This week in Huntington newsletter: More housing planned for Melville amid debate over pause

Good Friday morning! I’m back from my summer vacation. Thanks to Joe Ostapiuk for filling in for me in this space while I was away.

There's a new proposal before the town board to build in the Melville Town Center Overlay District, my colleague Ava Shea reported. 

Developer Terwilliger & Bartone is planning an $85 million project called Cornerstone Melville at 115 Baylis Rd. The development would bring 168 rental and for-sale residences and more than 20,000 square feet of office and retail space to the district.

The proposal comes amid concern by some of the pace of development in the overlay district, which was finalized in late 2024. 

In April, Steel 75 Maxess LLC's proposal for 400 housing units in several buildings was approved by the town board.

Huntington is required to pause the acceptance of residential applications in the district after submissions hit 400 units. Whether the town paused for long enough after it OK'd the Steel plan was an issue in the spotlight at last week's town board meeting.

There will be more on the latest proposal in the coming month: The board scheduled a Sept. 15 public hearing on it. 

What do you consider "smart" development? Let us know at huntington@newsday.com.

Elsewhere in town

In an Instagram post, Huntington Thrift owner Michael Esteves said the store will close Sept. 20. It opened in 2023. Esteves promises "deals on deals on deals" next month.

Two Town of Huntington movie theaters are featured in a story about Long Island cinema history. A list of the region’s theatrical firsts can be found here.

Long Island is home to 13 of the Top 50 high schools in the state, including one in our town, according to U.S. News & World Report. See if a school in your district ranks. 

The Mighty Fine Cafe hosted author Bill O’Byrne, a former Long Islander, for a book signing and Q&A about his new historical novel, “Samuel Culper: Setauket Spy.”

Readers speak out 

Last week in this space, my colleague Joe asked what you thought of a plan to build dozens of single-family homes on a 55-acre Elwood property. The site is near the northeast corner of Jericho Turnpike and Manor Road, just west of the Mediavilla Orchards property. The Estates at Elwood would feature 44 single-family homes.

Rona Fried said everyone talks about the need for affordable housing, yet "ridiculously expensive homes" are constantly being proposed, including the Estates at Elwood, where a home would cost $1.5 million.

"For me, we have way more development [than] I would like throughout Huntington ... I’m fine with building truly affordable places to live that don’t tear down forests." 

Jim Gross wrote: "No to the project. There needs to be preservation of the wooded acres. All of them. We do not want to see Suffolk County turned into Nassau County, where there is little undeveloped land."

Things to do

Check out these fun and interesting things to do around town in the coming week, and more at newsday.com/lifestyle.

Who's Bad: The Ultimate Michael Jackson Experience will be at the Paramount Saturday. 

Free outdoor concert at Northport Park: The Seismatics will perform Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. 

Cinema Arts Centre’s All-Night Horror Marathon returns later this month, Saturday, Aug. 29. The theme: female revenge.

Find more things to do in Newsday's calendar of events.