Riverhead sets deadline for resident input on $51M state grant

Town officials are giving town residents until Sept. 16 to give final thoughts on two Main Street construction projects competing for a combined $51 million in state grant money designed to revitalize urban areas.

The application is seeking $45 million in funding under the Restore New York Communities Initiative towards demolition and reconstruction of buildings on McDermott Avenue and Main Street into retail space and 118 housing units. The town is also applying for $6 million to renovate the former West Marine building into a food market production facility. 

According to Connie Lassandro, a consultant for Georgica Green Ventures LLC, the Jericho firm leading the projects’ development, the firm has already reached out to an architect. The firm plans to show the town board complete renderings of what the projects are expected to look like later this month, she added. 

“It’s looking very positive on this application,” said Christina Kempner, the town’s director of Community Development. “We’re hoping that this creates a more vibrant downtown, a more walkable downtown and creates more jobs, as well.”

Town officials moved on Wednesday to keep the public comment period open until 4:30 p.m., on Sept. 16. Lassandro said the firm plans to send the application by the end of the month.