Developer Resubmits Plan For Historic Property

The owner of this building at the historic corner of Park Avenue and Main Street in Huntington has resubmitted plans for a new commercial building on the property.

By Connor Beach
cbeach@longislandergroup.com

A developer has renewed his efforts to erect a medical office on an historic property in Huntington.

Dominick Mavellia — owner of the southeast corner of Park Avenue and Main Street, former site of the Platt’s Tavern, where it’s said George Washington once dined — has submitted plans to the town that call for a 10,064-square-foot, one-story commercial building “with space intended to be used for medical office,” according to town documents.

The site is currently occupied by what has been described by residents as an eyesore, a food pantry that’s painted in bright green, red, blue and yellow colors. There are also a deli and vehicle storage yard near the site.

In order for his plans to move forward, Mavellia needs the Huntington Town Board to approve a zone change for the 1.06-acre property from R-15 residential to C-1 office-residence.

Mavellia’s prior plans for the property stalled before a prior town board administration, which twice did not vote on a necessary zone change application before deadlines hit.

The new application is almost identical to the original proposal submitted by Mavellia in 2014, with the only difference plans for a wider westbound left-turn lane to reduce traffic on Main Street.

Mavellia, reached Wednesday, declined to comment and referred questions to his Huntington-based attorney, Michael McCarthy.

McCarthy said, “I think everyone can agree that the present state of affairs is an eyesore. It’s not done intentionally. The applicant has owned the property and has tried to maintain it, but is committed to doing something nice for the town.”

McCarthy added that the new applications also calls for the addition of some new buffers and points of entry and egress.

Paul Warburgh, a member of the Huntington historical preservation group Old Huntington Green, was among a group of local historians who challenged Mavellia’s plans for the property due to the size and scope of the proposed building, and its aesthetics.

Negotiations eventually led Mavellia to amend his plans.

However, now, Warburgh said he was surprised to learn the new proposal is almost identical “to the submission that was made the first time.”

As they did previously, Warburgh said, “Adjacent residents will be filing an objection” with the town that will require a supermajority vote (4-1) in order for the zone change to be approved.

Warburgh added that local historians plan to issue a formal statement on the proposal.

If the town board does not act on the zone change application before April 15 it will be forwarded to the planning board, which can then make a recommendation on the application’s merits, and a SEQRA determination.