Racanelli Construction Co. to serve as general contractor for new 103,000 s/f Lowe's

A new Lowe's is planned for construction at the former site of the Huntington Town House catering hall. The new Lowe's store is expected to open in the summer of 2012, and Racanelli Construction Co. will serve as general contractor for the project. Lowe's and Racanelli Construction Company, Inc. held a demolition and groundbreaking ceremony for the project on Wednesday, July 6th at the project site, 124 East Jericho Tpke. In attendance were representatives from Lowe's, Town of Huntington officials and Racanelli, a leading construction management, general contractor and design/build resource. The event kicked off with a welcome address from Michael McCarthy, Esq., attorney for Lowe's, who acknowledged the efforts made by town officials to facilitate the project. McCarthy was followed by Racanelli Construction president Nicholas Racanelli, who discussed some of the construction details, including the size of the building, site preparation work and the project's ramifications for the town. Racanelli was followed by town supervisor Frank Petrone, who elaborated on the importance of the project for the community and the strong "partnerships" involved. In his comments, Lowe's district manager Randall Legler concluded the ceremony, noting the many new jobs the Lowe's store will bring to the island. A representative of congressman Steve Israel's office presented a commendation to Lowe's for its commitment to jobs and economic development. Following the addresses, a ceremonial groundbreaking took place featuring a tossing of baseballs into the front of the old Huntington Townhouse - symbolic of the building's demolition to make way for the new Lowe's. The home improvement store will have 103,000 square feet of retail sales space, offering more than 40,000 products under one roof. An additional 26,500 square foot garden center will offer an impressive selection of flowers, bushes, trees and garden supplies tailored to the New York climate and lifestyle. A store of this size represents an average investment in the community of approximately $16.5 million and creates about 125 new jobs. The project will also encompass several sustainability measures, including the use of regional materials, low-emitting materials and materials made with recycled content. During the construction, the project team will also be implementing and managing plans for the construction waste and indoor air quality. Lowe's supports local communities through relationships with Habitat for Humanity, the American Red Cross, Rebuilding Together and Skills USA, among others. In 2010, Lowe's and the Lowe's Charitable and Educational Foundation together contributed more than $30 million to support community and education projects in the United States and Canada. To date, Lowe's Charitable and Educational Foundation has donated more than $2 million in the state of New York. With fiscal year 2010 sales of $48.8 billion, Lowe's Companies, Inc. is a FORTUNE 50 company that serves approximately 15 million customers a week at more than 1,750 home improvement stores in the United States, Canada and Mexico. Founded in 1946 and based in Mooresville, N.C., Lowe's is the second-largest home improvement retailer in the world. Pictured here from left to right are: Town of Huntington Superintendent of Highways William Naughton, Town of Huntington Supervisor Frank Petrone, Lowe's District Manager Randall Legler, Town Clerk JoAnn Raia, Councilman Mark Cuthbertson, Lowe's attorney Michael McCarthy, Councilman Mark Mayoka, Councilwoman Susan Berland and Racanelli Construction Company President Nick Racanelli at the groundbreaking ceremony.