Armory Project Receives $1.5 Million State Grant

The former New York State Armory on East Fifth Street is one step closer toward becoming the James D. Conte Community Center, thanks to a $1.5 million from a New York State economic development program, according to the Town of Huntington.

Sought by the town sought as part of Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s Regional Economic Development Council initiative, the grant will be applied toward the construction costs for the adaptive reuse of the armory as part of the multi-faceted strategy to revitalize Huntington Station.

The town’s goal in undertaking the multimillion dollar adaptive re-use of the armory is to create a large scale, eco-friendly multi-purpose environment in Huntington Station for youth and adults, including older and newer returning veterans.

The center will serve as a collaborative venue for agencies to interact with town initiatives, such as the Huntington Business Incubator, Huntington Opportunity Resource Center, among others, to uplift the area and improve the lives and livelihoods of residents, officials said.

“This grant will provide a nice boost to the town’s efforts to transform the armory into the type of multi-purpose location for programs and services community members have told us they would like to see,” said Huntington Supervisor Frank P. Petrone.

The town obtained the armory last year from the state, which declared the property surplus after several National Guard units’ operations, including the one in Huntington Station, were consolidated in a facility in Farmingdale. The town board unanimously approved a resolution to name the center after the late Assemb. Conte, whose district includes the armory property and who worked with the town to secure the armory for community uses.

The conversion is expected to create private sector construction jobs during rehabilitation and permanent positions to administer recreational, social and workforce training programs that will take place there upon completion.

Currently, a consultant for the town is formulating a site cleanup and remediation plan to remove asbestos, lead and mold. Following remediation, which is expected to begin next year and cost an estimated $1 million, funded by the town, work will begin on the design for the center, which is envisioned to be built to state of the art in terms of energy efficiency and include elements that will support further sustainable development.

It is expected that residents will use the center for recreational programs; community programs with a meeting room and stage suited to community nights, gatherings, civic meetings and large group instruction; classrooms for job training and employment seminars; a kitchen and food pantry; a social services area for delivery of services to the community; a veterans canteen and welcoming center; and office space to accommodate municipal and not-for-profit sector program management.