New proposal for the former Dowling campus

According to councilman Dan Panico, there is a new proposal for the former Dowling campus in Shirley. During the Chamber of Commerce of the Mastics and Shirley meeting, last month, the potential new owners of the property, located in William Floyd, presented a proposal with his legal, engineering, and architectural team. 
Under the proposal, which is still being reviewed by town planning staff, the owner would develop three industrial buildings that would be suited to the needs of the end users. The existing dorm rooms would be demolished and removed, while the existing hangar/classroom building would be renovated and would remain. 
Roughly 28 acres, all delineated within the red line on the aerial, would be transferred to the town, Panico said. That area, which includes the entire athletic field complex, will be a parking area for the fields and will provide space for an ice-skating rink facility with two sheets of ice, like Hidden Pond Park in Hauppauge.

“The town would look for a public-private partnership through an RFP process to construct and run the facility, for which there is a lot of interest,” he said. “The property is somewhat constrained by the fact that the buildings cannot rise above a certain height in particular areas, as per the FAA.”

He also noted that the town does not support retail or residential development at that location.

“Retail would only serve to potentially impede the redevelopment of the Shirley-Mastic business corridor in the advent of the construction of the Forge River Sewer District,” he added.
This is only an initial proposal, which could change before it comes to a public hearing on a change of zone. Panico also said the hearing would potentially be months from now.

According to the potential new owner’s attorney, John C. Armentano, of Farrell Fritz, they are excited to dedicate 28 acres to the town for use as a hockey rink. The project, he said, makes it very desirable for the community.

“This project would not be possible without the support and guidance of councilman Panico,” he said. “My client is looking forward to an exciting redevelopment project in Shirley.”