Port Jefferson, Wyandanch rental projects awarded $1.79 million in state grants 

Two proposed multifamily projects in Port Jefferson and Wyandanch have been awarded $1.79 million in grants from the state, according to local state officials.

The two projects, which are planned to add a total of 123 units of multifamily housing to the region, were selected for Restore New York Communities Initiative funding, a grant program overseen by Empire State Development, the state’s primary business aid agency. The local developments were among 50 statewide to receive a portion of the more than $50 million the program awards each year.

“Revitalizing and rehabilitating vacant and blighted areas of our communities for housing or development is vital to make downtowns thrive,” Gov. Kathy Hochul said in a statement. “Restore New York helps our municipalities plan for the future by catalyzing economic growth and supporting housing, businesses and cultural spaces.”

The Port Jefferson project, which received $790,000, calls for the demolition of buildings at three addresses — 1506 and 1510-1512 Main St. — and development of a mixed-use property with 42 rental units, according to the village’s Department of Building and Planning.

The project, which will be developed by Port Jefferson-based real estate firm The Gitto Group, will be called The Baxter.

“The Restore New York Communities Initiative grant is a welcome investment in Port Jefferson’s most critically challenged neighborhood south of North Country Road, and we are grateful to Empire State Development for identifying the Baxter project as a qualified recipient,” Port Jefferson Mayor Lauren Sheprow said in a statement sent to Newsday.

The planned 35,290-square-foot, four-story property calls for the development of 1,800 square feet of commercial space on the ground level, though plans are still subject to change and approvals, said Andrew P. Freleng, director of the village’s planning department.

“This grant will support the development of a welcoming new property which will be a cornerstone of the revitalization of this district and fulfill a growing need for graduate student and premedical professional housing in a soon to be vibrant neighborhood and a cultural centerpiece for the South Village corridor,” Sheprow said.

The building site is about a six-mile drive from Stony Brook University. 

A proposed 81-unit, multifamily project at 309 Merritt Ave. in Wyandanch was awarded $1 million, according to Empire State Development.

The property, which had been the site of an ice cream distributor but is currently vacant, is planned to be developed into a four-story rental building with resident parking, management office, in-building laundry and a fitness center.

Officials with the Town of Babylon referred inquiries to Suffolk County building officials, who did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Established in 2006, the Restore New York Communities program provides financial support to municipalities seeking to demolish, rehabilitate or redevelop vacant or abandoned properties to spur economic activity, according to Empire State Development.