Bring On Revitalization in Ronkonkoma

In July, The New York Times editorial board gave Mark Lesko and the Town of Brookhaven the thumbs up in regards to a proposed Ronkonkoma Train Station redevelopment project.

Describing a land of “missed potential and poor planning,” the editorial gave sound reason for the 50 acres around the station that could one day have shops, homes, offices and a convention center.

“He wants to turn an unlovely place into a cool destination,” The Times wrote.

Citing the basic attributes of having the busiest LIRR station and being located a stones throw from Long Island MacArthur Airport, two major freeways and not far from Stony Brook University and its Medical Center, the Ronkonkoma HUB could allow the true center of Long Island to shine.

“A hundred years ago the railroad station in Lake Ronkonkoma was a vital and dynamic component of our community,” Lake Ronkonkoma Civic Organization President George Schramm said. “We have an opportunity now to re-establish those qualities and create once again a transportation center that not only benefits Lake Ronkonkoma, but also the surrounding region.”

How many planning projects of Robert Moses or Lee Koppelman went sour? How many justifiable dreams of a better landscape never came to the table? Too many to count.

“The Ronkonkoma Hub is bursting with potential to create what may be the most exciting transit-oriented development location on the entire East Coast,” Lesko said in a statement issued in March. “This regionally significant project should be attractive to the private sector to develop a creative proposal on what is essentially a clean slate.”

Go for it.

Stay tuned for Sachem Patch for updates on the development plans.