Tracy Stark-James, Riverhead Industrial Development Agency

What was the best thing that happened to you or your firm in 2014? The renovation of a 40,000 s/f, two-story building in the heart of downtown Riverhead. The property sits in the geographic center of downtown and with over 175 ft. of frontage on Main St., this renovation was a critical component to the goal of revitalizing downtown to a unified live/work shopping district. Formerly one of the anchors in downtown that had fallen into disrepair the building sat vacant for over 15 years. The newly renovated mixed-use building offers 25,000 s/f of neighborhood retail and 19 affordable workforce apartments. A capital investment of $6 million kept the historic look and preserved the original character complimenting the newly restored, 1960's Art Deco Suffolk Theater another IDA project. In addition to creating 100 construction jobs, an estimated 50 permanent retail jobs are projected. Toward that goal, it is already home to Maximus Health Club, one of the newest and largest health clubs on Long Island. Goldberg's Bagel, and the Riverhead Flower Shop. Workforce housing applicants are currently being vetted for occupancy beginning January 2015. More information on the workforce housing can be found at www.woolworthapartments.com or www.riverheadida.org. What was your most notable project, deal, transaction or personal achievement in 2014? Riverhead Industrial Development Agency (IDA) was busy during 2014 assisting in the continued efforts of revitalizing downtown Riverhead. One noteworthy effort was a new concept to the area. Thirty West Main, LLC renovated a 12,000 square foot, three story commercial/office building with retail on the ground floor and office space comprising the second and third floors. The second and third floors had been vacant for years and had fallen into disrepair. With a capital investment of approximately $2 million dollars, the building is complete with state of the art infrastructure, clean crisp lines, digital security entry, lots of bright and natural light with flexible modern space and can now respond to the changing demand for an alternative type of office space allowing business professionals to be flexible without the commitment and expense of a long-term lease. Thirty West Main offers turnkey and scalable office solutions for businesses and individuals seeking an entrepreneurial environment with like-minded professionals. IDA Executive Director Tracy Stark-James noted, "We were excited about providing a trendy option for small and startup companies with the ability to find low-cost space that does not necessarily require lengthy lease commitments." Thirty West Main, LLC provides fully furnished workstations, offices, and suites for all business/office needs. Occupants have options of space between $338 and $2,188 per month for access to a shared workspace or private office, depending on the membership level. Traditional office space and lease arrangements for the more established companies is also an option. Conference rooms, shared kitchen and lounging facilities are bright, open and professionally welcoming, while the ground level is still home to Riverhead's longtime music store, Ninow's and several other pre-existing tenants. The project estimates attracting at least 30 permanent jobs and has created approximately 30 indirect construction jobs over the past year. More information can be found at www.thirtywestmain.com. What are you looking forward to accomplishing in 2015? The completed site plan of the Enterprise Park In Calverton, the marketing and commencement of sales for the municipally owned industrial subdivision.