Huntington Station apartment plan moves a step forward

A plan to construct two buildings with apartments and commercial space in Huntington Station, steps from a Long Island Rail Road stop, can move forward following Town of Huntington zoning board approval. 

The town Zoning Board of Appeals has granted Station Sports Family Fun Center owner Brad Rosen parking and loading zone variances for the project, which will require the closed fun center on Depot Road to be demolished.

Rosen's proposal calls for two three-story buildings, with a total of 65 apartments, on two sites that are zoned for mixed-use.

Rosen needed a parking variance for seven parking spaces for one of the buildings, Gateway South West. The town code requires 59 parking spaces for his proposal; 52 are provided. He also asked to have only one loading zone instead of two.

Rosen said the project is walking distance to one of Long Island’s busiest LIRR hubs, making it a win for those who promote transit-oriented districts and lowering the number of cars on the road.

“People can work anywhere along the train line, using mass transportation, and they don’t have to worry about taking their car; parking,” Rosen said.

At 16 Depot Rd., Gateway South East would be built on what is currently a miniature golf course. Gateway South West would be built across the street at 25 Depot Rd., where an arcade building currently stands.

Both buildings would have a mix of studio, one-bedroom and two-bedroom apartments. Gateway South East would offer 31 units, and Gateway South West, 34 units.

Commercial/office/retail space would be on the ground floor of both buildings.

Michael McCarthy, Rosen’s zoning attorney, said 20% of the units, or 13, would be designated as affordable based on an income formula stipulated by Suffolk County and the town, Newsday previously reported.

The application will now move to the planning board to get site plan approval, McCarthy said.

Construction of the buildings is expected to start sometime in 2027, Rosen said, as he awaits the completion of the installation of sewers in the area.

According to a release via a link from the Town of Huntington website to the Suffolk County contractor overseeing the sewer installation, the Huntington Station Hub Sewer Infrastructure Project began in July and is expected to last 30 months.