A split Town Board voted Tuesday to take first steps toward acquiring the Long Island Science Center’s building, setting a May 20 public hearing on the proposed condemnation of its long-vacant building.
The board voted 3-2 to schedule the May 20 hearing, with Supervisor Jerry Halpin and Council Member Bob Kern dissenting.
The resolution authorizes the hearing on the proposed condemnation of the parcel “for general municipal purposes.”
The vote came after several residents urged the board against moving forward, arguing the town has still not publicly explained what it intends to do with the property and questioning whether eminent domain is justified against a nonprofit that says its redevelopment effort remains active.
Cindy Clifford of Riverhead asked the board to table the resolution and instead commit to working with the science center to bring the project to fruition.
Kathy McGraw said the hearing notice was deficient because it cited only “general municipal purposes” without specifying whether the town intends to demolish the building, reuse it or pursue some other plan for the site.
“How can we the public make a meaningful response to this proposed taking during a public hearing?” McGraw, of Northville, asked the board.
Riverhead resident John McAuliff questioned how much it would cost the town to pursue eminent domain and, if it prevails, to acquire the property. He also asked whether town officials or the town square master developer, Joe Petrocelli, have already had conversations with potential buyers.
Ron Hariri of Aquebogue argued the town is in no financial position to take on the science center property and accused town officials of subjecting the nonprofit to disparate treatment.
Tuesday’s vote comes less than three weeks after science center representatives returned to Town Hall to present what they described as a new phased approach to redeveloping the building, which they said has been slowed by a complicated mix of reimbursement-based grants, bridge-loan requirements and the need to coordinate stormwater, access and construction timing with the adjoining town square and hotel development.
Source: RiverheadLOCAL
