Grants for Oyster Bay businesses help retain its beauty

The owner of Osteria Leana in Oyster Bay used a $3,000 grant from the Oyster Bay Main Street Association to help lure customers to his restaurant on South Street in Oyster Bay. Wednesday, July 13, 2016 Photo Credit: Howard Schnapp

Originally printed in Newsday

Updated July 14, 2016 6:00 AM
By Ted Phillips  ted.phillips@newsday.com  

When Peter Van Der Mije opened Osteria Leana in the hamlet of Oyster Bay, he was faced with the problem of how to bring people into a restaurant off the beaten track.

The restaurant opened May 23 in the former location of the Oyster Bay Brewing Company, which faces a parking lot behind South Street and Audrey Avenue.
“We’re not in the best area; we’re not on Main Street,” Van Der Mije said.
The red brick storefront with black awnings and gooseneck lighting used a $3,000 grant from the nonprofit Oyster Bay Main Street Association that requires recipients to adhere to aesthetic choices intended to maintain the historic character of the hamlet and promote visual cohesion.

“For our style restaurant the best thing was a simple, elegant design, but also it had to be functional,” Van Der Mije said. “First and foremost we wanted something to be classy, something timeless, but also portrayed a little bit of the sense of Oyster Bay.”
The grant program, which began in 2012, has expanded and with it the fundraising needs have grown, too. This year the sign and improvement program increased its award to up to $3,000 from $2,000. The business must cover at least 25 percent of the cost of the sign and facade improvements.

Meredith Maus, executive director of the association, said its fundraising campaign has increased its goal for next year to $15,000 from $10,000.
To receive a grant, businesses must submit plans to the association to be approved by the group’s design committee. The association awards four or five grants a year on a first-come, first-served basis.

A 12-page design guide calls for things like the restoration of architectural elements and use of natural materials and choices that are in keeping with buildings’ style and history.

“We want a cohesiveness throughout the downtown,” Maus said. “We like the general look and feel to be one of a historic hamlet.”
Ryan Schlotter, co-owner of the Oyster Bay Brewing Company on Audrey Avenue, said the grants make it easier for businesses to invest in better signage. The brewery was allotted a $3,000 grant for its signage and facade at its new location, where it opened in February.

“Signage might be the last place some places will spend money,” Schlotter said. For their new location, the brewery went “for that Nantucket kind of city-by-the-sea kind of look.”
Schlotter said he sees the cumulative impact of the program on the hamlet.

“You can see when you walk up and down the street the signs are a step above what most places do in other towns; it adds to it and makes the whole street look really nice,” Schlotter said.

Oyster Bay Councilman Chris Coschignano said discussions are ongoing within the planning and development department about creating an overlay district that would incorporate some of the aesthetic choices promoted by the association “to enhance what they’re doing now and maybe expand it and give them some help.”

“We like what they’re doing and the town definitely wants to do more,” Coschignano said.

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For more information on the Grant please visit: http://www.oysterbaymainstreet.org/obmsa-facade-and-sign-grant.html

To help us continue this positive momentum in the downtown, please consider contributing to our fundraising campaign: http://www.oysterbaymainstreet.org/fundraising-initiatives.html

OBMSA Receives Preservation Grant

National Trust for Historic Preservation Awards the 

Oyster Bay Main Street Association a Preservation Grant 

To Procure Historic Architectural Services for 49 Audrey Avenue

Media Contacts: 

NTHP Public Affairs, 202.588.6141, PR@SavingPlaces.org

OBMSA, Meredith Maus, 516.922.6982, mamaus@oysterbaymainstreet.org

Oyster Bay, New York (August 20, 2015) - The Oyster Bay Main Street Association was awarded a $4,718.75 grant by the National Trust for Historic Preservation from the Johanna Favrot Fund for Historic Preservation. These grant funds will be used to secure the services of Historic Architect John Collins during the initial planning phases of an intended larger renovation of 49 Audrey Avenue by the owner.

