Funding will help in Town plans to transform building into community center for Huntington Station
Huntington Station -- The conversion of the former New York State Armory on East Fifth Street into the James D. Conte Community Center will move one step closer to reality, thanks to a $1.5 million grant the Town of Huntington will receive from a New York State economic development program.
The grant, which the Town sought as part of Round IV of Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s Regional Economic Development Council initiative, will be applied toward the construction costs for the adaptive reuse of the armory as part of the multi-faceted strategy to revitalize Huntington Station.
The Town’s goal in undertaking the multimillion dollar adaptive re-use of the armory is to create a much-needed large scale, eco-friendly multi-purpose environment in Huntington Station that will be used by youth and adults, including older and newer returning veterans. The center will serve as a collaborative venue for the Town’s not-for-profits and other agencies to interact with Town initiatives, such as the Huntington Business Incubator, Huntington Opportunity Resource Center, among others, to uplift the area and improve the lives and livelihoods of residents.
“This grant will provide a nice boost to the Town’s efforts to transform the armory into the type of multi-purpose location for programs and services community members have told us they would like to see,” said Huntington Supervisor Frank P. Petrone. “I thank Governor Cuomo and the Long Island Regional Economic Development Council for recognizing the significant role the James D. Conte Community Center will play in our continuing Huntington Station revitalization efforts.”
The Town obtained the armory last year from the state, which declared the property surplus after several National Guard units’ operations, including the one in Huntington Station, were consolidated in a facility in Farmingdale. Supervisor Petrone sponsored the Town Board resolution, which was approved unanimously, to name the center after the late Assemb. Conte, whose district includes the armory property and who worked with the Town to secure the armory for community uses.
In its application for the state grant, the Town noted that the project will create private sector construction jobs during rehabilitation and permanent positions to administer recreational, social and workforce training programs that will take place there upon completion.
Currently, a consultant the Town hired earlier this year is formulating a site cleanup and remediation plan to remove asbestos, lead and mold. Following remediation, which is expected to begin next year and cost an estimated $1 million (funded by the Town), work will begin on the design for the center, which is envisioned to be built to state of the art in terms of energy efficiency and include elements that will support further sustainable development.
The Town expects residents will be able to use this facility for activities that would include recreational programs; community programs with a meeting room and stage suited to community nights, gatherings, civic meetings and large group instruction; classrooms for job training and employment seminars; a kitchen and food pantry; a social services area for delivery of services to the community; a veterans canteen and welcoming center; and office space to accommodate municipal and not-for-profit sector program management.