August 21th, 2023 –– Islip Town Supervisor Angie Carpenter and Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone were joined by community leaders and elected officials in breaking ground on a long-awaited project that will connect the Central Islip business district to the Suffolk County Sewer system.
The project is part of the Town of Islip's award winning Central Islip Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI), which was awarded a $10 million grant by New York State to fund revitalization projects in the community in 2018.
Despite its proximity to the Central Islip train station, mixed-use and transit-oriented development opportunities in Downtown Central Islip have been limited by the lack of sewer infrastructure. Providing access to the sewer system is a critically important part of transforming this downtown corridor into a mixed-use district. The $12 million sewer project will connect 64 parcels in Central Islip’s central business district along Carleton Avenue, between Suffolk Avenue and Smith Street. Funding for the project includes State, and Federal grants, and construction is expected to take 18 months.
“This historic project is a result of community-based planning and strong local leadership by our partners in the Town of Islip,” said Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone. “I am pleased that the County is able to play an important role in supporting the efforts of Supervisor Carpenter, the Town Board and community leaders in fulfilling a new vision for Central Islip."
“We are grateful to Suffolk County Executive Bellone for assisting in securing the additional funding needed to bring this project to fruition. This is truly a partnership of every level of government and, most importantly, a partnership with the community. This essential system in downtown Central Islip will eliminate current limitations to the area’s development, and will promote mixed-uses along the corridor while laying the foundation for future investment. After the unanticipated COVID-related delays, it’s wonderful to finally see this project move forward, with no construction cost burden onto the property owners,” said Islip Town Supervisor Angie Carpenter.
"This groundbreaking is a promise kept to the residents of Central Islip after the state secured $10 million for the downtown revitalization project. Central Islip is a vibrant and growing community, and the infrastructure must keep up with the demands of the future and ensure our businesses have what they need to provide the best services to our residents. The connection to the Suffolk County Sewer system will allow our companies and our town, to continue to grow and prosper. I thank County Executive Bellone and Supervisor Carpenter for coming together and working towards building a better Central Islip,” said Assembly Deputy Speaker Phil Ramos.
A $2 million portion of the $10 million DRI grant that the Town was awarded by the New York State Department of State in 2018 will be used to fund the sewer project. Additional grant funds were obtained from the U.S. Department of Commerce and the Suffolk County Department of Economic Development and Planning's Jumpstart program.
The Central Islip DRI Strategic Investment Plan (DRI Plan) identifies a number of projects that would leverage key community assets, including its proximity to the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) Central Islip train station as well as the Carleton Avenue commercial corridor between Suffolk Avenue and Smith Street. The Town’s DRI Plan identifies various improvements including streetscape enhancements, new mixed-use development opportunities, a commercial property improvement fund, and new recreational facilities. The installation of new sewer infrastructure along this segment of Carleton Avenue is a key component for implementing many of the goals and objectives set forth in the DRI Plan.