What would seizing the science center’s Main Street property actually accomplish?

To the Editor:

What exactly is Riverhead trying to accomplish by using eminent domain to take the Long Island Science Center’s property at 111 East Main Street?

After watching the recent eminent domain hearing and following the public discussion, we are left asking a simple question: Why are local taxpayers being asked to spend public money to destroy a 30-year-old educational institution that has already served more than 375,000 children and families?

The Long Island Science Center is not a chain attraction. It is not LEGO Land or a corporate entertainment venue parachuted into our community. It is a homegrown nonprofit created by local people that has spent three decades introducing children to science, technology, engineering, arts, and math. It provides BOCES-certified educational programming in both English and Spanish and has become part of the fabric of downtown Riverhead.

For countless families, the science center has been where children attended birthday parties, scout programs, summer programs, school events, and hands-on learning experiences that inspired curiosity and confidence. It is one of the few truly intergenerational destinations in downtown Riverhead — a place where grandparents, parents, and children can all participate together.

And now the town wants to use eminent domain to take it away from the community it is supposed to represent!

Why?

The science center was specifically identified in the state’s downtown revitalization Initiative and multiple town-supported planning documents as a key anchor for Main Street and the Peconic riverfront. The organization helped ignite the momentum behind the town square vision and the $10 million DRI award. Yet instead of partnering with the science center, the town has spent years placing it under a cloud of uncertainty that damaged fundraising, permitting, donor confidence, and development progress.

What is especially troubling is the unequal treatment.

Other nonprofits have received extraordinary town support, flexibility, time, positive publicity, relocation assistance, free space, architectural assistance, and patience. East End Arts has benefited from active town partnership. Peconic Hockey received land and utility subsidies. The town itself has controlled the vacant armory building for decades without a clear redevelopment path. No one demanded those organizations have every dollar in hand before being allowed to proceed.

Yet the Long Island Science Center has been subjected to a completely different standard.
What many residents may not realize is that the science center had a preliminary USDA-backed financing proposal in 2022 through Greater Commercial Lending, one of the nation’s leading USDA lenders, outlining a potential $12 million construction-to-permanent financing structure for the project. The building design was dependent upon access from the yet-to-be-built town square. The proposal required project movement within a defined timeline, but the town square project itself was not yet ready to advance. Then came the public threats of eminent domain.

Who would donate millions to a project while the town openly discusses taking the property?
Instead of wasting taxpayer money on condemnation proceedings, appraisals, litigation, acquisition costs, and potentially years of conflict, why not pursue a collaborative solution? Why not provide a revolving loan, bridge support, infrastructure assistance, or the same type of partnership that other nonprofits routinely receive?

Eminent domain does not create a science center. It does not educate children. It does not revitalize downtown. It does not inspire future engineers, healthcare workers, scientists, or entrepreneurs.
It simply destroys momentum, wastes public money, and sends a chilling message to every nonprofit and private investor considering investing in downtown Riverhead.

The Long Island Science Center wants to work with the town — not against it. Riverhead should choose partnership over punishment and collaboration over condemnation.

Serving the Community For 30 Years,

The Long Island Science Center
Dr. Peter Wanderer
Board of Directors