Mastic Beach redevelopment plans discussed

Mastic Beach residents last week got to hear from the Beechwood Organization about its plans for reinvigorating downtown Mastic Beach by building new homes, commercial buildings and a community center.

The Town of Brookhaven chose Jericho-based Beechwood in 2021 to redevelop about 40 acres, including portions of Neighborhood Road and Commack Road.

Beechwood, whose developments include Country Pointe Meadows in Yaphank and Country Pointe in Plainview, is proposing to build as many as 630 homes and up to 130,000 of commercial space, according to a handout distributed to attendees at Thursday night’s meeting at William Floyd High School.

The proposed conceptual plan also includes public parking garages and a town center of up to 16,000 square feet. About 140 parcels are in the redevelopment area.

The redevelopment will require the Brookhaven Town Board changing the town code and review under the State Environmental Quality Review Act. The plan has the backing of Brookhaven Town supervisor Daniel J. Panico and 6th District Council member Karen Dunne Kesnig. Both attended the meeting along with Suffolk County Legis. James Mazzarella and Beechwood Organization executives.

Panico, a Mastic Beach resident, who represented the area on the Town Council for 14 years before being elected supervisor, said the revitalization, which has been talked about for years, is going forward.

“You all have waited too long,” Panico told the audience.

Dunne Kesnig, who succeeded Panico as 6th District Council member, said, “I agree with Dan 100 percent that this will move forward.”

Beechwood Organization’s Colin Greene said his company is looking to transform the area into a vibrant mix of housing, retail and restaurants, with wider sidewalks and a shared community space.

If all the necessary approvals are obtained, the goal is to break ground in early 2026.

Beechwood Organization principal Steven Dubb said most of the housing, a mix of townhomes and apartments/condos, will be for-sale rather than rentals. Eighty percent of the units will be offered at market rate and 20 percent will be designated as affordable. The projected prices weren’t discussed at Thursday’s meeting.

Panico said the actual number of housing units and the mix of housing are yet to be determined. But he said he doesn’t want to see any of the buildings taller than the Mastic Beach ambulance company building, which he said is 50 feet in height.