Cover photo: Residents view proposals at the DRI meeting on Thursday (Credit – Matt Meduri)
In January, Governor Kathy Hochul (D) visited Kings Park personally to deliver a check of almost $10 million specifically geared towards Kings Park’s Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI). The Town of Smithtown had applied for the grant for several consecutive years until the business district was identified as a candidate in the eyes of the State for funds to revitalize the area.
The first community meeting was held in June to educate the public on the process of submitting proposals, what the grant money could and could not cover, and set the terms of the process going forward.
Workshop meetings have been held throughout the summer, where a select panel of residents and business owners sit down with the State’s DRI task force to field and deliberate proposals from the public.
The second meeting, held last Thursday evening at the RJO Intermediate School on Old Dock Road, unveiled proposals for the funds, split into four separate goals outlined by the task force.
Goal One – Connectivity and Safety
The first goal is connectivity and safety, mostly including streetscape improvement and pedestrian safety. The first proposal, sponsored by the Town, would implement such additions along Main Street from Park Avenue to Patiky Street, Meadow Road West to First Avenue, and Church Street to Old Dock Road. It would improve walkability and safety for both pedestrians and drivers. Main Street to Dawson Avenue to Patiky Street would be partly funded by Suffolk County, while Dawson to Park would be funded by DRI.
Improvements may include bulb-outs, reduced curb cuts, widened sidewalks, accessible pedestrian ramps, and high-visibility crosswalks. The proposal would also include sitting spaces, lighting, street trees, trash receptacles, wayfinding signage, and a reconfigured parking lot near 75-85 Main Street to provide central parking within the downtown.
Estimate: $7 million, $4.5 million of which would be funded by DRI.
The Town also proposed a pathway from the LIRR station to Main Street and Russ Savatt Park.
Estimate: $500,000, 100% of which could be funded by DRI.
The Town, in conjunction with the Smithtown Library, also proposed a new village and library green with trail head upgrade. It would convert the western portion of an underutilized Municipal Parking Lot and parts of the library’s open space into a new village green. It would feature a gazebo, a multi-functional outdoor learning and discovery area, a new playground, community garden, bandstand stage, and seating. Pedestrian and bicycle connections would also be implemented with connections to the Kings Park Hike and Bike Trail Head along the proposed village green.
Estimate: $3 million, 100% of which could be funded by DRI.
Goal Two – Business and Economy
Kings Park Realty Holding, LLC, proposed a main street renovation. It would renovate an existing three-story building (9,000 square feet), including interior upgrades for the ground-floor Umai Asian Bistro, its basement, nine existing apartments on the upper floors, and an expanded outdoor patio of 1,550 square feet. Interior renovations would include HVAC and electrical upgrades, while exterior improvements would consist of facade and window upgrade, siding, landscaping, insulation, and roofing.
This proposal’s estimate is $1.4 million, $1 million of which could be funded by DRI.
50-56 Main Street, LLC, proposed upgrades to the facade of the shopping plaza at the address, along with its 0.2-acre parking lot. Improvements would include a uniformed brick facade and a new central entrance with a tower design consistent with downtown aesthetics. The back and sides of the building would also be waterproofed and sealed.
Estimate: $412,000, 75% of which could be funded by DRI.
ASVP Restaurant Group, LLC, proposed a renovation for Ciro’s at 74 Main Street. Capital improvements include new windows, a garage door facade, updated brickwork, door and facade renovations, new lighting, and an outdoor patio, the last of which would include about 600 square feet of outdoor dining space.
Estimate: $140,000, 75% of which could be funded by DRI.
M. Macdougall and Connicks Corner, Inc., proposed renovations for Celtic Crossings, located at 83 Pulaski Road. It would include septic system upgrades, parking areas, facades, and a new patio area. Siding and lighting are also proposed to improve aesthetics. 120 seats would be added to the outdoor patio area, along with beverage services to increase street-level activity. It would allow the establishment to become a food purveyor in addition to current services.
Estimate: $410,000, 75% could be funded by DRI.
J. Mejia and Pueblo Restaurant, Inc., proposed exterior upgrades for 95 Pulaski Road. Included are rear garden upgrades, parking paving, fencing, roofing, a sewer connection, and garage door window installation. 3,000 square feet of interior renovations would allow for new seating and bathroom upgrades. Seating capacity would be increased from 16 seats to 60-80 seats.
Estimate: $170,000, 75% could be funded by DRI.
Goal Three- Aesthetics and Public Realm
The Town sponsored rebranding and marketing for Downtown Kings Park. It would attract new businesses to serve the community and provide for economic development. It would redesign signage to enforce a “cohesive downtown identity” for the hamlet, along with web and media presence. The Town and the Kings Park Chamber of Commerce will also develop strategies to implement new programming such as art shows, tasting tours, cultural and historical events, and farmer’s markets.
Estimate: $400,000, 100% could be funded by DRI.
