Suffolk County launches search for developers at canceled Midway Crossing site
Midway Crossing was to have included 2.7 million square feet of new construction between the Ronkonkoma LIRR station, foreground, and Long Island MacArthur Airport, in the distance behind the station to the south. Credit: Newsday/J. Conrad Williams Jr.
Suffolk County on Thursday launched its search for a new corporate partner to lead redevelopment of 48 acres of county-owned land in Ronkonkoma that had been the proposed site for the scuttled $2.8 billion Midway Crossing megacomplex.
The county Thursday afternoon released its formal invitation for developers to submit their "vision and concepts" for the site between the Ronkonkoma Long Island Rail Road station and Long Island MacArthur Airport. The site currently includes a sprawling LIRR parking lot.
Submissions by developers are due by May 29.
County Executive Edward P. Romaine canceled Midway Crossing in January and removed Chicago-based JLL, or Jones Lang LaSalle, as master developer of the site. Romaine said JLL had failed to meet deadlines for planning and funding the project.
Launching the new project — renamed Long Island Hub, at least for now — gives Romaine a chance to put his own stamp on an idea that has significant backing from business leaders, trade unions and many Ronkonkoma residents, who have said redevelopment will bring jobs and an updated identity to the hamlet.
Romaine said in an interview Thursday he hoped to pick a winning bidder by the end of June, followed by a separate process to approve the project itself. Romaine said he was open to any kind of development except possibly housing.
"We will consider all types of things ... whatever people want to do," Romaine said, adding the county is considering a major transport terminal in Ronkonkoma linking buses, trains and air travel.
“That will become the transportation hub for Long Island,” Romaine said. “We need to create jobs. We need to keep this county on the competitive edge. … The more jobs we create, the better prepared we are to face the future.”
Separately, Islip Town on Tuesday announced plans to seek a developer to build a new MacArthur terminal with a connection to the train station.
Midway Crossing was to have included 2.7 million square feet of new construction, including a convention center; a 300-room hotel; health sciences facilities; a new MacArthur terminal and a walkway connecting the terminal and the train station.
Suffolk has committed $50 million toward redevelopment of the Ronkonkoma site and state officials have pledged $150 million to build the rail-air terminal connection.
Islip Supervisor Angie Carpenter said Thursday in a statement the revamped project would provide "a unique opportunity for the Long Island region to retain its highly educated workforce, which not only helps to support the local economy, but keeps generations of families together."
The county said parking for LIRR commuters must remain available during construction.
Sal Napolitano, president of the Greater Ronkonkoma Civic Association, said he was concerned about how the project would affect roads and parking — during and after construction.
“That’s a big project list of things going on,” Napolitano said Thursday. “Developing all of the land that right now is jam-packed for parking — where do those cars park to get on the railroad?”
Business leaders Thursday said the Ronkonkoma site, positioned between MacArthur Airport and the $1.2 billion Station Yards multiuse project under construction on the north side of the LIRR tracks, is ideal for a convention center.
“We are a stone’s throw away from New York City,” Matt Cohen, president and CEO of the Long Island Association business group, said in an interview Thursday. "It could really capture this market that may find New York City too expensive or too crowded.”
Chris Coluccio, president of the MacArthur Business Alliance, a consortium of Ronkonkoma companies near the airport, said he's spoken to national business leaders who "have all said they would like to use the airport and the area to hold these kind of conventions, but there’s no place to go.”
Christopher Kelly, senior marketing vice president for Ronkonkoma-based Station Yards developer Tritec, said the company is weighing a bid for the Long Island Hub project.
"Given the proximity of the site ... to Station Yards, we are certainly interested in what happens there and how it can complement the ongoing revitalization of the area," he said in an email.
With Sam Kmack
Suffolk County on Thursday launched its search for a new corporate partner to lead redevelopment of 48 acres of county-owned land in Ronkonkoma that had been the proposed site for the scuttled $2.8 billion Midway Crossing megacomplex.
