Riverhead Justice Court

Opinion: The very long saga of the town’s “space problems” is a classic example of how not to plan and execute capital improvements if you happen to be the governing body of a growing municipality.

Town officials are considering building a three-story town hall on vacant land at the corner of Howell Avenue and Brook Street, and renovating and repurposing two existing buildings for town court and police department use, at an estimated cost of $30.8 million.

A portrait of the late Town Justice Allen Smith was unveiled during a ceremony in Riverhead Justice Court yesterday afternoon.

The town board has nixed the plan to move town facilities to the Kmart building. With safety and security concerns over the town justice court "first and foremost," more ideas for construction and renovation are discussed.

Riverhead Town officials are considering leasing the vacant 106,000-square-foot former Kmart building on Route 58 for use as a municipal complex. The town would consolidate most departments in one location.

Riverhead Town Justice Sean Walter of Wading River takes the oath of office this afternoon at Riverhead Town Hall.

Former Riverhead Town Supervisor Sean Walter, who was elected to fill a vacancy in the Riverhead Justice Court created by the death of longtime Justice Allen Smith this summer, will take the oath of office Thursday. Courtesy photo.

Judge Allen Smith urged town board after town board to replace the cramped, outmoded justice court — which the town has planned to do for more than a decade, but never acted.

L.I. Ducks manager Wally Backman was acquitted after a four-day criminal trial in Riverhead Justice Court.

Convictions in Riverhead Town Justice Court during the month of October 2019.