Followers | 240 |
Posts | 12051 |
Boards Moderated | 0 |
Alias Born | 04/05/2009 |
Saturday, December 02, 2023 6:21:37 PM
The legal fight over a St. James property known as Flowerfield Fairgrounds is continuing, but records show the state has expressed interest in acquiring an untouched 43-acre portion of the 63 acres for conservation instead of development.
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation pitched the proposal in a June letter to Smithtown Supervisor Ed Wehrheim, who replied later that month that the town"has no objection to the state’s proposal."
The DEC confirmed in a statement to Newsday that the agency "has been involved in preliminary discussions with stakeholders regarding the property’s future conservation."
In March 2022, Smithtown's Planning Board gave landowner Gyrodyne LLC, a defense contractor, the go-ahead to subdivide the 63 acres into eight lots for future uses like medical offices, an assisted living and a hotel. The company previously sold off about a dozen acres that now is a catering hall known as Flowerfield Celebration.
In April 2022, Head of the Harbor village and area residents sued the town and Gyrodyne to try to annul the planning board's decision and require more of an environmental review. The project opponents said they want to find a way to protect the undeveloped 43 acres from future building.
The lawsuit, pending in State Supreme Court in Suffolk County, alleges the town’s subdivision approval was “an abuse of discretion" and "violated lawful procedure."
On Oct. 11, attorney Chris Murray, who represents the plaintiffs, filed a letter with the court about the DEC's interest in the property.
The next day, Joseph Clasen, an attorney for Gyrodyne, responded with a court filing that said the company wasn't aware of the DEC's interest, nor had it started any discussions with the agency.
Clasen also asked the judge to dismiss the lawsuit and accused the plaintiffs of trying to stall the case.
Another attorney for Gyrodyne later declined Newsday's request for comment.
In the early 1900s, Long Island horticultural businessman John Lewis Childs owned the property and grew flowers and plants there. The parcel also was home to the former Long Island Rail Road Flowerfield station, which opened in 1910 before train service ended there in 1959.
Gyrodyne acquired the property in 1951, Newsday previously reported. The company built helicopters from 1961 until 1975 on the property, which primarily is zoned for light industry.
Today, part of the property houses 51 tenants and has 131,244 rentable square feet suitable for office, engineering, manufacturing and warehouse use, according to Gyrodyne's website.
Proponents of preserving the property say they're encouraged by DEC's interest in the property.
John Halsey, president of Peconic Land Trust, said the environmental advocacy group "will work with the owners and public partners including the NYS DEC and Suffolk County in any way we can to bring its protection to fruition.”
Head of the Harbor village trustee Judy Ogden, a spokeswoman for Saint James-Head of the Harbor Neighborhood Preservation Coalition — which is spearheading the lawsuit — said the town's lack of objection to the DEC's potential land acquisition "is really important."
Both Murray, the plaintiffs' attorney, and coalition member Joe Bolhoffer, an attorney who chairs Head of the Harbor's zoning board, saidin interviews the DEC's acquisition of the 43 acres would resolve the plaintiffs' legal demands.
"Someone said it takes 30 years to be an instant success" - Gabriel Barbier-Mueller, Founder and CEO of Harwood International
Recent GYRO News
- GYRODYNE ANNOUNCES CLOSING OF SUCCESSFUL, OVERSUBSCRIBED RIGHTS OFFERING • GlobeNewswire Inc. • 03/08/2024 10:07:00 PM
- Form 8-K - Current report • Edgar (US Regulatory) • 02/09/2024 06:59:32 PM
- Form 8-K - Current report • Edgar (US Regulatory) • 02/06/2024 02:55:19 PM
- GYRODYNE ANNOUNCES COMMENCEMENT OF RIGHTS OFFERING • GlobeNewswire Inc. • 02/06/2024 02:25:00 PM
- Form 424B3 - Prospectus [Rule 424(b)(3)] • Edgar (US Regulatory) • 02/06/2024 11:01:08 AM
- Form S-1/A - General form for registration of securities under the Securities Act of 1933: [Amend] • Edgar (US Regulatory) • 02/01/2024 10:14:29 PM
- Form S-1/A - General form for registration of securities under the Securities Act of 1933: [Amend] • Edgar (US Regulatory) • 01/26/2024 05:20:17 PM
- Form S-1/A - General form for registration of securities under the Securities Act of 1933: [Amend] • Edgar (US Regulatory) • 01/23/2024 02:48:21 AM
- Form FWP - Filing under Securities Act Rules 163/433 of free writing prospectuses • Edgar (US Regulatory) • 01/22/2024 04:14:55 PM
- Form 8-K - Current report • Edgar (US Regulatory) • 01/22/2024 04:14:07 PM
- GYRODYNE ANNOUNCES RECORD DATE FOR PROPOSED RIGHTS OFFERING • GlobeNewswire Inc. • 01/22/2024 04:13:00 PM
- Form 8-K - Current report • Edgar (US Regulatory) • 01/03/2024 10:14:27 PM
- Form S-1 - General form for registration of securities under the Securities Act of 1933 • Edgar (US Regulatory) • 12/29/2023 06:21:53 PM
- Form 4 - Statement of changes in beneficial ownership of securities • Edgar (US Regulatory) • 11/28/2023 02:54:22 PM
- Form D - Notice of Exempt Offering of Securities • Edgar (US Regulatory) • 11/21/2023 10:09:41 PM
- Form 8-K - Current report • Edgar (US Regulatory) • 10/16/2023 08:09:26 PM
- Form 8-K - Current report • Edgar (US Regulatory) • 10/12/2023 06:03:08 PM
- Form DEF 14A - Other definitive proxy statements • Edgar (US Regulatory) • 09/12/2023 08:06:15 PM
- Form 8-K - Current report • Edgar (US Regulatory) • 09/11/2023 09:12:14 PM
- Form SC 13D/A - General statement of acquisition of beneficial ownership: [Amend] • Edgar (US Regulatory) • 09/07/2023 08:18:41 PM
- Gyrodyne Announces Agreement with Star Equity Fund • PR Newswire (US) • 09/06/2023 12:30:00 PM
- Form DEFA14A - Additional definitive proxy soliciting materials and Rule 14(a)(12) material • Edgar (US Regulatory) • 08/22/2023 08:55:40 PM
- Form 8-K - Current report • Edgar (US Regulatory) • 08/22/2023 08:55:21 PM
- Form 10-Q - Quarterly report [Sections 13 or 15(d)] • Edgar (US Regulatory) • 08/09/2023 09:28:24 PM
- Form DEFA14A - Additional definitive proxy soliciting materials and Rule 14(a)(12) material • Edgar (US Regulatory) • 08/01/2023 08:30:50 PM
NanoViricides Reports that the Phase I NV-387 Clinical Trial is Completed Successfully and Data Lock is Expected Soon • NNVC • May 2, 2024 10:07 AM
ILUS Files Form 10-K and Provides Shareholder Update • ILUS • May 2, 2024 8:52 AM
Avant Technologies Names New CEO Following Acquisition of Healthcare Technology and Data Integration Firm • AVAI • May 2, 2024 8:00 AM
Bantec Engaged in a Letter of Intent to Acquire a Small New Jersey Based Manufacturing Company • BANT • May 1, 2024 10:00 AM
Cannabix Technologies to Deliver Breath Logix Alcohol Screening Device to Australia • BLO • Apr 30, 2024 8:53 AM
Hydromer, Inc. Reports Preliminary Unaudited Financial Results for First Quarter 2024 • HYDI • Apr 29, 2024 9:10 AM