After the the loss of the Amazon deal?….
Governor Cuomo has got just about every local and state politician involved in the Belmont Park Development on board….
Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced the transformational $1.26 billion Belmont Park Redevelopment Project will benefit from a full-time Long Island Rail Road train station, the first full-time LIRR station in nearly 50 years, helping mitigate traffic concerns and providing a new amenity to the Elmont community. In addition, Governor Cuomo released an analysis of the project’s economic impact, which found the new arena, hotel and retail village will generate nearly $50 million in new public revenue per year and produce $725 million in annual economic output….
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Representative Gregory Meeks said, “The Belmont Redevelopment Project will turn unused state land into an economic engine for Long Island and Queens – creating jobs both in the construction of a new LIRR station, and the hotel and retail village that can service Belmont’s visitors….
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Senator Anna M. Kaplan said, “The addition of a full-time train station to serve Belmont Park and the surrounding community is critical to the success of the Belmont redevelopment project, and it’s a huge win for my constituents who will finally have a stop on the LIRR Main Line. I’m grateful for the dogged leadership of our Governor Cuomo…
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Senator Todd Kaminsky said, “This brand new train station is an indispensable part of the proposed complex at Belmont because it provides a green alternative to overcrowding area roads and offers Elmont residents access to their own, long-sought-after station. This investment in key infrastructure is commensurate in scale with the tremendous economic potential that this project can unlock for Long Island. Thank you Governor Cuomo…
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Nassau County Executive Laura Curran said, “Along with the rest of Islanders nation, I want our Islanders to have a permanent, state-of-the-art home on Long Island. And as Nassau County Executive, I have made it a priority to stop us from becoming the ‘Land of No’. I am confident that this project will deliver real, long-term benefits for Long Islanders. Let’s say ‘yes’ to jobs, ‘yes’ to economic opportunity, and ‘yes’ to creating a Long Island that will thrive in the future.”…
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Hempstead Town Supervisor Laura Gillen. “The location of the station is paramount, as access for our communities is essential to providing a rail option closer to home for so many Hempstead residents while alleviating traffic and increasing economic opportunities for all.”..
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Sandra Smith, Elmont Community Leader and Co-Author of the Elmont Vision Plan, said, “This project will deliver a boost to our economy and the full-time train station our community deserves. Thank you Governor Cuomo for delivering the responsible economic development Elmont has long needed and a new public transit option — two pillars of the Elmont Vision Plan that we have long advocated for….
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Thomas J. Grech, President and CEO of the Queens Chamber of Commerce, said, “The Queens Chamber of Commerce fully supports this Belmont Redevelopment Project, especially as it relates to and benefits the many businesses in Queens County….
Note….
A press release put out by the governor’s office claimed it will cost the arena developers – a partnership that includes the owners of both the Islanders and New York Mets — $97 million of the estimated $105 million price tag [for the new Elmont/Belmont LIRR Station].
However, state officials later clarified that the developers are only paying $30 million up front with the remaining $67 million to be covered by a no-interest, multidecade state loan. The state will pick up the remaining $8 million….
Update….
The New York racing Assoc. now has plans for a makeover of the Race Track sit to coincide with the Development project and the new LIRR Train station…
The New York Racing Authority is currently working on a plan for an extensive makeover of Belmont, which could include the addition of night racing, more open spaces for group events, new food and beverage options and a major overhaul of the grandstand, which was built in the 1960s and is the largest of any horse racing facility in the country. It’s also possible that NYRA could move its winter racing from Aqueduct to Belmont, which would eliminate horse racing from the Queens track….
top image..6sqft.com
bottom image…nypost.com
Update…
The Empire State Development Agency has sat down and briefed local stakeholders about the progress and changes in the Belmont Park Development plan as of this time…The board must give its final approval to the project….
Ground breaking could be anytime next month….