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Mural coming down, restaurant possible at East Main St. building

Building

Another restaurant may be coming to a downtown Riverhead building — though the mural that adorns the structure is slated to be removed. 

The 2,395-square-foot building at 307 East Main St., just east of McDermott Avenue, is perhaps best known recently for the large flowery mural painted on the west side wall by Huntington artist Caitlyn Shea, who was one of the artists participating in the East End Arts Council’s JumpstART program last year.

While the building will remain, the mural will be coming down as part of the proposed facade alteration, according to Chuck Thomas, the architect for applicant Jason Gamba of Garden City.

The building has had mostly office uses over the years, and had been home to an optometrist for many years. Its last tenant was Premier Home Health Care Services, which moved to Harrison Avenue last year.

The proposal calls for one apartment on the second floor of the building while on the ground floor, the application states the proposed use as “retail/wet store/restaurant.”

Mr. Thomas said that Mr. Gamba isn’t sure if he wants a restaurant on the ground floor or another use, but the application shows restaurant because it’s the most intense use allowed under the zoning and it would be easier to replace it with another less intense use if needed.

The site plan application calls for interior alteration and exterior facade alteration, and is considered a “di minimis,” or minor application, under the Town Code, Mr. Thomas said.

The application is scheduled to be discussed by the Riverhead Town Board at its work session, which will be held on Friday morning at 10 a.m.