Building a Sustainable Future at 100

How this Long Island village balances small-town character with smart growth initiatives

Just beyond the New York City borough of Queens lies Valley Stream, a vibrant community celebrating its 100th anniversary this year. As the third largest incorporated village in New York State with approximately 42,000 residents, Valley Stream balances small-town charm with strategic connectivity advantages.

“We’re not a town or a city or a borough—we’re a village, which is unique to New York state and Long Island,” explains Mayor Edwin Fare, a third-generation Valley Streamer who has served as mayor for 14 years. “For years I’ve been saying we’re a great big-small town. We like people to realize as soon as they leave Queens that they’ve entered Nassau County, the incorporated village of Valley Stream.”

The village’s location provides residents with exceptional transportation options. Valley Stream hosts one of the larger stations on the Long Island Railroad, offering a 30-minute commute to Manhattan. The community also benefits from proximity to major air travel hubs.

“We have a direct line to Kennedy Airport via the Air Train. From Valley Stream, you can take the train to Jamaica Station that connects you to John F. Kennedy Airport, one of the largest airports in the world,” says Barbara DeGrace, Assistant to the Mayor. “We really are a very quick commute into the city and, as we like to say, to the world.”

This strategic positioning between urban and suburban environments has shaped Valley Stream’s development approach. With 12,000 single-family homes and numerous parks, the village maintains its residential character while embracing smart growth initiatives that support its thriving business district and diverse community needs.

Green Spaces and Recreation

Valley Stream’s extensive green spaces serve as the cornerstone of its community identity, with over 100 acres of parkland creating an unexpected suburban oasis just minutes from New York City. This substantial green infrastructure exceeds the national median of 15 acres per 1,000 residents recommended by urban planning experts.

“We like to differentiate ourselves from the New York City Borough of Queens right away by highlighting our hundred acres of parkland, which surprises most visitors,” says Mayor Fare. “We have very large parks, pools, and true to our village name, Valley Stream has many streams, ponds, and a beautiful lake.”

The village’s environmental stewardship extends beyond passive conservation. As a designated Tree City USA community, Valley Stream maintains rigorous standards for urban forestry management, planting more trees annually than are removed. This approach aligns with research showing urban tree canopies can reduce temperatures by 2-9°F and increase property values by up to 15%.

“We have a horticulturalist on staff and a partnership with Cornell Cooperative, which sends us tree specialists to consult with,” says Mayor Fare. “Our full-time staff not only puts up beautiful flowers throughout spring and summer but ensures our trees are maintained and healthy while not interfering with sidewalks, streets, sewers, plumbing, or electrical lines.”

The village’s recreation programs attract participants from throughout the region, creating community connections while supporting local businesses. DeGrace explains the scope of these offerings: “Our summer concert series attracts thousands of people. On any given Wednesday night, you’ll likely see about a thousand people on the Village Green enjoying a concert. We’ve recently expanded our summer camp from a half-day to a full-day program for local families.”

This comprehensive approach to recreation supports residents across all demographics. “We have something for everyone,” notes Mayor Fare. “From Taekwondo and chess classes for youth to senior citizens’ programs with bingo, trips, and grocery shopping assistance. Whatever your age group, there are ways to get involved.”

Revitalizing Housing Without Sacrificing Character

Valley Stream’s approach to housing development exemplifies transit-oriented development principles gaining favor across American suburbs, focusing on mixed-use projects near transportation hubs that enhance community vitality without compromising neighborhood character.

“We’ve tried very hard to create a circle of life, enabling people who have lived here and raised their families to stay if they want,” says Mayor Fare. “Over the past decade, we’ve developed about 10 different transit-oriented projects with senior housing in the works. We’re approaching about 500 housing units for seniors, working class, luxury, and affordable housing in the village from the transit-oriented developments.”

This balanced growth strategy addresses the housing supply constraints facing many New York suburbs while preserving Valley Stream’s residential foundation. According to urban planning standards, mixed-use developments near transit can reduce personal vehicle trips by 20-40% while increasing local business revenue through increased foot traffic.

“We’re not knocking down single-family homes or parkland,” Fare emphasizes. “We’re taking blighted or underutilized places and improving them. Sun Valley is one of my favorites; a formerly blighted set of vacant, rundown stores transformed into 72 beautiful apartments. It hasn’t changed the feel of the village, and new residents are taking advantage of our recreation programs, parks, pool system, and events.”

Fare points to another successful project in the southern section of the community. “Brooke Pointe, with 39 units, was a blighted two-block area of empty stores becoming an eyesore. It was transformed into a very attractive development that aligns with the character of the Gibson neighborhood, which is architecturally unique and beautiful.”

Dominick Minerva, past president and current director of the Valley Stream Chamber of Commerce, notes that the village government’s foresight has proven valuable. “They were at the

forefront of recognizing that for the community and downtown to prosper, this type of housing had to be part of the future before this trend became popular. The transit-oriented zoning ordinance was already in place well before the pandemic, allowing applications that benefit the community and provide housing that supports downtown businesses to proceed.”

Adapting Downtown to Modern Business Needs

Valley Stream’s downtown revitalization strategy centers on Rockaway Avenue, the commercial corridor between Merrick Road and Sunrise Highway, where targeted improvements aim to create a vibrant, walkable district. This approach aligns with research showing that pedestrian-friendly downtowns with cohesive aesthetics typically generate more retail sales than conventional commercial strips.

