Calverton: Splish Splash, farmland, manufactured communities draw buyers
THE SCOOP Calverton is a hamlet dotted with cluster housing and acres and acres of rural, undeveloped land.
"People don't realize that surrounding Riverhead is incredible farmland," said Mary Epperlein, an agent with Colony Realty.
Known for its fun-filled Splish Splash Water Park, Calverton is close to the North Fork wineries, golf courses and beaches.
"It is amazing, when you're on these properties you're in the middle of farmland but the beach is five minutes away," Epperlein said.
"The town has a very active farmland preservation program," said Dawn Thomas, Riverhead Community Development Director, noting that the town purchases the development rights so that parcels remain agricultural in perpetuity.
The hamlet, which was called "Conungum" or "Kanungum," by the Native Americans, meaning fixed line or boundary, was renamed Calverton in 1868 for Bernard J. Calvert, the hamlet's first postmaster. Back then, it was a small farming community where cranberries, a popular crop, grew along the marshland near the Peconic River.
In 1963, the U.S. Navy purchased 6,000 acres to develop a naval weapons plant where Grumman Corporation would manufacture and test jets. Part of the site now encompasses Grumman Memorial Park, with two full-sized decommissioned naval planes built there by the aerospace corporation. The area also houses Calverton National Cemetery and Enterprise Park, or "EPCAL," a 2,900-acre site with cycling and walking trails, a dog park, the new Peconic Ice Rinks and Scott's Pointe, an indoor/outdoor adventure park.
"There's a million square feet of active industrial space in the center of the property that was the former Grumman facility that's been re-occupied," said Thomas.
Home buyers today will find ranches, farmhouses and some contemporary homes, with affordable options available in several manufactured home communities, including Calverton Meadows, Ramblewood, and Woodcliff Park.
CONDOS AND CO-OPS There are seven condos, priced between $149,999 and $699,000, on the market.
SALE PRICES Between May 1, 2023, and April 30, 2024, there were 65 home sales with a median sale price of $293,000, according to OneKey MLS. During that period a year earlier, there were 66 home sales with a median sale price of $327,500.
OTHER STATS
Population 6,245
Median age 59.8
Median home value $295,250
Monthly LIRR ticket from Riverhead $468
School district, graduation rate Riverhead (81.7%)
Library Riverhead
Transit Suffolk County Transit Route 58
Sources: 2021 American Community Survey; OneKey MLS via InfoSparks by ShowingTime; LIRR, data.nysed.gov
ON THE MARKET
$4.25 million
This 5,000-square-foot custom-built farmhouse features four beds, three full and two half-baths, hardwood floors, large kitchen with a travertine tile floor and family room with coffered ceiling. It sports a wraparound porch, laundry on two floors and radiant heated bathroom and kitchen floors. Situated on 5 acres, this state-of-the-art horse property has 12 stalls, paddocks and jumping circle, and is surrounded by a 47-acre development reserve. Taxes are $41,286. Mary Epperlein, Colony Realty, 631-722-5800.
$1.3 million
Built in 1760, this 1,541-square-foot farmhouse features three bedrooms and a retro tiled bathroom. Surrounded by preserves, the sprawling 5.34-acre property includes a barn, detached two-car garage, expansive fields and wooded trails. Taxes are $13,052. Sarah Fox and Kevin Iglesias, Signature Premier Properties, 631-642-2300.
$719,000
Completely rebuilt in 2015, this 1,510-square-foot home features a large front porch, four beds, two baths and wide-planked hardwood floors. It sports a kitchen with stainless steel appliances and a full, finished basement. The terraced 0.36-acre property includes a brick patio, a detached, one-car garage and a shed. Taxes are $8,765. Andrew Terry, Hampton Estates Realty, 631-288-6333.
RECENTLY SOLD
$1.15 million
Sound Avenue
Style Ranch
Bedrooms 3
Bathrooms 1
Built 1956
Lot size 5.38 acres
Taxes $9,684
+/- List price -$450,000
Days on market 68
$645,000
South Path
Style Ranch
Bedrooms 3
Bathrooms 2
Built 1998
Lot size 0.92 acre
Taxes $9,570
+/- List price -$104,999
Days on market 93
$480,000
Forge Road
Style Ranch
Bedrooms 2
Bathrooms 2
Built 1966
Lot size 0.38 acre
Taxes $6,350
+/- List price -$59,000
Days on market 156
ON ONEKEY MLS
Number of listings 21
Price range $90,000 to $4.25 million
Tax range $597 to $41,286