First Building In Huntington Station Revitalization Plan OKd

By Andrew Wroblewski

awroblewski@longislandergroup.com

The Huntington Planning Board has signed off on a planned 20,758-square-foot, three-story development for the northeast corner of New York Avenue and Northridge Street in Huntington Station. The development is part of master developer Renaissance Downtowns plans to revitalize the downtown Huntington Station area.

The Huntington Planning Board has signed off on the first of five buildings planned by master developer Renaissance Downtowns as part of its Huntington Station revitalization plan.

The 20,758-square-foot, three-story Northridge Street development, which is planned for the northeast corner of New York Avenue and Northridge Street, includes both retail and residential space for 16 total apartments.

Ryan Porter, vice president of planning and development for Renaissance Downtowns, said on Monday that he is excited to get the approval and ready to break ground in Huntington Station.

 “It’s obviously been a long, super production process over the past four and a half years,” he said. “If all goes well, we’re hoping to get in the ground before the end of the year.”

Porter said Renaissance Downtowns has partnered with Riverhead-based builder Blue and Gold Homes to develop the structure. He added that, if ground isn’t broken by the end of 2016, he expects construction to take place in spring 2017.

Planning board members approved the development 5-0 on July 20.

The Huntington Zoning Board of Appeals voted to approve nine variances required for the project on May 26. The variances included parking relief for 25 parking spaces as the plans were short of the 55 spots required by town code.

Other buildings that Renaissance Downtowns has in the works include a hotel, office building, artists’ residences and another three-story commercial structure with apartments at Gateway Plaza.

Of the four, the Gateway Plaza plan has advanced farthest in the approval process. Carter said that, on May 2, the ZBA also signed off on variances for it, including for parking relief. The plan was submitted to the Huntington Planning Board for site plan approval on July 28.

Porter said that plan has “been a little more challenging, more complex,” and that he expects construction to begin next year.