The first new construction in Riverside since the adoption of a revitalization action plan and zoning by the Town of Southampton will transform the site of a derelict vacant building on the traffic circle.
A company led by builder Paul Pawlowski of Mattituck has submitted plans to demolish the long-vacant old diner and construct an 8,000-square-foot, two-story building that will house medical offices and workforce apartments.
Pawlowski said in an interview today he’s very excited about the project, which he believes will spark revitalization of the troubled area around the traffic circle and the hamlet of Riverside.
Southampton Town has been “very welcoming,” Pawlowski said. “They really want to revitalize the area.”
He said he already has prospective medical use tenants for the offices, but declined to name them.
“It’s going to look great,” Pawlowski said.
Pawlowski recently finished a new office building and bank on Route 25 in Mattituck.
“Paul’s been great to work with,” said Southampton Deputy Supervisor Frank Zappone.
“We’re very excited about the possibility that shovels are going into the ground,” Zappone said.
Zappone said the town is looking to apply for grant funds to help subsidize the cost of demolition of the old diner as well as the building on the Peconic Paddler site on Peconic Avenue.
“A developer is proposing some improvements on that particular property [the Peconic Paddler site]. They’re looking to put some hotel occupancy and restaurant use for that location,” Zappone said.
The site will initially be improved with a 10,000-square-foot commercial building, according to a proposal before the town. A future phase of the development will provide a 100 to 150 unit hotel on the upper floors. The future phase is dependent on connection to a sewage treatment plant. The availability of such a connection remains unknown.
Southampton officials have been talking with Riverhead officials about connecting new Riverside construction to the Riverhead sewage treatment plant. The connection is a complex endeavor that will require state legislation to implement. Southampton meanwhile has been developing a plan for the construction of its own sewage treatment facility to serve Riverside, Zappone said.
“It’s almost ready,” Zappone said of the plan. “We like the idea of partnering with Riverhead. The costs are certainly a lot less. But we recognize plan A may not succeed so we are developing a viable plan B.”
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