The county Thursday afternoon released its formal invitation for developers to submit their "vision and concepts" for the site between the Ronkonkoma Long Island Rail Road station and Long Island MacArthur Airport. The site currently includes a sprawling LIRR parking lot.
Submissions by developers are due by May 29.
County Executive Edward P. Romaine canceled Midway Crossing in January and removed Chicago-based JLL, or Jones Lang LaSalle, as master developer of the site. Romaine said JLL had failed to meet deadlines for planning and funding the project.
Launching the new project — renamed Long Island Hub, at least for now — gives Romaine a chance to put his own stamp on an idea that has significant backing from business leaders, trade unions and many Ronkonkoma residents, who have said redevelopment will bring jobs and an updated identity to the hamlet.
Romaine said in an interview Thursday he hoped to pick a winning bidder by the end of June, followed by a separate process to approve the project itself. Romaine said he was open to any kind of development except possibly housing.
"We will consider all types of things ... whatever people want to do," Romaine said, adding the county is considering a major transport terminal in Ronkonkoma linking buses, trains and air travel.
“That will become the transportation hub for Long Island,” Romaine said. “We need to create jobs. We need to keep this county on the competitive edge. … The more jobs we create, the better prepared we are to face the future.”
Developer sought for MacArthur plan
Separately, Islip Town on Tuesday announced plans to seek a developer to build a new MacArthur terminal with a connection to the train station.
Midway Crossing was to have included 2.7 million square feet of new construction, including a convention center; a 300-room hotel; health sciences facilities; a new MacArthur terminal and a walkway connecting the terminal and the train station.
Suffolk has committed $50 million toward redevelopment of the Ronkonkoma site and state officials have pledged $150 million to build the rail-air terminal connection.
Islip Supervisor Angie Carpenter said Thursday in a statement the revamped project would provide "a unique opportunity for the Long Island region to retain its highly educated workforce, which not only helps to support the local economy, but keeps generations of families together."
The county said parking for LIRR commuters must remain available during construction.
Sal Napolitano, president of the Greater Ronkonkoma Civic Association, said he was concerned about how the project would affect roads and parking — during and after construction.
“That’s a big project list of things going on,” Napolitano said Thursday. “Developing all of the land that right now is jam-packed for parking — where do those cars park to get on the railroad?”
Praise from business leaders
Business leaders Thursday said the Ronkonkoma site, positioned between MacArthur Airport and the $1.2 billion Station Yards multiuse project under construction on the north side of the LIRR tracks, is ideal for a convention center.
“We are a stone’s throw away from New York City,” Matt Cohen, president and CEO of the Long Island Association business group, said in an interview Thursday. "It could really capture this market that may find New York City too expensive or too crowded.”
Chris Coluccio, president of the MacArthur Business Alliance, a consortium of Ronkonkoma companies near the airport, said he's spoken to national business leaders who "have all said they would like to use the airport and the area to hold these kind of conventions, but there’s no place to go.”
Christopher Kelly, senior marketing vice president for Ronkonkoma-based Station Yards developer Tritec, said the company is weighing a bid for the Long Island Hub project.
"Given the proximity of the site ... to Station Yards, we are certainly interested in what happens there and how it can complement the ongoing revitalization of the area," he said in an email.
With Sam Kmack
History of Ronkonkoma redevelopment plans
April 2018: Then-Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone picks Chicago developer JLL, or Jones Lang LaSalle, to lead development of a 17,500-seat hockey arena and related medical facilities on 48 acres south of the Ronkonkoma Long Island Rail Road station. The arena plan was withdrawn later that year.
2021: A new plan dubbed Midway Crossing is submitted featuring a hotel, convention center, indoor and outdoor sports and entertainment arenas and a new Long Island MacArthur Airport terminal.
September 2022: JLL agrees to remove arenas from the plan.
January: County Executive Edward P. Romaine removes JLL as master developer, cancels Midway Crossing and announces plan to seek new proposals.
Carl MacGowan is a Long Island native who covers Brookhaven Town after having previously covered Smithtown, Suffolk County courts and numerous spot news and feature stories over his 20-plus year career at Newsday.
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