Nearly a year after the future headquarters of the Long Island Science Center was spared from the wrecking ball, Riverhead Town has renewed the threat of eminent domain as it works toward downtown revitalization.
Town Board members, exasperated at the lack of progress on renovations to the science center’s Main Street facility, said they would give its leaders one final chance to make their pitch while proceeding with a condemnation process that would pave the way for an eminent domain seizure.
That warning came after science center representatives didn’t show up to Thursday’s public work session, where they were scheduled to discuss their plans with the board. Councilwoman Denise Merrifield slammed the organization’s leaders, saying they “failed to fulfill their promises” made last spring assuring town officials they could complete renovations and open later that year.
“We all had extreme reservations about that, but they kept insisting that they would be open for business in the summer of 2025,” Merrifield said.
Officials also say there are red flags about the leaders’ ability to deliver on the renovations, including unpaid contractors.
County records show there was a mechanics lien placed on the property in November of last year for $13,867.
Larry Oxman, the science center’s board president, said in a text message Thursday that it was “surprising” to learn the board would consider restarting the condemnation process. “The science center had requested in writing prior to today’s work session to reschedule our meeting to next week,” he added. He declined to comment further but said the board’s concerns would be addressed at the upcoming meeting.
The nonprofit science museum bought the Main Street property, once a Swezey’s department store, for $1.45 million in 2020. It has been operating from a temporary pop-up at Tanger Outlets while renovations were planned.
Public doubts
The property was one of two buildings Riverhead sought to seize last year as it pursued plans for a town square connecting the riverfront to Main Street. Town officials publicly doubted the nonprofit’s ability to finance and develop the new facility, which was intended to be a family-friendly “activation” off the new public square.
Riverhead dropped the eminent domain bid last May after museum leaders outlined a two-phase plan using a $1.8 million grant and private donations to get the museum open by last fall. The town seized the other property, a cocktail bar, which has since been demolished to make way for a mixed-use building with a hotel, condos, retail, and restaurant space.
At the time, Oxman told Newsday they would begin renovating “immediately” and that he envisioned a fall opening.
But Merrifield said they have not sought building permits to do any of the improvements they presented to the board last year.
“The fact that they don’t even have a building permit says to me they are not planning on moving forward on this thing anytime soon,” she said Thursday. “I think time’s up.”
Cailin Kaller, the science center’s executive director, could not be reached for comment.
The first phase was to include structural improvements, new building cladding, renovated exhibition space, and a new entrance that opens up into the future town square site. Other plans included a second-story event space, planetarium, and spotlight on Long Island technology.
Town Supervisor Jerry Halpin said the science center was asked to meet with the town at its next work session on April 2. In the meantime, the town will prepare condemnation materials to consider at the next town board meeting on April 7, he said.
“They will be on the work session again to explain themselves, and we will be moving forward with what we need to do to make that happen, to make the downtown activation center possible,” he said.
“Their silence speaks volumes”
At least three of the five board members said they would support a measure advancing the condemnation process.
With construction on the hotel and town square set to get underway this spring, town officials said the project – a key driver for downtown revitalization – cannot be flanked by a vacant building.
“We are investing taxpayer dollars into that town square – the projects need to coincide with each other,” said Councilman Ken Rothwell, adding that there are cracks in the building’s foundation, the facade of the building is coming apart, and mold and vermin are inside.
“Time is running out because we’ve got shovels in the ground now, and their silence speaks volumes.”
The town broke ground on the $32.7 million revitalization project in December. The town square portion, which includes a playground, outdoor amphitheater, and flood mitigation, has a mix of county, state, and federal funding, including a $10 million state Downtown Revitalization Initiative grant and $24 million grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation.
