The Village of Sleepy Hollow has taken another step forward in its efforts to revitalize the downtown business district, announcing the purchase of a long-vacant parcel at 64-68 Beekman Avenue. Since a fire destroyed historic buildings at the site nearly 20 years ago, the lot has remained vacant, awaiting redevelopment. The Village simultaneously announced that it had been awarded a $211,500 “Restore NY” Grant by New York State, designed to help fund improvements to the site.
In February 2024, the Village of Sleepy Hollow Board of Trustees directed the Sleepy Hollow Local Development Corporation (SHLDC) to proceed with acquiring the vacant lot on Beekman Avenue in order to return it to active use. The property acquisition closed in May of 2025.
On May 22, 2025, Governor Kathy Hochul announced that Sleepy Hollow was awarded a “Restore NY” grant for “Site deconstruction, cleanup and improvements for 64/68 Beekman Avenue. This vacant and neglected site is located at the heart of the Village’s main commercial corridor, squarely within its NY Forward boundary. Revitalization of the site will increase access to services and make the Village’s downtown more livable.”
Sleepy Hollow Mayor Martin Rutyna commented, “Sleepy Hollow is seeing tremendous growth in its economic base, anchored by new development at the west end of Beekman Avenue. It’s the right time to spur improvements in the downtown business district, as well, and this particular parcel has languished for too long. We’re grateful both to NY State Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins for her support in advocating for this ‘Restore NY’ grant, and to Governor Hochul.”
The Sleepy Hollow Board of Trustees and the SHLDC are exploring plans for redevelopment, as well as temporary efforts to make improvements to the parcel so that it can be of use to local residents while accelerating investment in the Village’s downtown corridor.
