Freeport complex to be bigger than thought

A large apartment complex planned for the site of the old Brooklyn Water Works in Freeport will be six floors tall in spots, not five, the project architect revealed Tuesday night.

"It is admittedly a large building," said Roger S. Diller, the architect hired by Huntington developer Gary Melius. Diller presented the plans at a meeting of the village Landmarks Preservation Commission.

The design includes 121 apartments with ground-level parking for 200 cars at 25-01 Brookside Ave., next to the Long Island Rail Road.

Most of the 30 residents at the meeting expressed concerns about the building's size, its proximity to the Brookside nature preserve and the Milburn Stream, as well as effects on the environment and traffic.

"The building needs to be smaller," said commission member Anthony Baker.

Diller said he understood "everyone's concern about the size of the building," but noted that Melius will base the project's size on economics.

Melius' plans must conform to the historical aspect of the Brooklyn Water Works building. The site, also known as the Milburn Pumping Station, provided water to Brooklyn until it was decommissioned in the 1970s. It gained village landmark status in 1986. Melius, who owns Oheka Castle in Cold Spring Hills, bought the site in 1989.

The original building was deemed a safety hazard and demolished in August 2010. The original sign with the name of the building will now be used in a history wall in the new building, Diller said.

Allan Jay, 85, called the old building a "factory" and suggested developers "forget that old monster; build something bright and new."

The commission will hold a full public hearing about the project Sept. 8 at 7:30 p.m. in Freeport Village Hall.