Affordable housing for artists planned for downtown Riverhead

BARBARAELLEN KOCH | The Long Island Science Center would move if apartments get built.

A five-story apartment building planned for the Long Island Science Center site went from market-rate luxury apartments to workforce housing affordable apartments earlier this year.

The plans have now seen another change.

The latest breaking news is that we intend for this to be housing for the artist community, said Marianne Garvin, the president and chief executive officer of the non-profit Community Development Corporation of Long Island.

She was speaking to members of the Riverhead Industrial Development Agency Monday night, during a public hearing on proposed tax incentives for the project, which is a joint venture between the CDC and Rochester-based, for-profit developer Conifer Realty.

The project is being called Peconic Crossing.

The building would still contain 48 affordable rental units. In order to win a lease, proposed tenants would have to meet income guidelines based on the area median income for Suffolk County, which is $73,600, according to the CDC.

However, it will give a preference to prospective tenants who are artists and can document that, Ms. Garvin said.

The project would have a common area for arts and a balcony overlooking the Peconic River that could be used for art events, she said.

The project would be modeled after the 45-unit Artspace apartment complex in Patchogue, according to Allen Handelman, Conifers vice president of development.

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Affordable housing for artists planned for downtown Riverhead