HAUPPAUGE, NY—Suffolk County Presiding Officer Kevin McCaffrey (R-14th LD) today announced the legislature’s approval of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the State of New York, the Town of Huntington and the Open Space Institute Land Trust – all partners in the effort to acquire a substantial portion of land in Lloyd Harbor. This legislative accomplishment is yet another important step in the complex acquisition process that will hopefully result in the securing of 200 acres of exquisite waterfront property. Earlier this year, Legislator Stephanie Bontempi (R-18th LD) introduced legislation that authorized the required appraisals, one of the first steps in the aforementioned process.
“This is a rare opportunity to preserve a stellar piece of real estate in the name of the people,” said McCaffrey. “We are looking forward to the next steps that will create a new oasis in Suffolk County.” The land is part of the grounds of the Seminary of the Immaculate Conception, which ended its seminarian program in 2012. The seminary is currently used as a retreat venue and it plans to continue that function for the foreseeable future.
“Open space preservation and environmental protection is a cornerstone of my mission as an elected official and taking this next step in the lengthy process of acquiring open space is a tremendous victory for every resident in Suffolk County and beyond,” said Bontempi. “This land will not be sold to developers or neglected. It will become a crown jewel in the parks system. I thank all of my colleagues in the legislature for their support.”
The MOU outlines the County’s partnership with New York State, the Town of Huntington and the Open Space Institute Land Trust. The subject land has many amenities both natural and human made, such as open fields, a wide variety of flora and fauna, and a spectacular amphitheater designed by Frederick Law Olmsted, Jr.