Business View Civil and Municipal | June 2022

87 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 3, ISSUE 6 Patchogue Village has become a destination for both tourism and Long Islanders looking for an exciting place to live. The bustling downtown community is home to fine dining, quality retail stores, exciting nightlife and entertainment while serving as a model for redevelopment done right. All of this is due to the vision and leadership of Mayor Paul Pontieri – a true steward of smart economic development on Long Island. As a lifelong resident of Patchogue, Mayor Pontieri saw his community change in many different ways before he took office in 2004. At that time, Patchogue’s downtown area was nothing like it is today. Large chain retail stores dominated storefronts on main street and diminished the community’s walkability. After taking office, Mayor Pontieri began to carry out his vision of a reimagined Patchogue by focusing on redevelopment projects for spaces that were already built on rather than eliminating green space and harming the local ecosystem. The result is a diverse array of desperately-needed living spaces here on Long Island. The Patchogue we all know and love today is a downtown that stands out from the rest. Long Islanders from across both Suffolk and Nassau Counties travel to the area thanks to its many transportation options, from the Long Island Railroad and public bus service to its connections to major highways. Additionally, its proximity to MacArthur Airport makes it a local destination for tourists. On top of Mayor Pontieri’s vision for infrastructure, he also has a deep appreciation for the arts. This is something we at Rechler Equity Partners have in common with him. From Patchogue’s extremely popular “Alive at Five” street fairs to the 1,200-seat Patchogue Theatre, this impressive community has a little bit of everything. Rechler Equity Partners would like to recognize Mayor Paul Pontieri for being featured in Business View Magazine and for his unparalleled commitment to the Patchogue community. Mayor Pontieri’s vision has served as a blueprint for other downtowns across the region to embrace smart growth, provide much-needed housing options and make Long Island a better place to live. ...... For more information, please visit our website www.rechlerequity.com