“Transition” — that’s how Amy Kardon, of Long Island City, Queens, describes what she sees at Ronkonkoma’s multiuse development Station Yards on a sunny summer evening.
“We’ve certainly come through Ronkonkoma on the train, but not by car very frequently,” said Kardon, whose family was stretching their legs on the green space at Station Yards before hitting the road again to get to their second home in Laurel on the North Fork. “My husband works in real estate, so he sort of knew about this development in particular and he likes to see new changes in areas that you can sort of see the promise of what’s coming in the future. So we wanted to scope it out.”
Meanwhile, Janice Sexton, a Ronkonkoma resident for the past decade, was dining at Great South Bay Brewery with her family of 14 before catching a train to a concert by country singer Chris Stapleton.
“It’s not an eyesore anymore,” Sexton said.
The $1.2 billion housing and retail development across from the Ronkonkoma train station has become a community hub. Phase 2B of the project is currently underway. It will cost $113 million and bring 175 new residential units as well as 1,419 square feet of retail space, according to Chris Kelly, senior vice president at Tritec, developer of the project. Currently, 86% of the complex’s commercial space is leased, he said.
Several eateries have opened recently (and a few more still to come), making it a formidable dining destination.
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