As growth heats up downtown, Ronkonkoma cools off at the lake
The beach at Lake Ronkonkoma awaits visitors on a June day. Credit: Morgan Campbell
THE SCOOP Despite it being a rather sprawling hamlet, Ronkonkoma enjoys a solid sense of community, says Town of Islip Supervisor Angie Carpenter. “There really is a sense of pride in Ronkonkoma,” says Carpenter, noting that the annual Ronkonkoma Street Fair is perennially popular.
Another draw to the area is Lake Ronkonkoma, which boasts recreation and senior centers, tennis courts, new pickleball courts and a playground. “And, then of course: the lake and the beach. It’s really a lovely facility,” says Carpenter.
Houses along Juniper Avenue. Credit: Morgan Campbell
Long Island MacArthur Airport, also in Ronkonkoma, just got its fourth carrier in February, but come September, American Airlines will pull its service there, leaving Southwest, Frontier and the new Breeze Airways.
Adjacent to MacArthur is Islip’s Foreign Trade Zone, an industrial park with 35 businesses and plans to add three new buildings.
Ronkonkoma's Long Island Rail Road station. Credit: Morgan Campbell
The Ronkonoma Hub, a transit-oriented community aiming to create a thriving downtown near the Long Island Rail Road station in the hamlets of Ronkonkoma and Lake Ronkonkoma, broke ground last year with Alston Station Square, a 53-acre development that will eventually have a total of 1,450 new apartments, 360,000 square feet of office space and 195,000 square feet of retail. Apartment rentals there range from $2,100 for a studio to $4,100 for a three-bedroom, a company spokesman said.
The Alston Station Square apartments at the Ronkonkoma Hub in 2020. Credit: Newsday/John Paraskevas
The hamlet’s name is derived from Raconkamuck, which means “boundary fishing lake” in Algonquin. Long Island’s largest freshwater lake, Lake Ronkonkoma was once the boundary separating four Native American communities.
Purported to have healing powers, the lake became a magnet for development, and a resort community blossomed there in the late 19th century, which included William K. Vanderbilt II’s Petit Trianon Hotel, named for Marie Antoinette’s Versailles palace. From 1908 to 1910, Vanderbilt’s Motor Parkway was the site of 48-mile auto races, which terminated at the hotel.
The playground at Lake Ronkonkoma. Credit: Morgan Campbell
“Ronkonkoma residents enjoy the sense of a local family community, accessibility to the LIRR, L.I.E. and Long Island local shopping, and, of course, the lake,” says Corinne Michalowski of Home Possible Realty.
The hamlet has mostly ranches, expanded Capes and Colonials, with prices typically starting around $350,000 for a one-bedroom ranch and going up to $600,000 and higher for an updated four-bedroom Colonial.
Houses along Shelter Road. Credit: Morgan Campbell
CONDOS AND CO-OPS There are four condos on the market, ranging in price from $299,000 to $369,900.
SALE PRICES Between June 1, 2021, and June 30, 2022, there were 357 home sales with a median sale price of $490,000, according to OneKey MLS. The low price for that period was $175,000 and the high was $840,000. During that period a year earlier there were 381 home sales with a median sale price of $426,500. The price range was $185,000 to $670,000.
OTHER STATS
Town Islip
Area 7.83 square miles
ZIP code 11779
Population 18,955
Median age 37.9
Median household income $111,052
Median home value $525,000
Monthly LIRR ticket from Ronkonkoma $365
School district, graduation rate Connetquot, 97%
Park Ronkonkoma Beach and Recreation Center
Library Connetquot
Hospitals Long Island Community Hospital, Stony Brook University Hospital
Transit Suffolk County Transit Routes 6A, 7A, 57, 59, SC
SOURCES: 2020 Census; 2019 American Community Survey; OneKey MLS; LIRR, data.nysed.gov
NOW ON THE MARKET
Priced at $619,000, this Colonial on Avenue D has 3,000 square feet of living space. Credit: Gary Busto
$619,000
This 3,000-square-foot four-bedroom, 2½-bath Colonial has a front porch, hardwood floors, updated eat-in-kitchen with bay window, newer gas boiler, solar panels, and a four-season sunroom. The 0.35-acre fenced-in property has a large, multilevel deck, patio and above-ground pool. Taxes are $11,667. Anthony Autera, Signature Premier Properties, 631-385-8400.
Priced at $589,900, this expanded ranch on Borman Court features two family rooms. Credit: IPB Photo /Cristian Paez
$589,900
Set on 0.43 acre, this 1,882-square-foot expanded ranch features four bedrooms, 2½ baths, hardwood floors, a large eat-in kitchen with granite counters and stainless steel appliances, and a second family room with two skylights. The fenced-in property has an attached two-car garage and flat backyard with brick patio. Taxes are $9,839; a sale is pending. Tanya Brandes Plackis, Exit Realty Achieve, 631-543-2009.
Priced at $498,000, this expanded Cape on Dennis Drive has a renovated family room with fireplace. Credit: Joseph Camarda
$498,000
Recent updates to this approximately 1,900-square-foot expanded Cape include a renovated family room with fireplace, new windows, siding, roof, heating, and Trex decking in front and backyard. The house is on a fenced-in 0.17 acre and has four bedrooms, 1½ baths, hardwood floors, and kitchen with stainless steel appliances. Taxes are $7,173; a sale is pending. Corinne Michalowski, Home Possible Realty, 516-874-6565.
RECENTLY SOLD
$740,000
Smith Rd.
Style Postmodern
Bedrooms 5
Bathrooms 3½
Built 2002
Lot size 0.6 acre
Taxes $12,865
+/- List price +$40,010
Days on market 28
$560,000
Iroquois St.
Style Ranch
Bedrooms 3
Bathrooms 3
Built 1935
Lot size 0.41 acre
Taxes $10,470
+/- List price +$41,112
Days on market 33
$275,000
Duncan Ave.
Style Cottage
Bedrooms 2
Bathrooms 1
Built 1931
Lot size 0.23 acre
Taxes $2,407
+/- List price Sold at asking
Days on market 66
ON ONEKEY MLS
Number of listings 49
Price range $250,000 to $1.075 million
Tax range $7,123 to $15,856
