Hicksville housing development awarded tax breaks

The Nassau County Industrial Development Agency has granted tax breaks to a 20-unit housing project near the Long Island Rail Road station in Hicksville, part of a bid to revitalize the area's downtown.

The three-story project, pitched by developer Premiero Cherry, will have 15 two-bedroom and five one-bedroom apartments. Three of those units will be designated for workforce housing.

The Nassau County IDA granted the developers a sales-tax exemption not to exceed $407,045.63 and a mortgage recording tax exemption of up to $84,375 at its Oct. 15 meeting. The IDA also approved a 20-year PILOT, or payment in lieu of taxes agreement, for the property.

The project will be built on two adjacent plots — 33-37 West Cherry Street — that are within walking distance to the Hicksville LIRR station. There is a single-family home on one of the properties.

"This is a blighted site that could be put to a much better use," said Michael Webb, an attorney for the developer. "The hope is that the site brings new tenants to the Hicksville downtown."

Webb said the developer plans to demolish the home before the end of the year and then start construction, which is expected to last 18 months. The project is part of a larger push to attract developers to the area and boost Long Island's housing stock, he said.

"Once you get a few safe, clean, modern housing options, people start to patronize that area and other developers want to play in that sandbox," Webb said. 

William Rockensies, chairman of the Nassau IDA, said in a statement that the proposed housing "is another example of smart development that will fulfill a need in our economy." 

Eric Alexander, executive director of Vision Long Island, said momentum is building toward new construction projects in Hicksville. "There’s a lot happening in Hicksville," Alexander said. "It took a lot of years to get us there, but we’re there."

Late last year, construction crews began demolishing a dilapidated building near the Hicksville LIRR station, marking the start of the first major project toward revitalizing downtown Hicksville. Alpine Residential is developing the project.

In 2017, the state awarded $10 million to Hicksville as part of its Downtown Revitalization Initiative. Hicksville will use the grant to fund infrastructure improvements and open-space projects around the LIRR station.

Brian Nevin, a town spokesman, said the town has used $1 million of the grant for the Alpine Residential project, and $300,000 for consultants. A total of $8.7 million is available for future projects, he said.

The town is looking to hire a company to build pedestrian pathways in the vicinity of the station and make streetscape improvements as well, Nevin said. Work on those projects is expected to start in the spring.

Town officials are looking to add public parking to the area near the train station. The town has seized two plots for parking by eminent domain.

Oyster Bay Supervisor Joseph Saladino said in a statement that the town is "transforming the Hicksville business district into a vibrant downtown that millennials, families and empty-nesters desire — with housing, restaurants and office space near public transportation."

By Joseph Ostapiuk

joseph.ostapiuk@newsday.com@OstapiukJ