49 Audrey Avenue, April 2015
Photos by Meredith Maus

Project Description

Mr. Collins will produce detailed drawings and plans on 49 Audrey Avenue, which will provide a complete overview of the project and will be vital during every phase of the intended renovation.  Record drawings will be completed to the standards of the Historic American Building Survey and will serve to provide a deeper understanding of existing conditions within the building, highlighting important historic features and fabrics.  Should later investigations reveal greater historical importance related to the building, these drawings will serve as a record of the original building prior to renovation.  Preliminary and final design drawings; construction drawings; and code compliance oversight will also be provided and supported through this grant.

49 Audrey Avenue is a large, high-visibility building on the main thoroughfare of Oyster Bay.  The five apartments on the second and third floors have been vacant and out of compliance for over ten years and the commercial spaces have been vacant since the former tenant, The Chocolate Lady, relocated in 2012.  The renovation of this high profile building will help two-fold by combating blight in the downtown, as well as, increasing the number of residential units available in the downtown - giving a boost to the base available to better support local commerce.  "Beyond that," said Meredith Maus, Executive Director of the Main Street Association, "we hope this renovation will also serve as an example of how the proper renovation of an historic building will help attract and sustain appropriate businesses in our downtown."

Grant Information

"Organizations like the Oyster Bay Main Street Association, help to ensure that communities and towns all across America retain their unique sense of place," said Stephanie Meeks, president of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. "We are honored to provide a grant to the Oyster Bay Main Street Association, which will use the funds to help preserve an important piece of our shared national heritage."

Grants from the National Trust Preservation Funds range from $2,500 to $5,000 and have provided over $15 million since 2003. These matching grants are awarded to nonprofit organizations and public agencies across the country to support wide-ranging activities including consultant services for rehabilitating buildings, technical assistance for tourism that promotes historic resources, and the development of materials for education and outreach campaigns.

For more information on National Trust for Historic Preservation’s Preservation Fund grants, visit: www.PreservationNation.org/funding

About the National Trust for Historic Preservation

The National Trust for Historic Preservation is a privately-funded nonprofit organization that works to save America’s historic places to enrich our future. The National Trust for Historic Preservation is committed to protecting America’s rich cultural legacy and helping build vibrant, sustainable communities that reflect our nation’s diversity. Follow us on Twitter @presnation.

About the Oyster Bay Main Street Association

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.  To learn more or to become a member, please visit: www.oysterbaymainstreet.org.

Project Clean Sweep: Downtown Oyster Bay

Quick Glimpse of Downtown Oyster Bay:

We have all noticed the state of the downtown: the overflowing garbage cans, the loose garbage, and the dirty sidewalks and streets.  Numerous editorials have been written about the state of our downtown, some calling it a "sorry site" and still others comparing parts of it to a third world country.  Letters from concerned citizens have pointed out that "the filth, trash/garbage on the ground [and] under the trash receptacles is prolific"  and that spotted attempts to clean the downtown have not had an impact - as one resident put it, "doing it once is like spit in the ocean."

In response to this, the Oyster Bay Main Street Association is looking to fill a recently created part-time position within the organization through our Clean Sweep Initiative.  We are looking to hire an individual to work twice a week, or as needed, to get the garbage in this downtown under control.  The job description is as follows:

If you, or anybody you know, are looking for a summer job and are interested in learning more please contact Executive Director, Meredith Maus, by phone: 516.922.6982 or by email: mamaus@oysterbaymainstreet.org.

OBMSA Still Accepting Applications

OBMSA is still accepting applications for the third cycle of its privately funded Facade and Sign Grant.  We are currently halfway through the cycle and will be accepting applications on a rolling basis until August 11, 2015.  

The grant is eligible to new and existing businesses in the downtown who are interested in securing a new sign to positively highlight their business in the downtown.  The Main Street Association will work closely with business owners to design appropriate signage and will reimburse owners 75% of their pre-approved sign up to $2,000.  

For more information about eligible participants and for a copy of the application, visit: http://www.oysterbaymainstreet.org/obmsa-facade-and-sign-grant.html.

Since 2013, we have invested over $20,000 into the downtown, assisting 12 new and existing businesses.

