LDC Holds Second Workshop on Douglaston Village Revisioning Project

For members of the Douglaston Village Local Development Corporation, the is all about being proactive.

"We have to decide as a community what we want to see happen in the Douglaston Village and how we'd like the area to be developed," said Victor Dadras, of Dadras Architects, who is helping to develop a master plan for the rejuvenation of the community's shopping strip along 235th Street.

On Tuesday, the Douglaston Village LDC, a private non-profit made up of local residents, community leaders and business owners, hosted a public workshop during which Victor and his brother, Robert Dadras, presented ideas about the potential future look of Douglaston Village.

Among the many suggestions floated at Tuesday's meeting were:

• Improving the building facades
• Developing a more attractive streetscape
• Adding more public spaces within the district
• Developing rigorous development guidelines

"But again, it's important that people realize this isn't my plan or my brother Robert's plan. It's all our plan. We're just simply presenting ideas of what could be and asking the community to tell us what they’d like to see happen," Victor Dadras said.

Tuesday's revitalization workshop also marked the first time that all of the local civic organizations in Douglaston were in the same room together hashing out ideas.

"What we're talking about is making a public space for the community, but the hardest thing is getting people to see the Douglaston downtown area differently,” said Robert Dadras.

A few relatively simple suggestions that the Dadrases say will transform the downtown Douglaston area include:

• Installing clock towers and benches
• Placing better signage and information kiosks near the Long Island Rail Road train station
• Developing public plazas that invite people from the community to come and sit
• Taking ownership of the train station
• Transforming the upper station area into an inviting public square 

The Dadrases also shared their findings from a detailed study of the area they began four months ago that evaluated the assets and liabilities of the Douglaston Village area.

Among the findings is the potential for strategic partnerships with many of the local civic organizations.

"I think we're all lucky to be in the position that we are because there isn't that much development in the area right now and we're dealing with a space that if we all put in our energy can be developed into something beautiful,” said Jamie Sutherland, secretary for the Douglas Manor Association.

The Dadrases said there's still plenty of time left for the public to comment on how the village should be redeveloped and invited as much community involvement as possible.

"We really do want to start a discussion within the community and welcome everyone's feedback," Victor Dadras said. 

The ideas and comments generated during the revitalization workshops will help form the basis for a strategic action plan, which will be the next step in the Douglaston Village revitalization process.

"We're also accepting volunteers," said Dorothy Matinale, president of the Douglaston Village Chamber of Commerce.

For more information on the Douglaston Village Revitalization Project visit Douglaston-Little Neck Historical Society website.