Politics & Government

Results of Project: Independence Study to be Unveiled

Town of North Hempstead notebook: Town receives $200,000 grant for demolition of New Cassel School.

The Town of North Hempstead is set to unveil findings from a Hofstra University study about its Project: Independence initiative prior to its regular meeting Tuesday night in Manhasset.

Dr. Marc Silver of the National Center for Suburban Studies at Hofstra University 
will unveil findings from an 18-month study of the aging-in-place program that reportedly shows both awareness and involvement in the program resulted in a positive impact on residents’ lives.

Silver’s study took a random sample of 370 seniors in the Town of North Hempstead to evaluate their awareness of Project Independence and the effectiveness of the program.

The aging-in-place initiative aims to assist and enable town residents over the age of 60 to remain in their own homes and familiar surroundings as they grow older.

Project Independence Health Fair
There will also be a health fair for Project: Independence participants on June 7, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Port Washington Senior Center. The focus of this health fair will be "wellness," which includes information on how to better manage irregular blood pressure, cardiac awareness, poison control and diabetes. 

New Cassel School Grant
On May 8 the town received a $200,000 grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for the demolition of the site at Grand Street School in New Cassel. 

This grant and imminent demolition of the former school, which has been abandoned for almost fifteen years, keeps in line with the Town’s ongoing New Cassel revitalization project. Several years ago, the Town redeveloped the previously under-utilized commercial strip on Prospect Avenue.

This grant is part of $1 million in grants given to New York City and the Town of North Hempstead to help communities clean up and revitalize contaminated sites. The funding was awarded through the EPA’s Brownfields Program, which reinvests in contaminated and polluted properties to protect the environment and reduce blight.

Plans for this upcoming open space are still being discussed, but will be consistent with the Visioning Plan created by the community to include senior housing and recreational space. The area will also provide additional parking for the brand-new 60,000 foot square foot “Yes We Can” Community Center, located across the street.



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