form development of the past must be purposely turned toward new targets of long-term opportunity. The time to do this is now, while the market is solid; now is the time to prevent future "unidimensional" market downturns. Route 110 now needs 110% of our public sector planning and private sector promotional resources if we are to succeed in creating the 110 of the new millennium.
WHAT WILL THE "110 PARTNERHIP" PRODUCE?
New ways to "recycle" old buildings need to be developed. Subdivision, zoning and building permit procedures need to be modernized. Town codes need to be simplified and efficiently administered. Most importantly, a new public/private partnership needs to be established and nurtured. The first step toward the long-term goal of creating a Route 110 public-private partnership has already been taken. Huntington Town has been joined by Babylon Town in announcing the Route "110 Partnership" Project. The Route "110 Partnership" Project will initially concentrate on creating a joint Town/private sector plan for economic development in the corridor. A website, www.route110.org has been established to:
- Print a map showing what has already been built in the corridor, what is now being built and what is planned to be built.
- Target older properties where commercial and industrial building "recycling" is desirable.
- With assistance from the real estate industry, identify buildings that are vacant (or partially vacant).
- Create an internet accessible portfolio on every property in the corridor, including a picture, tax information, age, etc.
Another principal "product" of the initial plan will be to create a promotional package to highlight the Route "110 Partnership" Project. The Route "110 Partnership" promotional package will include:
- A video showing what Route 110 is and what it is to become.
- A map showing what exists and what could and should exist; (for instance, highlighting the Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory - SUNY Farmingdale Broadhollow Bioscience Park).
- The way to tap into the internet to access detailed information on individual properties, government incentives, etc.
- A list of the types of businesses and industries to be recruited for growth and relocation to the corridor.
- A list of development resources such as the Commercial and Industrial Brokers Society and the Association for a Better Long Island.
- Brochures from participating Long Island based real estate, development, construction, accounting and legal firms.
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