Riverhead board hears pleas to save future Long Island Science Center HQ

Riverhead Town’s plans to seize the Long Island Science Center's planned new home on Main Street were scrutinized at a packed hearing Wednesday.

For more than 2½ hours, residents passionately advocated in favor of the nonprofit, questioned the town's plans for the site and even read a poem urging Riverhead to collaborate with the organization.

Despite assurances from science center leaders that plans for their new museum and planetarium are still viable, town officials have grown frustrated with a lack of progress at the vacant storefront and have cast doubt on their ability to finance the project.

An 'eyesore'

Dawn Thomas, the town’s community development director, described the property as an "eyesore" that "repels people" from downtown Riverhead, counteracting a downtown revitalization effort spanning more than three decades by contributing to blight.

Opponents of the town’s condemnation plan said the science center would enhance the downtown area.

"Hasn’t that been the great goal all along?" said Cindy Clifford, president of the Heart of Riverhead civic group. "It’ll draw visitors from the aquarium, bring residents downtown, result in the long promised foot traffic and town square ambience that will drive customers and revenue to our local small businesses."

Condemnation is a key step in the eminent domain process, which allows governments to seize property at fair market value for projects with a public purpose.

The property is adjacent to a $32.6 million town square underway that includes a public plaza, playground, outdoor performance space and mixed-use hotel building.

The town lists the reason for acquiring the science center building as for "general municipal purposes" as part of the town square. Once acquired, the town would market the property and seek proposals for redevelopment, according to Councilman Ken Rothwell.

Several residents questioned whether the town's plan would truly benefit the public, or ultimately, an unknown future developer.

A poetic plea

"You need to show us the whole picture," said Toqui Terchun, the president of the Greater Calverton Civic Association. "If you have a replacement in mind, that needs to be brought forward before you make the full decision. ... Without it, it's incomplete and premature."

Kevin Shea, a Baiting Hollow resident who unsuccessfully ran for the town council last year, delivered a poem about the controversial process.

"Let the frost thaw," Shea said. "Choose partnership here, not the blade of the law."

But for a majority of town board members, time has run out.

Last spring, the board halted an earlier eminent domain attempt after science center leaders pitched a two-phase plan and said they could open in 2025.

"We sat here a year ago, and we gave them a second chance, because we wanted them to succeed," Rothwell said at the hearing.

He and other board members also believe the project stalled because the nonprofit lacks funding to complete the renovation.

Last November, a contractor filed a $13,867 mechanics lien against the nonprofit for unpaid work.

That bill, and an additional $2,148 bill, remain unpaid, according to James Cartisano of Facility Construction Services, a private contractor.

Cartisano said the additional invoice stemmed from emergency repair work last year.

"Against my better judgment, being owed nearly $20,000, we went and we did it," Cartisano said at the hearing. "I want to get paid."

'A cloud of condemnation'

Larry Oxman, the president of the science center, sat in the audience Wednesday night with fellow board member Lucy Barnes but did not address the town board during the hearing. Both declined to comment after the meeting.

In a news release Tuesday, Oxman said the science center has put in "substantial work" to fund the renovation, which would allow the nonprofit to increase science, technology, engineering and mathematics programs and exhibits.

In the release, Oxman wrote that the town’s use of eminent domain "created a cloud of condemnation that scared off donors, stalled financing and complicated permitting" among other issues.

Riverhead Supervisor Jerry Halpin, who had been supportive of the science center’s efforts, said he was "disappointed" to learn the contractor had not been paid but does not support the taking.

"I do not believe eminent domain is a card to be played unless there is a specific, absolute need," Halpin said.

The board closed the public hearing and will accept written comments for 10 days. That sets into motion a 90-day period for the board to decide whether to move forward with condemnation, according to Frank Isler, the town’s outside counsel for the proceeding.