A dormant piece of Shirley infrastructure is officially set for a $190 million transformation. The Brookhaven Town Planning Board has formally approved site plans submitted by Hampshire Venture Partners LLC to redevelop the 105-acre former Brookhaven Campus of Dowling College. The massive undertaking will breathe new life into the property, which has sat largely vacant off the William Floyd Parkway since the college filed for bankruptcy and shuttered its aeronautics school in 2016.
The defining crown jewel of the approved redevelopment is a state-of-the-art, $25 million recreational complex. Spanning 81,250 square feet, the indoor arena will feature two full-size sheets of ice, spectator bleacher seating, modern locker rooms, and concession spaces. Local officials confirmed that once construction is finalized, the sports hub will be dedicated to the Town of Brookhaven as a public park, making it fully accessible to all town residents for both competitive league play and public open skating.
To clear the way for this fresh concept, crews recently finalized the total demolition of a blighted, 72,000-square-foot former campus dormitory. While the residential building was razed, Hampshire Venture Partners intends to preserve approximately 53,000 square feet of existing on-site offices, classrooms, and an aviation hangar for future adaptive reuse. Additionally, the developer has officially turned over 23 acres of old Dowling athletic fields and an extra 21 acres of wooded open space to town ownership, which will undergo extensive repairs to become active community parkland.
The commercial engine funding these massive public park donations is a planned 596,000-square-foot industrial logistics hub. Hampshire Venture Partners will utilize 60 acres of the parcel to construct three speculative warehouse buildings in measured phases, sizing out at roughly 206,000, 183,000, and 206,000 square feet. Located directly adjacent to the Town of Brookhaven’s Calabro Airport, the project is uniquely positioned to optimize local trade and supply chains.
Beyond the cultural and athletic upgrades, the project is a major win for the regional economy. According to data provided by the Suffolk County Planning Commission, the phased construction will generate 489 full-time building jobs, followed by the creation of 189 permanent, full-time warehouse operational positions upon completion. By successfully balancing commercial utility with expansive public parks, the approved site plan closes a painful chapter of abandonment and sets a vibrant new standard for land use in Shirley.
🔗 https://greaterlongisland.com/brookhaven-planning-board-approves-ice-rink-dowling-college-shirley/
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