“We did basic improvements in the beginning like uniform sidewalks and uniform lampposts,” says Mayor Fare. “We actually have flowers on every lamppost, and our business district is beautiful and walkable. These elements are very important as we see the ebbs and flows in which businesses stay.”

The village has implemented specific programs to enhance the district’s visual cohesion while supporting local entrepreneurs. Minerva explains their signage initiative: “In conjunction with the Chamber and Nassau County, the village offers incentives to businesses to upgrade their signage. Through Community Development Block Grant money, businesses pay just 10% of costs if they choose one of three optional styles, bringing overall conformity while avoiding a cookie-cutter appearance.”

The shifting retail landscape has prompted Valley Stream to adapt its regulatory approach. Minerva notes the village’s proactive stance: “They relaxed the zoning on changes of use to small restaurants, recognizing that traditional retail faces challenges. I’ve noticed more restaurants opening and expanding in our downtown district, something we struggled with many years ago.”

This restaurant growth represents a strategic pivot toward experience-based businesses that thrive despite e-commerce competition. The diversity of these establishments reflects the community’s multicultural character, with Minerva noting that a recent Chamber tasting event attracted about 20 eateries representing cuisines from around the world.

The U.S. Conference of Mayors recognized these efforts with a small business award, bringing valuable attention to Valley Stream’s business-friendly environment. “The recognition puts out the fact that Valley Stream is open for business,” Fare says. “It helps shine a light on why we’re a good place to do business, live, work, play, and raise a family.”

Infrastructure and Quality of Life

Valley Stream’s infrastructure planning balances immediate service delivery with long-term resilience, addressing the typical municipal challenge of maintaining aging systems with limited resources. For suburban communities nationwide, infrastructure maintenance costs often outpace property tax growth by 3-5% annually, creating fiscal pressure for village governments.

“Any municipality nationwide deals with these infrastructure issues, and you must be proactive,” says Mayor Fare. “Valley Stream has 90 miles of roadway. When we properly repave a road, including curb to curb, aprons, sidewalks, it costs $1 million a mile. With our $40 million budget, we can’t overhaul every road at once, but we ensure we do five to seven miles every year to stay ahead of the curve.”

The village prioritizes responsive maintenance programs that address small issues before they become major problems. “We have apps on our phones connected directly to the village where you report a pothole, and it’s filled that same day”, explains Mayor Fare.

Education represents another crucial infrastructure component in Valley Stream’s development vision. The village is exploring partnerships with higher education institutions to establish satellite campuses, reflecting nationwide trends toward distributed learning models.

“I think the days of exclusively driving to universities and dorming are changing with the internet, distance learning, and Zoom classes,” says Mayor Fare. “But satellite classes are becoming more popular. If you have a satellite college or university, students need to get here, park, eat, and navigate the area. That creates opportunities for local businesses.”

The village also maintains a robust LED lighting program as part of its sustainability initiatives, reducing energy costs while improving public spaces. This technological upgrade parallels Valley Stream’s educational excellence.

“I just retired as a teacher here in Valley Stream after 40 years,” notes Mayor Fare. “Our school system ranks among the best, drawing people here alongside our recreation programs, parks, village services, and sense of community. When both parents work, it’s reassuring to know your children have enriching activities after school.”

Community Partnerships as Keys to Success

Valley Stream’s development approach leverages cross-sector partnerships to maximize impact with limited resources in a strategy that reflects best practices in municipal governance. Research from the National League of Cities indicates that formalized public-private partnerships can increase project delivery efficiency significantly while distributing risk and expanding available capital.

“The Chamber serves as an intermediary, bringing together businesspeople, community groups, organizations, and the village,” says Minerva, who has served on the Chamber’s board for approximately 20 years. “We have an annual dinner where everyone networks and socializes. We’ve worked closely with the Village over the years on many events, sometimes sharing village facilities, sometimes through sponsorship, and sometimes planning and organizing events together.”

These collaborations encompass economic development and cultural and civic initiatives that strengthen community bonds. DeGrace highlights their veteran recognition program: “Last year we started the Veterans Banner program, where people can submit a photo of a loved one who

served in any branch of the military. Their image appears on beautiful banners displayed all over Valley Stream from Memorial Day through Veterans Day.”

Such programs honor community members while also drawing visitors. “Very few of my relatives have stayed here, but they heard about the veterans’ banners,” explains Mayor Fare. “They wanted to honor their loved ones, buy the banners, and most importantly, come back to see them. That attracts people to our village.”

The village’s collaborative approach also includes working with specialized organizations that enhance municipal operations. “We also work closely with the Lions Club, one of the major charitable groups, maintain a vibrant veterans’ presence, as well as work with many other charitable and community groups in the Village.”

Looking ahead, Valley Stream continues to seek innovative partnerships, including potential satellite college campuses. “We strive to use local businesses for our events and annual dinners,” adds Minerva. “We usually maintain around a hundred businesses annually as Chamber members, but we advocate for all businesses in the community.”

AT A GLANCE

Who: Village of Valley Stream

What: Third largest incorporated village in New York State celebrating its centennial

Where: Nassau County, NY

Website: www.vsvny.org