Across Long Island, local officials, business leaders and citizens are trying to regain what Hoboken still has. Since 1997, Nassau County has supplied modest funding to over half a dozen communities including Port Washington, Cedarhurst, Westbury, and Bellmore for downtown revitalization efforts. Tree plantings, storefront repairs, pedestrian walkways, and bike lanes are all part of the efforts to make downtowns more desirable and accessible. Suffolk County is following the trend by accepting applications for a $1.5 million downtown revitalization grant program.

The programs provide an important opportunity for towns to return to more vibrant, pedestrian-friendly histories. Towns, villages, and cities with central areas within walking or cycling distance of residential neighborhoods also have eye-catching civic spaces, tree-lined streets, and more prosperous commercial districts.

On the other hand, downtown-boosting efforts that pin hopes on increased auto-accessibility may backfire. Riverhead city leaders have proposed building 1,000 new parking spaces around the existing court complex in an attempt to lure new court space needed by Suffolk County. But Riverhead could be more creative in its attempts to revitalize the downtown,especially since the court site is close to the train station and bus stops.