Bill to lease former armory for YMCA in Riverhead passes Assembly, stalls in Senate

A bill that would allow the former state armory in Riverhead to be leased and renovated into a YMCA passed the Assembly last week but failed to clear the State Senate before the legislative session ended.

If passed in both chambers of the legislature and signed into law by the governor, the bill would authorize the town of Riverhead to lease the former state armory building on Route 58 to the YMCA of Long Island for “recreational and community services.” The lease would be “for a term of 99 years at a nominal value of one dollar,” the bill states. In exchange, town officials want the YMCA to offer financial assistance and free programs to Riverhead residents.

“Repurposing the Riverhead armory for use by the YMCA represents a forward thinking investment in the health, well-being and unity of our community,” Assembly Member Jodi Giglio (R-Baiting Hollow) said during the June 17 late-night vote. “This change transforms the limited-use facility into a vibrant community hub serving thousands of residents annually and enhancing quality of life for generations across generations.”

PRIOR COVERAGE: State lawmakers look to remove legal barrier for YMCA at former armory in Riverhead

Giglio noted in an interview that it’s unusual for the Assembly to vote on a bill late in the session without a companion bill having already passed in the Senate. However, she convinced her colleagues to move it forward so the YMCA can begin applying for grants and fundraising, she said.

One of those grants perfect for the YMCA Riverhead project, Giglio said, is the state’s Building Recreational Infrastructure for Communities, Kids and Seniors (BRICKS) program. It provides up to $15 million to municipalities and nonprofits for renovating community centers, prioritizing underserved communities.

In an emailed statement, YMCA of Long Island spokesperson Mary-Beth Coursen said the nonprofit is “grateful for the efforts of Assemblywoman Jodi Giglio who was successful in getting the Town resolution passed in the NYS Assembly.”

“We remain confident and excited about this transformational project,” Coursen said in the statement. “Our YMCA of Long Island President and CEO, Anne Brigis and consultant, Linda Schreiber, hosted our first Planning Committee meeting two weeks ago and the team is committed to raising the dollars necessary to begin the initial studies.”

The YMCA of Long Island has declined to say how much the armory project would cost. Giglio said it is projected to cost between $20 million and $24 million.

“My staff has been working really hard on this for a couple of weeks, and if it passes the Assembly, at least, it gives credibility for the YMCA of Long Island to show the YMCA throughout the United States that, look, it passed the Assembly, and this is happening… and then they can start saying, let’s start fundraising for it,” Giglio said.

Giglio’s bill passed unanimously on June 17, the final day of the Assembly’s session. Giglio said the governor’s office supports the project. A spokesperson for Gov. Kathy Hochul stated only that the governor would “review the legislation if it passes both houses of the legislature.”

The Senate version of the bill, introduced by State Sen. Anthony Palumbo (R-New Suffolk), is still in committee. Palumbo expressed his full support for converting the armory into a YMCA earlier this month. 

While Palumbo initially introduced a bill to amend the armory restriction June 6, it wasn’t until June 16 — after the Senate’s session ended — that it was amended to have the same language as Giglio’s bill. Christopher Stazio, Palumbo’s chief of staff, said in an email that the updated text of the bill was received too late for a vote. 

“This bill is considered a local bill and will be on our priority list for next year, as it was this year,” Stazio wrote in an email, adding that he expects bipartisan support for the bill.

Town officials were hoping the state bill would pass before the session concluded. They have proposed a lease to the YMCA of Long Island that would include free classes and programs, as well as subsidized membership for Riverhead residents “deemed eligible for financial assistance,” according to Deputy Town Attorney Danielle Hurley.

Supervisor Tim Hubbard did not return a call requesting comment on Monday.

The Town Board recently passed resolutions authorizing a municipal home rule request supporting the legislation. According to the resolutions, the YMCA would develop the site with a children’s room; multi-purpose rooms; community kitchen; co-working space; STEM lab; teen room; gymnasium; indoor track; sports courts; multi-purpose exercise studios; fitness area; adult locker rooms; youth locker rooms; aquatics; administrative offices; and multi-purpose classroom space.

PRIOR COVERAGE: A YMCA in Riverhead? Town Board to endorse former armory site on Route 58 and authorize negotiations with YMCA of Long Island

Currently, the state armory property may only be used “by the police department, justice court, public safety and recreational programs developed and operated by the Town of Riverhead Police Department.” 

Since taking ownership of the armory property, the town has primarily used it as a storage space for police equipment and vehicles. Town officials initially planned to relocate the police and town court complex from Howell Avenue to the 32,000-square-foot armory building, due to space limitations and safety concerns, and successfully lobbied state lawmakers to transfer the property in 2011.

But the Town Board has continually rejected the plan to convert the armory, citing the cost. The town officially abandoned the plan to retrofit the armory into a justice court complex in 2022, when it purchased Peconic Bay Medical Center’s downtown campus on West Second Street and relocated Town Hall there. That will allow the town’s Justice Court to relocate to the old Town Hall at 200 Howell Avenue and for Riverhead Police Headquarters to expand at 210 Howell Avenue. Renovations and repairs to both buildings have yet to begin.

While the armory building is structurally sound, the building has several problems — exposed asbestos wrapping, peeling lead-based paint, a lack of air conditioning, and widespread leaks, according to Town Engineer Drew Dillingham.

The town has been in talks with the YMCA of Long Island for at least two years about redeveloping the property into a recreation center. In July 2023, the Town Board passed a resolution officially endorsing the idea and authorizing negotiations with the nonprofit.

Editors note: This article was amended to include a statement from a YMCA of Long Island spokesperson received after the article was initially published.