Holbrook: Downtown revitalization, proximity to highways draw families
Patchogue-Holbrook Road slices through Holbrook diagonally and houses strips of shops and eateries. Credit: Michael A. Rupolo Sr.
THE SCOOP Close to the shore and major highways, Holbrook is next door to Ronkonkoma, which recently added the popular Station Yards residential/commercial development.
Holbrook itself is poised to see its own influx of restaurants and shops.
"We're in the process now of starting downtown revitalization with a sewer connection which will bring a wonderful boost to the downtown area of Holbrook," said Town of Islip Councilman John Lorenzo, adding, "It's a wonderful place to live, for people raising their families there."
The Holbrook Chamber of Commerce runs a carnival each summer at the Holbrook Country Club — the site of a Town of Islip golf course, and a holiday parade, tree and menorah lighting.
"It's a very active community. People feel very strongly about their community and do a lot of great things there," Lorenzo said.
Mamma Lombardi's a longtime staple restaurant in the area. Credit: Michael A. Rupolo Sr.
The land encompassing Holbrook was part of the 51,000-acre Islip Grange estate, obtained in 1697 by William Nicoll, a wealthy New York City politician, who purchased the land from the native Secatogue inhabitants. Settlement began in earnest after 1848, when Alexander McCotter bought 5,000 acres that he sold off in small parcels. The first school was built in 1860 followed by the first church. It later became St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church and is now a town-designated historic structure.
The hamlet lies mostly in the northeast corner of Islip Town, but is also partly in Brookhaven Town. It was divided by the Long Island Rail Road in 1844 when the land was almost completely pine barrens, and later by the Long Island Expressway in the 1960s as the postwar population boomed. In 1930, Holbrook had 320 residents living mostly on farms. Today, the population is over 26,000.
Legend has it that the area was once called Old Brook or Hollow Brook, named for a brook or stream located somewhere in the hamlet.
One of Holbrook's most famous residents was Henry Heine, a tenor who ran minstrel shows around the Island in the early 20th century, became very involved in community affairs and was known as the hamlet's honorary mayor.
Roberts Street Park is one of multiple parks and playgrounds in the Holbrook area. Credit: Michael A. Rupolo Sr.
SALE PRICES Between July 31, 2024, and July 30, 2025, there were 189 home sales with a median sale price of $625,000, according to OneKey MLS. During that period a year earlier, there were 205 home sales with a median sale price of $575,000.
CONDOS AND CO-OPS There are seven condos, priced between $419,000 and $799,000, on the market.
OTHER STATS
Population 26,256
Median age 40.9
Median home value $650,000
Monthly LIRR ticket from Ronkonkoma $378
School district, graduation rate Sachem (93%)
Library Sachem
Transit Suffolk County Transit Route 6, 51
Sources: 2023 American Community Survey; OneKey MLS via InfoSparks by ShowingTime; LIRR; data.nysed.gov; Suffolk County Transit
ON THE MARKET
$849,000
This $849,000 Holbrook home has four bedrooms. Credit: Mo Steve Photo
This mother/daughter Colonial has four bedrooms and four full bathrooms, two living rooms, an open concept dining room and kitchen and a full finished basement. Updates include new windows, roof and central air system. The 4,161-square-foot home sits on a 0.27-acre fenced-in property that includes a shed. Taxes are $13,143. Veronica Terra, Terra Realty Group, 718-381-1029.
$600,000
This $600,000 Holbrook home sits on nearly a quarter-acre. Credit: Prestige 360RE/Mike Calvagna
This four-bed, 2½-bath updated Cape is 2,205 square feet. It has a new kitchen with quartz counters and stainless steel appliances, updated first floor bathroom, full basement with new carpeting, oil burner and oil tank and a second kitchen/bedroom/bathroom for possible multi-generational living. The 0.24-acre fenced-in property includes a driveway, new Trex deck and shed. Taxes are $7,750. A sale is pending. Christine Olsen, Exit Realty Liberty, 631-384-2183.
RECENTLY SOLD
$458,000
Gettysburg Drive
Style Split ranch
Bedrooms 3
Bathrooms 1½ baths
Built 1966
Lot size 0.26 acre
Taxes $9,373
+/- List price -$21,900
Days on market 32
$803,000
Anthony Lane
Style Hi-ranch
Bedrooms 5
Bathrooms 3½
Built 1989
Lot size 0.37 acre
Taxes $13,750
+/- List price +$64,000
Days on market 13
$935,000
Belmont Court
Style Colonial
Bedrooms 5
Bathrooms 2½
Built 1992
Lot size 0.5 acre
Taxes $14,286
+/- List price +$35,000
Days on market 14
ON ONEKEY MLS
Number of listings 28
Price range $149,900 to $899,990
Tax range $5,052 to $16,000