The Town also sponsored a project to create a grant fund to help small businesses and property owners invest in their commercial and/or residential spaces in the DRI area. Improvements may include signage and awning improvements, as well as windows, entrances, patios, doors, exteriors, and sidings. Interior renovations may be considered as part of the grant.
The proposed grant has received $635,000 in requests to date. The Small Project Fund as a maximum request of $540,000 to $600,000.
Estimate: $780,000, 77% of which could be funded by DRI.
Goal Four – Housing and Community
The Town sponsored a request for proposals for a 0.6-acres municipal parking lot south of the railroad tracks that could be combined with adjacent properties. The Town says it will “assist in attracting developers to the site to expand the retail and residential options in Downtown Kings Park.” Funding will be used for public parking, community/cultural facility space, and/or a landscape pathway from the LIRR station to Meadow Road. Eventual developers would be required to provide pedestrian access between those two points as part of any redevelopment project. A potential development would also require participation of neighboring sites to the east or west of the current property. The lot may include residential units and retail.
Estimate: $1 million or more, 100% of which could be funded by DRI.
30 Main Street KP, LLC, and 44 Main, LLC, sponsored an upgrade of an existing ~8,500 square foot space at 26-34 Main Street into a renovated and enhanced mixed-used development. The proposal would include renovations of around 4,000 square feet of commercial space and two of five existing apartment units. A new building addition of 7,450 square feet of a two-story structure with approximately three residential units and three retail units. The project would coincide with facade renovations at 8 Main Street and 44 Main Street. At 44 Main, two new buildings would be constructed, with one (~2,700 square feet) including two residential units and two retail spaces. The other building (~1,500 square feet) would include one residential unit and one retail space.
Estimate: $4.2 million, 36% of which could be funded by DRI.
UTR, LLC, proposed renovations for 12 Renwick Avenue, consisting of updated ground-floor retail space and a new second floor with six apartment units above. The proposal also includes 1 Village Plaza for a ~4,670 square foot building to be renovated to “better reflect” the existing historic character of the area with new sidings, windows, and landscaping. An elevator would also be added to satisfy ADA requirements.
Estimate for 12 Renwick: $1.976 million
Estimate for 1 Village: $667,000
Total: $2,643,000, 38% of which could be funded by DRI.
Bravado Enterprises II proposed construction of a 9,000-square-foot mixed-used building on a vacant lot where a previous building was destroyed by a fire. It would include mixed-use development, with two units above the ground-level storefront. It would also include a holistic wellness center.
Estimate: $2.7 million, 75% of which could be funded by DRI.
Cartwright Realty Holdings proposed a renovation of a ~2,400-squre-foot commercial building in a two-story, ~4,800-square-foot structure with commercial space on the ground floor and residential space above. It would include a therapy clinic and accounting firm. Facades and interiors would also be renovated.
Estimate: $1.3 million, 75% of which could be funded by DRI.
Dietrich Reality, LLC, proposed a second story of the Sprouts Garden Center at 174 Main Street. ~2,500 square feet would go to retail, and ~2,500 would go to residential accessory apartments. Construction would include energy-saving and compliant materials with new windows, siding, roofing, electrical, plumbing, and HVAC, as well as additional parking, ADA accessibility improvements, and an open patio area.
Estimate: $884,000, 75% of which could be funded by DRI.
The Kings Park VFW proposed renovation of the existing structure on Church Street to include new roofing, sidings, foundation support, windows, sewer connections, signage, and an awning. Interior improvements would include electrical, HVAC, flooring, painting, and expanded carbon monoxide protections. Kitchens and restrooms would be upgraded to expand the VFW’s ability to host events. A backup generator would also be installed to allow the Post to become a community disaster relief site. The VFW anticipates increasing monthly public usage by sixty hours, or a 55% increase.
Estimate: $765,000, 80% of which could be funded by DRI.
American Legion Post 944 proposed renovations for their buildings to include new roofing, siding, doors, stairs, paint, solar panels, and landscaping, along with renovations to the event hall, bathroom upgrades, electrical, plumbing, and HVAC. The American Legion would also contribute two electric vehicle charging stations.
Estimate: $411,000 100% of which could be funded by DRI.
Finally, 125 Meadow Road, LLC, and RHS Realty Group proposed a redevelopment for the old Petro Site. They are proposing mixed-use developments with condors and retail, with construction to begin in 2027-2030, pursuant to the current lease term. Design and planning would begin in the interim period. Environmental cleanup is not expected due to previous cleanup efforts and surface reassessments. If developed, the site would include 46,700 square feet of new space, with thirty-two residential units of workforce housing, 14,000 square feet of retail/office space, and 120 parking spaces.
Estimate: $35 million, 7% of which could be funded by DRI.
Ineligible Submissions
Five submissions have been deemed ineligible for the DRI funding and may be recommended by the Local Planning Committee for other funding pipelines.
Open calls for projects include: Kings Park Memorial upgrades, 146 Church Street Renovations, Kings Park Green House Project, Main Street power line burials, and parking, fire statins, and other street improvements.
