Lake Avenue Smithtown's 8.2 Million Dollar Road Part II

By Stacey Altherr

It was a long time coming, say many residents and business owners. And although the Lake Avenue project in Saint James’ business district may be on budget and on time (actually, much earlier), there are roadblocks that could mean it may not reach its full potential for a while.

Part one of Lake Avenue Smithtown’s 8.2 Million Dollar Road Part I

Project’s Early Completion

Despite the arduous task of digging underneath railroad tracks (and the multi-governmental approvals that it took), the project is 90 percent complete and Lake Avenue is open for business six to seven months ahead of schedule.

Drone shot of Lake Avenue (September)Minor tasks still need to be done, including the installation of the new streetlamps, and some concrete curb and sidewalk work.

The road right now is bumpy, but that will be fixed when the new road settles down and can be re-milled and repaved, which will happen in the Spring, according to town officials.

The Project’s Cost

In all, the entire cost of the project was $8.2 million. About $2 million was already in the highway department budget from 2017 for the anticipated road work. A public hearing in December added $812,000 to replace hydrants and transfer water service to the new main.

Another $3.9 million was secured through the state’s Dormitory Authority (called DASNY) to pay for the sewer line by former Senator John H. Flanagan who left the senate in June to take a job with Northwell Health. That, along with expected economic budget tightening in the state due to Covid-19, means that the money allocated by vote and signature, but not yet received by the Town of Smithtown, could be in jeopardy, although Town Supervisor Edward Wehrheim says he believes the money will be there.

“We’re on a wait-and-see right now,” the town supervisor said. “I believe we will get it. It has already gone through the process. Otherwise, we have to lay it out from our fund balances.”

Much of the cost of the water main will be paid through customers of the Smithtown/St. James Water District, according to its superintendent Chris Nustad. The town estimates that cost to be $54 annually per customer for the water main alone.

The town also is betting that the additional businesses that will flock to the Lake Avenue area will also shore up the tax base, easing the cost of the $4 million capital costs.

Overall, the town expects the additional costs of the capital project to cost $18 per average household assessed at $5,500.

Lake Avenue Smithtown’s 8.2 Million Dollar Road Part III Gyrodyne Problem

Lake Avenue Smithtown's 8.2 Million Dollar Road

By Stacey Altherr

It was a long time coming, say many residents and business owners. And although the Lake Avenue project in Saint James’ business district may be on budget and on time (actually, much earlier), there are roadblocks that could mean it may not reach its full potential for a while.

The Project’s Growth

The project, originally installing a new water main pipe to replace one more than 50 years old, which was decaying, and needed repaving of the road, was originally planned in the 2017 capital budget, for the main business road in Saint James. Over the course of a year, it grew to include not only a beautification project, but the installation of a sewer pipe, which officials say would make sense to lay down while the road was torn up.

“The original water main was a much smaller main for a much smaller population,” said Nicole Garguilo, town spokeswoman. The original project was a repaving and some curb work, but local civic groups called it “lipstick on a pig,” Garguilo said.

The beautification of the street, something the business civic associations have asked about for years, was about $2 million, and included Victorian-style street lamps, stamped concrete  sidewalks, pedestrian crossings, and other features to make it not only charming but more functional.

 

The stamped concrete, which was originally in the proposal as brick, is more stable and a more even walking surface, say town officials.

“This has been a long time coming,” said Kerry Maher, president of the Civic Association of Greater Saint James, and owner of the family business St. James Funeral Home. “Running any business is risky, but we want to do what we can to make them flourish.”

Maher says local civic leaders already see interest in the Lake Avenue area now that sewers might be on their way.

“We had our town board meeting, and we had [business owners] come from Bay Shore to ask about it,” she said. “People are aware of the renovation.”

There are already new stores that have come to Lake Avenue, including a gluten-free bakery, says Garguilo.

Lake Avenue Smithtown’s 8.2 Million Dollar Road Part II

Lake Avenue Smithtown’s 8.2 Million Dollar Road Part III Gyrodyne Problem