August 05, 2011

Port Jeff Village awaits county funding for info kiosks

"The project is to improve access to stores and encourage downtown shopping," said Nicole Christian, grant writer for the Village of Port Jefferson, since August 2010.

Port Jeff Village awaits county funding for info kiosks

y Brittany WaitWrite The Author

One of the new kiosks would be installed near the Chamber of Commerce on West Broadway. Photo by D. Willinger (click for larger version)
Port Times Record
August 03, 2011 | 03:01 PM

Soon the Village of Port Jefferson will see kiosks scattered about down port if Suffolk County approves a grant application for $7,000.

The village plans to make a matching commitment of $5,000 to provide the upkeep for five free-standing kiosks meant to orient pedestrians to the area, part of the Suffolk County Downtown Revitalization program.

"The project is to improve access to stores and encourage downtown shopping," said Nicole Christian, grant writer for the Village of Port Jefferson, since August 2010. She assisted Barbara Ransome, director of operations for the Port Jefferson Chamber of Commerce, in writing and finalizing the application. It was a joint effort by the Economic Development Council, Chamber of Commerce and Beautification Committee. They expect to hear back from the county in late August.

Village Treasurer Don Pearce said that the village has not budgeted for the commitment in the general fund budget and that the amount is likely to come from unreserved, unappropriated funds. The village will use the funding to maintain the kiosks and surrounding landscape. Each kiosk will cost $1,500 — a total of $7,000 for all five, at no cost to the Town of Brookhaven.

The kiosks, standing on two wooden post legs with a lockable clear vinyl front, will display information to direct residents and visitors to retail shops and restaurants, and display information about local events, festivals and concerts. Once the county approves the grant they will pick the design. Each will have a You Are Here map of the village.

The five kiosks will be stationed throughout the village — in front of the Chamber of Commerce, on land owned by the town; between the Village Center and the Maritime Explorium; at the corner of West Broadway and Main Street; near Arden Place; and at Rocket Ship Park. None of the kiosks would be installed in upper Port. But Mayor Margot Garant is in the process of hiring a planning consultant to formulate a redevelopment plan for the upper Port commercial district.

At the July 18 town hall meeting, councilman Steve Fiore-Rosenfeld moved a resolution authorizing support for the submission of an application from the Greater Port Jefferson Chamber of Commerce to the Suffolk County Downtown Revitalization program for the kiosks. Suffolk County requires a resolution from the Town Board showing local support for the proposal. The Town approved the resolution, so it has entered into a contract with Suffolk County to receive funding to install the kiosks once the grant is approved.

This project was one of the applications reviewed by the Suffolk County Downtown Revitalization Committee that met several times to review applications. The 18 legislative districts get together, with representatives from each district, to make recommendations to county executive representative Carolyn Fahey and county legislature.

Town historian Barbara Russell represented Port Jefferson at the meeting. Russell said, "The committee is very much in support of the funding for the application," but stressed legislature approval is required and that will take time.

"It's going to help pedestrian traffic circulate throughout the village," Mayor Garant said. "I think the kiosks will help orient visitors."

Port Jeff Village awaits county funding for info kiosks

Posted by staff at August 5, 2011 01:11 PM