Bay Shore, New York

Bay Shore is a hamlet (and census-designated place), located in the town of Islip, County of Suffolk, New York. As of the 2000 census, the hamlet had a total population of 23,852.

Recent history

Formerly a major shopping area, Bay Shore suffered from the building of the South Shore Mall in North Bay Shore, and from the fact that, as an unincorporated area with no local government, it was unable to control social service decisions made at the county level, or effectively plan for revitalization. Its large shopping area became a burden because the many storefronts could not be filled, leading to a cycle of commercial decline.

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Facilities and restaurants on the waterfront Great South Bay fared better, partly because of its being an embarkation point for ferries to communities on Fire Island, which cannot be reached by private automobiles.

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Several attempts were made at urban renewal over the decades, but none stuck until recently. A planned aquarium appears to have fallen through, but other efforts seem to be having a significant positive effect. A former movie theater was rebuilt and expanded into an attractive YMCA, and redevelopment efforts with new sidewalks, old fashioned streetlights, plantings, public spaces and new businesses appealing to an upscale clientele are gradually spreading from west to east, centering on Main Street.

Related Topics:
Urban renewal - Aquarium - YMCA

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