Burned Building Plans Off To ZBA

By Danny Schrafel

dschrafel@longislandergroup.com

New elevations proposed for a three-story building at 425 New York Ave. in Huntington village were favorably received by the planning board last week.

Plans to rebuild the burnt-out commercial building at 425 New York Ave. in Huntington are headed to the Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) Oct. 23.

Revised plans for the proposed three-story, mixed-use building – which would earmark the first floor of the 13,274 square-foot structure for retail, and the two stories above for a total of 10 apartments – already received the green light from the town planning board.

“Before, it looked more modern – this looks more traditional,” said Robert Riekert, the planning department’s deputy director, during the board’s Oct. 1 meeting, where revised new plans were presented and discussed. “We feel they did a great job, especially on the street level.”

The sentiments are a marked turnaround from the first draft of the building.

“They did make significant modifications to the architecture, which I personally find much more pleasing,” Planning Board Chairman Paul Mandelik said.

Owner Gary Field will go before the Zoning Board of Appeals for a special use permit to allow him to meet parking requirements by utilizing municipal parking located within 300 feet of the building. If the ZBA signs off, then it’s back to planning for architectural review.

The new building will be constructed on the existing footprint, Riekert said.

The 425 New York Ave. site has been a burnt-out, vacant shell since March after a devastating fire destroyed the 11,674 square-foot building. Neighboring businesses were also forced out of their storefronts.

Just doors down, Nino Antuzzi, owner of Red restaurant, received an off-street parking variance from the ZBA Sept. 18 to add a second floor to the 417 New York Ave. building that houses his restaurant.