Riverhead seeks developers for ‘destination attraction’ at former science center site

Riverhead Town is issuing a request for proposals for the redevelopment and operation of “a destination attraction” at 111 East Main Street along the west side of the town square. 

The site was previously owned by The Place for Learning, operator of the Long Island Science Center. Riverhead took title to the property through an eminent domain proceeding in August. 

The Town Board on Tuesday approved the RFP, which seeks “proposals from qualified developers, attraction operators,entertainment companies, destination retailers, hospitality groups, and public-privatepartnership teams” for redevelopment of the site. The RFP document containing the details of the request will be available on the town’s website on Oct.15, according to the notice authorized for publication. Electronic responses will be received by the town until 11 a.m. on Dec. 3.

Riverhead Town on Aug. 26 obtained a court order in the eminent domain proceeding vesting title to the site in the town. Under the state’s Eminent Domain Procedure Law, title transfers to the town once the vesting order and acquisition map are filed with the county clerk, which took place on Sept. 2, according to county title records.

The law also requires the town to make a formal written offer to the owner based on the town’s highest approved appraisal. The Town Board, by resolution adopted Sept. 2, authorized the town’s attorneys to transmit an offer in the amount of $1.95 million to The Place for Learning. The offer amount was determined by an appraisal completed for the town. 

In practical terms, once title vests in an eminent domain proceeding, the remaining dispute is limited to compensation: whether the town’s appraisal reflects the property’s fair value.The former owner has the right to seek a higher purchase price 

The Place for Learning had the option of accepting the $1.95 million offer as full payment, or accepting it as an advance payment while continuing to seek additional compensation in court. The Place for Learning is seeking additional compensation. The court on Sept. 30 entered an order, following a Sept. 16 conference, setting Dec. 31 as an appraisal exchange date and Feb. 5 as the deadline for submission of rebuttal appraisals. In a separate Sep. 30 order, the court set a pre-trial conference date of Feb. 27.

By law, The Place for Learning had a right to bring an action challenging the condemnation within 30 days after publication of the town’s determination and findings. The publication was completed on June 18.  There is no record of any action challenging the town’s determination to take the property, according to court filings.

The science center was once considered the centerpiece of the planned town square. The Place for Learning’s acquisition of 111 E. Main Street in 2020 prompted the town to purchase three adjoining properties east of the site that would eventually become the town square redevelopment project.

See: Main Street to get a ‘heart transplant,’ supervisor says, unveiling plans for town square and new, expanded L.I. Science Center (Feb. 14, 2020)

The town square project now includes a public plaza, playground and amphitheater, as well as a five-story, 92-room hotel and restaurant. The project also includes major site work to implement flood mitigation measures along the Peconic Riverfront.

The Town Board decided to condemn the proposed science center site after the nonprofit failed to make progress in redevelopment of the site. Town officials said the science center’s failure to move forward would delay redevelopment of the rest of the town square project.