Lindenhurst: Downtown renaissance, events aimed at drawing, keeping millennial buyers
The Lindenhurst Long Island Railroad station. Credit: Rick Kopstein
THE SCOOP Lindenhurst is having a renaissance, with programs and initiatives geared toward modernizing the community's aesthetics and keeping young people interested in buying, said Mayor Mike Lavorata.
"We want to keep millennials like my daughter and [her] husband here," he said. "We don't want them to move to Texas."
Once a place of "pizza shops and nail salons," Lindenhurst now has a more diversified downtown, with live music pubs, breweries and coffee shops, he said. "We had to reinvent ourselves."
But "we didn't have to reinvent the wheel," Lavorata said, as the village has learned from others, like Patchogue Village, that making a more vibrant downtown will bring in more buyers.
South Wellwood Avenue, pictured, and North Wellwood Avenue house Lindenhurst's main downtown. Credit: Rick Kopstein
Several family-friendly events have been added to the community calendar over the past five years, said Lavorata, including an annual St. Patrick's Day parade, inaugurated in 2022. The same year, the village began holding a New Year's Eve ball drop, with live bands, giveaways and special deals from local restaurants.
Lindenhurst has natural assets as well. The Great South Bay's coastline has a large marina for boaters, and also serves as an escape for landlubbers.
"You are only ever a few miles away from water," Lavorata said.
Venetian Shores Park, quiet in the wintertime, comes alive in summer with beachgoers outside Katch restaurant. Credit: Rick Kopstein; Steve Pfost
Fellers Pond, a man-made pond, is idyllic for skaters and ice hockey. Fireman's Memorial Park, dedicated to those lost in the 9/11 terrorist attacks, has a playground and sport fields, and is where many community events are held.
Residents voted in 1891 to call the community Lindenhurst for the linden trees that lined Wellwood Avenue after a court fight among the large landowners.
Some interesting celebrity notes; Rock singer Pat Benatar is from Lindenhurst, and in the fall of 1930, Babe Ruth played an exhibition game against the "Lindenhurst Nine" in front of 4,000 spectators.
Homes along Buffalo Avenue, top, and McKinley Avenue in Lindenhurst. Credit: Rick Kopstein
SALE PRICES Between Jan. 29, 2025, and Jan. 28, 2026, there were 368 home sales with a median sale price of $635,000, according to OneKey MLS. During that same period a year earlier, there were 316 home sales with a median sale price of $600,500.
CONDOS AND CO-OPS There are three condos, priced between $549,990 and $599,000, on the market.
OTHER STATS
Population 27,142
Median age 38.1
Median home value $655,000
Monthly LIRR ticket from Lindenhurst $356.50
School district, graduation rate Lindenhurst (92%)
Library Lindenhurst
Transit Suffolk County Transit Routes 2, 10
Sources: 2024 American Community Survey; OneKey MLS via InfoSparks by ShowingTime; LIRR; data.nysed.gov; Suffolk County Transit
ON THE MARKET
$1.93 million
This $1.93 million Lindenhurst home has a 750-square-foot balcony overlooking the water. Credit: Suping Wang
Recently reduced by $170,000, this waterfront five-bedroom, 2½-bathroom home was renovated in 2022. It has cathedral ceilings, two-zone heating, a four-car garage. It has a steel frame structure with hurricane-hardy windows. A 750-foot balcony overlooks the canal. Taxes are $27,369. Suping (Sophie) Wang, Voro LLC, 877-943-8676
$699,000
This $699,000 Lindenhurst home has unobstructed views of the Great South Bay. Credit: KJW Photography/Kevin Wohlers
Just reduced by $26,000, this two-bedroom, one-bathroom ranch home has been raised, creating unobstructed views of the Great South Bay just across the street. Inside, the renovated home has an open-plan kitchen and family room, with sliding glass doors facing the water. A private beach with access for a small fee is steps away. Taxes are $12,562. Judith Marino, Daniel Gale Sothebys International Realty, 516-353-6223.
$549,000
This $549,000 Lindenhurst home has three bedrooms. Credit: JackieBuysPhotos.com
Built in 1954, this ranch has three bedrooms and one bathroom. In addition to an updated eat-in kitchen, it has a fully finished basement, hardwood floors, central air-conditioning, a separate dining room, landscaped front yard and an attached garage. Taxes are $10,038. Cathy Reidy, Century 21 AA Realty, 516-297-1919.
RECENTLY SOLD
$1.24 million
Shore Walk
Style Contemporary
Bedrooms 5
Bathrooms 3½
Built 1990
Lot size 0.31 acre
Taxes $23,441
+/- List price -$160,000
Days on market 603
$855,000
Newark Street
Style Exp. ranch
Bedrooms 4
Bathrooms 3
Built 1956
Lot size 0.17 acre
Taxes $16,257
+/- List price +$5,112
Days on market 86
$585,000
S. Fifth Street
Style Cape Cod
Bedrooms 3
Bathrooms 1
Built 1941
Lot size 0.09 acre
Taxes $10,292
+/- List price -$30,000
Days on market 187
ON THE MARKET
Number of listings 38
Price range $449,900 to $1.93 million
Tax range $6,109 to $27,369
