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Economic Development Committee Chair Vallone Applauds Agreement to Build New LIRR Station at Belmont Park
"A Long Island Rail Road station will be built at Belmont Park as part of a proposed $1.3 billion arena and entertainment complex aimed at bringing the New York Islanders back to Nassau County, Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo announced Monday.
New York Arena Partners, the development group seeking to build the project on state land at Belmont, has agreed to pay $97 million of the $105 million to build the station, state officials said. The development group is a partnership of the owners of the Islanders, New York Mets and the arena development company, Oak View Group.
The expanded LIRR service, which has been discussed for years, is considered critical to the success of the proposed 19,000-seat arena, 350,000 square feet of retail space, restaurants and a 250-room hotel. State officials said Monday that the developers had reduced the size of the retail plaza from 435,000 square feet and dropped plans for a movie theater in response to community opposition."
"Finding the nexus between smart economic development and robust community input is the path to long-term success in New York State," said Council Member Paul Vallone. "A new, full-time railroad station at Belmont Park will provide proper relief from existing traffic on the Cross Island Parkway and overcrowding conditions at other LIRR stations in the area. I thank Governor Cuomo, the MTA, Empire State Development and most importantly New York Arena Partners for coming to this agreement, and I look forward to seeing the immense economic potential of the Belmont redevelopment project come to fruition. Next up, an Islanders Stanley Cup!"
Read More at Newsday, Queens Chronicle
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