Farmingdale Village plans to be LI's new downtown destination
A small park just off of Main St. in Farmingdale features a gazebo where events are held is seen on August 7, 2014. Credit: Johnny Milano
With a master plan in place, Farmingdale Village is positioning itself as Long Island's next destination downtown, says Mayor Ralph Ekstrand.
"We have a lot of stuff going on," says Ekstrand, citing revitalization projects and events such as an upcoming two-day music festival on the Village Green.
The mixed-use, "transit-oriented" development near the train station will comprise two buildings with a combined total of 154 apartments, amenities and 20,000 square feet of retail space. "We have commitments on retail," says developer Anthony Bartone of Bartone Properties. One building is to open in November, the other with an underground garage next spring.
Other projects include the reconstruction of 231 Main St., where Staller Associates is building 26 luxury apartments and 3,000 square feet of retail space. "What's really cool," says Ekstrand, is the building "will have balconies overlooking Main Street."
"A lot of people get off the train and go to Croxley Ale House," says resident Michelle Raimondi, of Century 21 Prevete Bastone. Croxley, adds Ekstrand, is expanding to add a beer garden.
Buyers can find just about any style of house, from late 1800s and early 1900s homes to houses in the hilly area known as Lenox Hills built in the 1960s and 70s (some before, some after) that tend to be larger.
CONDOS AND CO-OPS: 27 listings between $85,000 and $365,000
SALES PRICES: According to Multiple Listing Service of Long Island data, the numbers are up in the 11735 ZIP code, which includes areas outside the village. From July 1, 2013, to Aug. 5, 2014, there were 222 sales with a median price of $356,500. The low was $210,000 and the high was $715,000. During the same time period from 2012 to 2013, there were 214 sales. The median price was $338,750 with a low of $151,421 and a high of $650,000.
ATTRACTIONS: The Village Green hosts events like movies and a farmers market on Sundays through Thanksgiving; the artisan market on Saturdays, Aug. 16 to 30; Farmingdale State College; Bethpage State Park.
MORE FARMINGDALE STATS
Town: Oyster Bay
Area: 1.1 square miles
ZIP code: 11735
Population: 8,189
Median age: 43.4
Median household income: $76,087
Median home value: $365,000*
LIRR time to NYC: 49 minutes to 60 minutes at peak
Monthly ticket: $276
School district: Farmingdale
Sources: 2010 Census; mlsli.com; LIRR
*Based on sales in the past six months in the 11735 ZIP code, according to MLSLI