Here are some photos from the previous and current grant cycles:

2013

4-8 Audrey Avenue Before

4-8 Audrey Avenue After

80 South Street After

9 East Main Street After

2014

2015

OBMSA's Adopt-A-Spot Program Continues to Roll Out

Before and After photos of Berry Hill "Spot" adopted by the Oyster Bay-East Norwich Chamber of Commerce.
Photographs courtesy of the Oyster Bay Main Street Association

The Oyster Bay Main Street Association is pleased to announce that, through the generous support of Mill-Max Mfg. Corp and the Oyster Bay-East Norwich Chamber of Commerce, two additional locations in the downtown have been improved.  Since August of last year, three participants in the program have adopted and pledged to maintain three high visibility sites, which serve as the gateways to our downtown, including locations on West Shore Road, Cove Road and Berry Hill Road.  For more information about the West Shore Road improvement click here.

These sites, which had largely been ignored over the years, were a high priority for the Main Street Association.  On Cove Road and Berry Hill Road, specifically, the hand-carved “Welcome to Historic Oyster Bay” signs had both disappeared and been replaced with unsightly aluminum signs that did not match the tenor of the downtown.  With their adoption, the Chamber of Commerce and Mill-Max both purchased new welcome signs for their locations as well as new plantings, which will be maintained for two years by the adopters.  The Cove Road location is slated to have a sprinkler system installed with new plantings in the Spring.

Before and After photos of Cove Road "Spot" adopted by Mill-Max Mfg. Corp.  Complete plantings and an installation of a sprinkler system for the location will be completed in the Spring.
Photographs courtesy of the Oyster Bay Main Street Association 

About the Adopt-A-Spot Program

The Main Street Association’s Adopt-A-Spot program was designed to help enhance the overall appearance of the downtown.  The program invites community groups, downtown businesses, or professional landscapers who are interested in beautifying the downtown to adopt a spot for a minimum of two years.

How to get involved

If you are interested in adopting a spot or if you want to recommend a location for adoption, please contact Meredith Maus, Executive Director of the Oyster Bay Main Street Association, at 516.922.6982 or mamaus@oysterbaymainstreet.org for more information.

Before and after of West Shore Road "Spot" adopted by Forest Iron Works of Locust Valley.
For more information about this Adopt-A-Spot click here.
Photographs courtesy of the Oyster Bay Main Street Association

Oyster Bay Main Street Association Moves Forward With Grant Funding

The Oyster Bay Main Street Association has been quietly working on its mission of revitalizing and preserving Oyster Bay’s historic downtown and is pleased to announce that it has completed administering its 2009 New York State Main Street Grant.

As of May 2012 it has successfully disbursed the entire grant amount of $200,000 back into the Hamlet of Oyster Bay. Funds were used for façade improvements on the Brower House and Townsend Annex Building, now home to two new businesses, the Mill Pond and Spotted Owl Consignment shops. Additional funds were disbursed to several other businesses in the downtown including “Coin Galleries of Oyster Bay”, “Sweet Tomato Healthy Eatery”, “Jack Halyards American Grill”, “Gone Dancing Studio of Dance” and “Shangri La Spa”. Finally, funds were used to purchase 6 recycling receptacles which will be strategically placed in the immediate downtown business district.

In late 2011 the OBMSA was awarded an additional $500,000 grant similar in scope to the 2009 grant and is happy to announce the first projects are underway. These include the purchase and installation of 12 additional streetlamps to be located along South Street, and the purchase of a reproduction antique street clock to grace the outside plaza of the Oyster Bay Railroad Museum.

As it had done with the previous New York Main Street Grant, the organization will use additional grant funds to assist business and building owners with historically appropriate signage and façade improvements. It is the hope of the organization that other business owners will utilize Main Street’s grants to improve their buildings and signage to one that is both appealing and cohesive in a historic downtown like Oyster Bay.

For those who are interested in learning more about the Oyster Bay Main Street Association and how to apply for assistance in signage and facade improvements, please call 516-922-6982 or visit http://www.oysterbaymainstreet.org/.

Contact:

Meredith Maus, Project Manager

oysterbaymsa@gmail.com

(516) 922-6982