A project in Port Jefferson Village received a boost by way of a $2 million grant through the New York State's Empire State Development agency through the Restore NY program. The funding is one of only two projects awarded on Long Island.
Two vacant buildings at 1601-1605 Main Street in Port Jefferson are set to be demolished to make way for a mixed-use development. The proposed project aims to provide 53 residential units and approximately 2,500 square feet of commercial space.
The project is being developed by Conifer Realty & Developers “to create a vibrant space that combines residential and commercial elements, providing a much-needed solution to the housing shortage in the area,” according to a statement released by Margot Garant, the current mayor of Port Jefferson who is running for Brookhaven Town Supervisor this November.
Conifer completed building a similar mixed-use apartment complex on Main Street in the Village just north of the Long Island Railroad station called Port Jefferson Crossing. That project is fully leased having received over 1,300 applicants for the new apartment units.
"Lack of workforce housing has far-reaching consequences for our communities, impacting both the economy and the well-being of residents," said Garant. "Businesses face challenges in attracting and retaining employees due to the exorbitant cost of living, while individuals and families are forced to allocate a significant portion of their income towards housing expenses. We must take immediate action to mitigate the effects of this crisis."
The other grant from Restore NY, in the amount of $2.65 million went to the Village of Hempstead for its Carman Place Apartments project. Conifer Realty is also developing that project to demolish blighted and vacant parcels and complete infrastructure work to construct a mixed-use development with 228 affordable residential units and ground floor retail, according to a write-up about the project.