tgse
02-03-2006, 09:29 PM
Big Plans For A Big Space
Levy Eager To Develop One Of L.I.'s Last Large Lots
Michael M. Martino Jr. - mmartino@longislandpress.com 02/02/2006 12:01 am
If Robert Moses were around today, he might crack a smile as Suffolk County Executive Steve Levy describes his plans for a 250-acre parcel of land in Yaphank.
"You have to have a vision," says Levy, "if you want to make a difference."
Levy's vision is to sell the Yaphank County Center—an 800-acre parcel of county-owned land at Yaphank Avenue and Horseblock Road that currently houses a county jail, the Suffolk County Farm and a handful of miscellaneous county buildings—to a developer who will build an integrated full-use area complete with housing, business and entertainment.
"Levyville," jokes Jim Morgo, commissioner of Suffolk County Economic Development and Workforce Housing. He believes developing the central Suffolk parcel may be one of the most ambitious projects ever promoted by the county. Not only is the site a size that would make the project significant, but county officials hope it will set a precedent for similar plans.
Even so, Morgo concedes it is a long process. It's a sentiment shared by Eric Alexander, executive director of Vision Long Island, a smart-growth advocacy group: "People do need to realize, this is a marathon, not a sprint."
Planning for the sale of the Yaphank County Center began in March 2004, when the Workforce Housing Commission asked every municipality to name sites that would be appropriate for workforce housing. The Yaphank site quickly rose to the top of the list. Its location, with easy access to an LIRR station, the Long Island Expressway and Sunrise Highway, provides commuters with ideal travel routes. With several county facilities on the property, it also has an existing infrastructure, including a sewer system.
Morgo says the project is being designed to appeal to area businesses, citing Brookhaven National Laboratory in nearby Upton as one that has a deep interest in the planned community. Residential facilities could include as many as 1,000 attached homes, a major advantage in recruiting.
"[The lab] competes [for talent] with other labs across the country," says Morgo, "and the two biggest negatives are the cost of electricity and the cost of housing."
The homes planned for Yaphank are what is known as workforce housing, which Morgo says is housing targeted at middle-class buyers in "high-cost areas where the median income is not enough to afford a median-priced home."
Alexander believes the biggest challenge will be getting local residents on board.
"With plans like this, it's very important to be working with the community," he says. "Jerry Wolkoff, who is developing a community on the former site of the Pilgrim State Psychiatric facility, has been building community relationships for 15 years."
A series of well-attended public meetings have taken place, with everyone bringing their own great ideas about what to do with the property. Turning out in large numbers were motor sports enthusiasts, who are hoping that part of the land will be used to build a racetrack. Bohemia-based Top Gun Sports and Entertainment, Inc. is proposing to build not only a racetrack, but an intergrated motor sports facility, with a drag strip, food and family entertainment.
"It's the last remaining parcel of land of such a size that we could do the project we want to do," says Bill Corbett, Top Gun spokesperson.
But no one's gunning the engine; there's a long road ahead. An RFEI (Request for Expressions of Interest) has been sent to developers. Some responses have come from well-known LI builders, and others from companies such as Top Gun.
"This is an exciting part of this process," says Levy. "Let's see what the private sector comes up with."
Morgo is confident that the project will be one to remember: "We believe this will be a legacy project—one that can be emulated."
Suffolk County Executive Steve Levy discusses the development of the Yaphank County Center. This map shows the county-owned land that will hopefully become "Levyville."
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I think we should contact the writer of this article at his email address provided above and speak our piece.
Levy Eager To Develop One Of L.I.'s Last Large Lots
Michael M. Martino Jr. - mmartino@longislandpress.com 02/02/2006 12:01 am
If Robert Moses were around today, he might crack a smile as Suffolk County Executive Steve Levy describes his plans for a 250-acre parcel of land in Yaphank.
"You have to have a vision," says Levy, "if you want to make a difference."
Levy's vision is to sell the Yaphank County Center—an 800-acre parcel of county-owned land at Yaphank Avenue and Horseblock Road that currently houses a county jail, the Suffolk County Farm and a handful of miscellaneous county buildings—to a developer who will build an integrated full-use area complete with housing, business and entertainment.
"Levyville," jokes Jim Morgo, commissioner of Suffolk County Economic Development and Workforce Housing. He believes developing the central Suffolk parcel may be one of the most ambitious projects ever promoted by the county. Not only is the site a size that would make the project significant, but county officials hope it will set a precedent for similar plans.
Even so, Morgo concedes it is a long process. It's a sentiment shared by Eric Alexander, executive director of Vision Long Island, a smart-growth advocacy group: "People do need to realize, this is a marathon, not a sprint."
Planning for the sale of the Yaphank County Center began in March 2004, when the Workforce Housing Commission asked every municipality to name sites that would be appropriate for workforce housing. The Yaphank site quickly rose to the top of the list. Its location, with easy access to an LIRR station, the Long Island Expressway and Sunrise Highway, provides commuters with ideal travel routes. With several county facilities on the property, it also has an existing infrastructure, including a sewer system.
Morgo says the project is being designed to appeal to area businesses, citing Brookhaven National Laboratory in nearby Upton as one that has a deep interest in the planned community. Residential facilities could include as many as 1,000 attached homes, a major advantage in recruiting.
"[The lab] competes [for talent] with other labs across the country," says Morgo, "and the two biggest negatives are the cost of electricity and the cost of housing."
The homes planned for Yaphank are what is known as workforce housing, which Morgo says is housing targeted at middle-class buyers in "high-cost areas where the median income is not enough to afford a median-priced home."
Alexander believes the biggest challenge will be getting local residents on board.
"With plans like this, it's very important to be working with the community," he says. "Jerry Wolkoff, who is developing a community on the former site of the Pilgrim State Psychiatric facility, has been building community relationships for 15 years."
A series of well-attended public meetings have taken place, with everyone bringing their own great ideas about what to do with the property. Turning out in large numbers were motor sports enthusiasts, who are hoping that part of the land will be used to build a racetrack. Bohemia-based Top Gun Sports and Entertainment, Inc. is proposing to build not only a racetrack, but an intergrated motor sports facility, with a drag strip, food and family entertainment.
"It's the last remaining parcel of land of such a size that we could do the project we want to do," says Bill Corbett, Top Gun spokesperson.
But no one's gunning the engine; there's a long road ahead. An RFEI (Request for Expressions of Interest) has been sent to developers. Some responses have come from well-known LI builders, and others from companies such as Top Gun.
"This is an exciting part of this process," says Levy. "Let's see what the private sector comes up with."
Morgo is confident that the project will be one to remember: "We believe this will be a legacy project—one that can be emulated."
Suffolk County Executive Steve Levy discusses the development of the Yaphank County Center. This map shows the county-owned land that will hopefully become "Levyville."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I think we should contact the writer of this article at his email address provided above and speak our piece.