Committee has 6 months to distribute nearly $10M to Central Islip redevelopment projects

A 17-person committee has begun debating plans to distribute $9.7 million to potential development and rehabilitations projects along Carleton Avenue in Central Islip, according to Newsday. They have six months to distribute the money awarded by Gov. Cuomo as part of the 2018 Downtown Revitalization initiative grant. State officials paid $300,000 to New York City-based consultants HR&A Advisors Inc. to guide the committee. Committee members worry they won’t meat the state-imposed deadline and expect to rely heavily on the consultants. They’re considering projects like renovating a former firehouse, building a mixed-use retail and housing development, renovating a train station and improving streets. [Newsday]