Thursday, May 20, 2010

Main Street and DoTank:Brooklyn Join Forces to Transform Audrey Avenue Extension, June 12-13, 2010

Audrey Avenue Extension just north of the bandstand, Post Office, and Town Hall that we will be focusing on

The Oyster Bay Main Street Association is pleased to announce that downtown Oyster Bay has been selected as the site for a downtown improvement project. DoTank:Brooklyn is a well-regarded national consortium of planners, designers, and architects whose members come from the Project for Public Spaces, Street Plans Collaborative, and other NYC-based planning, design, and architecture firms. They will be providing their services for free over a two-day period to help transform a portion of Audrey Avenue Extension in downtown Oyster Bay.

This group will work with local leaders and individuals to lead a short-term planning exercise on June 12-13, 2010. Supervisor John Venditto has been very accommodating of the initiative providing full support from the Town of Oyster Bay for these efforts. Improvements made during these 48 hours will help to build support for plans and actions over the next 48 months, that will ultimately help to bring sustainable design and lasting improvements for the next 48 years.

Main Street President Ellen Roché speaking of the event said, “This highly visible high-impact event will provide the Oyster Bay community an opportunity to actively get involved in revitalization efforts. We hope this event will serve as a catalyst attracting interest and attention that will in turn help to attract resources for future improvements.”

Some activities and events being planned are the creation of a “pop-up park” on Railroad Avenue, demonstrating the potential of a future Railroad Plaza project. A farmer’s market will be created in Municipal Lot #0-8 on Audrey Avenue just north of Town Hall West. Special workshops, classes, demonstrations, and events will be held for people of all ages. These activities will be especially focused on how, by working together, we can improve downtown Oyster Bay and other places like it.

The process will be videotaped and the results submitted to the Build a Better Burb competition held by the Long Island Index. Build a Better Burb is an ideas competition to retrofit Long Island downtown areas.

Over the past decade the Oyster Bay Main Street Association has attracted over $5 million of public and private investment, resulting in over 40 façade and sign improvements, public space improvements, and better marketing of area historic sites, businesses, and attractions.

Oyster Bay Main Street Association (OBMSA) is dedicated to enhancing and promoting an attractive and thriving downtown, while maintaining its historic integrity. We are a 501 (c) 3 Non-Profit using the national Main Street™ Approach to downtown revitalization. For any questions or to get involved in the 48x48x48 event, please visit http://www.oysterbaymainstreet.org/ or call (516) 922-6982.

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