The Hicksville Hamlet Plan must be held to the highest standard.

To plant trees and shrubs, lay pavers and paint crosswalks is not a long-term approach to revitalization. If the Hicksville Hamlet Plan is to stand the test of time, it must be looked at in its entirety, not a "band-aid" approach. Buildings must be razed or renovated; facades must be updated to reflect a theme for the hamlet. A motif must be adopted. It could be an historical Hicksville building, hotel or town hall; Victorian or Tudor - whatever is chosen by the residents.

If we go forward with this plan without spending the time and money to do it right it will be wasted and only continue the "hodgepodge" of architecture that currently exists. This is not the time for compromise.

The proposed community center should be designed to allow for several activities at one time, including civic and organization meetings, with an opportunity for other gatherings. It should be available to headquarter programs and functions (blood drives, fundraisers, etc.) without interfering with scheduled meetings. Administration, maintenance and security need to be identified. The exterior must also reflect the "downtown" theme.

The [Town of Oyster Bay's] Vision Statement appears to be a model that can be applied to just about any community that has been neglected for years, but it is vague and inconclusive. As stated above, Hicksville has special needs and should be treated as such. There must be a commitment for funding to avoid an incomplete project. The plan mentions maintenance, zoning, enforcement and attracting new businesses. I agree these are vital issues, but they must be clear and precise.

Enforcement must be streamlined. The plan must be cohesive with each element dependent on the others. We do not want to finally have a "downtown" with empty stores. Independent, competent leadership should manage the plan and keep it focused so it may be completed in a timely manner within the budget. If this is not done, the project will become a "free for all" for contractors, engineers and attorneys alike to exploit at our expense.

The potential to finally do something good for Hicksville is here. Please don't waste our time and money or compromise our hope.

Greg Yatzyshyn