Riverhead Town Board Roundup: RFP to bidders authorized for former LI Science Center building as condemnation proceedings continue

The Riverhead Town Board is issuing a request for proposals, or RFP, to interested parties who want to transform the empty 111 East Main St. building into a “destination attraction.” 

The 5-0 vote on Tuesday means qualified developers, attraction operators, entertainment companies, destination retailers, hospitality groups, and public-private partnership teams can now submit their bids for the former Long Island Science Center space until Dec. 3. 

Town officials have described this property as a critical activation point for the Riverhead Town Square revitalization project. In early September, the Riverhead Town Board unanimously voted to offer $1.95 million to the Long Island Science Center to acquire its East Main Street building through eminent domain law. 

The appraisal further advanced the town’s controversial condemnation efforts and defense of using eminent domain to seize the 11 E. Main St. building, arguing the blighted property has stalled broader downtown revitalization efforts and remains a key missing piece in the Town Square project.

Under eminent domain law, the Town Board is required to make a written offer to the property owner that is no lower than the highest approved appraisal. 

Since putting forth the $1.95 million offer, the Long Island Science Center has 90 days to respond and can either accept the offer as full payment, accept it as an advance payment while seeking additional compensation, or reject the offer entirely and litigate the valuation in court. 

The Science Center — which is under the name A Place For Learning, Inc. in court documents — is seeking additional just compensation for the property. During a conference held on Sept. 16, the judge ordered an appraisal exchange, which is due on Dec. 31. The deadline for rebuttal appraisals is Feb. 5, 2027. 

The process is a formal swap of the parties’ respective real estate appraisal reports before a pre-trail on Feb. 24, 2027, according to court filings. 

In a recent interview, Councilman Ken Rothwell said he would like to see the town-owned 111 E. Main St. building as a “family-ortiented destination,” throwing around ideas like a Crayola-style attraction or a Ripley’s Believe It or Not museum. 

Riverhead Town Supervisor Jerry Halpin told the Riverhead News-Review in a separate sit-down ahead of Election Day that he wants to see 111 E. Main St. become something “sustainable” that attracts people downtown. 

Town issues appraisal on property of proposed cannabis cultivation facility in Calverton 

Town officials are seeking an appraisal of 1458 Middle Road in Calverton for potential land preservation, which is the site of a proposed 27,489-square-foot cannabis growing facility. 

The unanimously approved resolution received a round of applause from residents for the town board’s unanimous decision to take a step toward pursuing preservation of the property. 

Over the last nine months, Brother Bear Canna’s proposed cannabis growing operation has drawn sharp criticism from residents living in two over-55 communities near the project site, Windcrest East and Foxwoods. The development is also in close proximity to neighboring homes where children reside.

The proposed project by Brother Bear Canna, LLC is to build a one-story greenhouse on a 5.3-acre parcel within the Agricultural Protection zoning use district. As of August, it now classifies as a Type 1 action under the State Environmental Quality Review Act, or SEQRA, which requires the applicant to submit a full environmental assessment form before any review continues.

Back in January, after consideration of all testimonies and potential detriment of community welfare, the Riverhead Zoning Board of Appeals denied a ground variance request from the allowable 15% of the property to 24%, as well as an exception to surround the over five-acre property with an eight-foot wire deer fence, instead of the town-permitted six feet.

This unanimous denial from the Riverhead ZBA prevented Brother Bear Canna from moving forward with a site plan review by the Riverhead Planning Board. 

“We as residents each have thoughts about how we would like to see that property proceed, if indeed we’ll go into preservation, so please keep the conversation open,” said Toqui Terchun, president of the Greater Calverton Civic Association. “Calverton civic is ready.”

Initially, Councilman Ken Rothwell said the owner’s attorney expressed his client was “not a willing seller.” However, the property owner has now agreed to consider a town proposal at a fair-market value. Town officials discussed possibly preserving the land as open space.

“I would love to see that original farmhouse preserved because it really represents what our heritage is as an agricultural town,” he said. 

The approved resolution allows the town attorney to order an appraisal from Goodman-Marks Associates, which costs up to $4,500. This appraisal is not an authorized purchase or town commitment to acquiring the property.

Pitches made for Community Block Grant funding 

Riverhead Town expects to apply for up to $275,000 in Federal Community Development Block Grant Funds for FY2027. These funds are typically used for a variety of projects that benefit low and moderate-income people, aid in blight prevention, and/or meet an urgent need in the community. 

Each year, the Riverhead Town Board hears presentations from local organizations who submit applications for Community Block Grant funding consideration. 

Felicia Scocozza, executive director of Riverhead CAP, is asking for financial support to allow one of its social workers at Roanoke Avenue Elementary School to offer counseling and prevention services to children experiencing ACES, or adverse childhood experiences. 

Judith Barth of Bread & More Kitchen is also requesting a portion of the Community Development Block Funds. The volunteer-based community kitchen located in the First Congregational Church of Riverhead offers hot, nutritious meals three days a week to individuals in need. This adds up to 90 meals per night and over 250 meals each week, she said. With rising costs in food and paper goods, Ms. Barth said the soup kitchen also “struggles to make ends meet,” and these funds would help them continue their mission. 

Marianna Garcia, director of the Riverhead Chamber of Commerce, is looking to launch Chamber Tank — a youth entrepreneurship program that connects small businesses to local youth. Area high school students would receive hands-on education and mentorship in business planning, budgeting, financial literacy, marketing, sales and learn other professional skills from Riverhead’s workforce. 

Antoinette DeGruccio from the Warrior Ranch Foundation in Calverton also made a presentation and requested funds to support the organization’s mission of providing free equine-assisted therapy to military veterans and first responders.

Two Riverhead police officers promoted

Two police officers promotions were unanimously approved and celebrated at the Tuesday town board meeting. Officer Raymond LaPorte was promoted to detective third grade and Officer Timothy Murphy was promoted to sergeant.

Det. LaPorte joined the Riverhead Police Department in October 2008. Throughout his almost two decades of service, he has worked as a field training officer, as well as in the department’s Community Oriented Policing Enforcement (COPE) Division and the Suffolk County District Attorney’s East End Drug Taskforce. 

Sgt. Murphy received a formal swearing-in by Riverhead Town Police Chief Ed Frost. Last year, he was among a group of several officers who received the 2025 Riverhead PBA Police Officer of the Year award for their heroic actions in helping a pedestrian that was struck by a motor vehicle, and pinned beneath during a snowstorm.