Historic Stony Brook envisions big updates

The Stony Brook Grist Mill and pond on Harbor Road. Credit: Daniel Goodrich
THE SCOOP
Stony Brook, best known for its university and hospital, also offers a unique blend of historic and modern amenities, says Valerie Cartright, a Town of Brookhaven council member.
“When you look at the architecture, the historic homes, the buildings . . . it paints a rich history for all of those living in Stony Brook,” Cartright says.
A revisioning plan for the Route 25A corridor north of Stony Brook University was recently developed by a citizen’s advisory committee and the Town of Brookhaven to determine future development for the area while preserving the historic nature of the community, says Jonathan Kornreich, president of the Three Village Civic Association.
Kornreich says the yearlong process included discussions on potential development around the train station, a shuttle from Port Jefferson to Stony Brook to increase the viability of a commercial corridor, and a sewer line that would connect to the university’s waste treatment plant that would enable the addition of restaurants and mixed-use storefronts and apartments.
“When you think about a university town, you think about bookstores and coffee shops, but I feel like we haven’t benefited from it because the university is largely insular,” Kornreich says. “By creating ways for there to be a better co-mingling between the university community and the residential community, it could provide commercial benefits and quality of life benefits.”
Cartright says that the plan showed that residents are interested in keeping green space, improving traffic, reducing congestion and supporting local shops. A formal land-use plan is expected soon, she adds.
Stony Brook Square, a strip mall for retail shops, is currently being constructed on 25A, Cartright says.
In addition to parks and museums, attractions in the area include the Stony Brook Village Center, which boasts shops and a post office topped with a mechanical eagle that flaps its wings on the hour; the Hercules Pavilion, the figurehead and anchor from the USS Ohio where legend says a kiss on the brow of Hercules promises marriage within a year; the Stony Brook Grist Mill, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places; and the 80-acre Avalon Park and Preserve, which features trails and a duck pond. Stony Brook University, and its Staller Center for the Arts, provide residents with local educational and cultural offerings, Kornreich says.
With Stony Brook hugging the shoreline, the area offers a variety of beaches and waterfront homes, says Michael O’Dwyer of Daniel Gale Sotheby’s International Realty. The hamlet, he adds, includes a historic district featuring antique homes.
The most common housing styles are Colonials and ranches, along with 55-and-over communities, says Andrea Kozlowsky, branch manager of Coach Realtors’ Stony Brook office. Prices, she adds, start around $350,000 and climb into the millions, “It’s a very picturesque area,” Kozlowsky says. “And it’s a great location with proximity to the city and to the ferry to go to Connecticut or New England.”
CONDOS AND TOWNHOUSES
There are two condos on the market ranging in price from $224,900 to $359,000.
SALES PRICE
Between Sept. 1, 2017 and Sept. 19, 2018, there were 162 home sales with a median sale price of $452,500, according to the Multiple Listing Service of Long Island. The low price for that period was $265,000 and the high was $990,000. During that time period a year earlier, there were 177 home sales with a median sale price of $450,000. The price range was $240,000 to $950,000.
SCHOOLS
Most students attend Ward Melville High School.
OTHER STATS
Town: Brookhaven
Area: 5.7 square miles
ZIP code: 11790
Population: 13,740
Median age: 43.0
Median household income: $122,800
Median home value: $455,000*
LIRR to NYC: 66 to 103 minutes at peak
Monthly ticket: $391
School district: Three Village
SOURCES: 2010 Census; mlslI.com; LIRR;
*Based on sales in the past six months, according to MLSLI
RECENTLY SOLD
$405,000
Stratton Ln
Style: Ranch
Bedrooms: 3
Bathrooms: 2
Built: 1965
Lot size: .40 acres
Taxes: $11,109
Reduced: $14,000
Days on the market: 96
$549,500
New York Ave
Style: Colonial
Bedrooms: 3
Bathrooms: 2 full, 1 half
Built: 1992
Lot size: 150x85
Taxes: $15,732
Reduced: $10,490
Days on the market: 73
$665,000
Hawkins Rd
Style: Colonial
Bedrooms: 3
Bathrooms: 2 full, 1 half
Built: 1952
Lot size: .48 acres
Taxes: $17,219
Reduced: $24,000
Days on the market: 105
NOW ON THE MARKET
$418,000

This ranch, for $418,000, includes three bedrooms and two bathrooms. Credit: Realty Connect USA
This ranch, with three bedrooms and two bathrooms, includes a living room, updated kitchen with white cabinetry, dining room with sliders and an en suite master bedroom. Taxes on the .37-acre property are $11,085. Kenneth Kroncke, Realty Connect USA, 631-601-4317
$519,000

This four-bedroom Colonial, featuring two full bathrooms and two half baths, is listed for $519,000. Credit: Realty Connect USA
This four-bedroom Colonial, featuring two full bathrooms and two half-baths, has formal living and dining rooms, an eat-in kitchen, den and master suite with a bath. The .44-acre property, with taxes of $13,765, includes a paver patio and pool. Helen Sapienza, Realty Connect USA, 631-987-5213
$619,000

This ranch, for $418,000, includes three bedrooms and two bathrooms. Credit: Realty Connect USA
This four-bedroom, 3-1/2 bathroom Colonial features a living room and adjacent den, kitchen with a center island, and master suite with attached office, full bath, and three walk-in closets. The .58-acre property, with taxes of $18,267, includes an attached two-car garage and an 800-square foot detached barn. Alexander Goldenberg, Coach Realtors, 631-241-5446
On Multiple Listings
Number of houses 61
Price range $330,000 - $1.425 million
Tax range $4,675 - $35,566