A former cold-war aviation landmark in Calverton may soon see new life as an indoor agricultural hub under a commercial redevelopment proposal. Manhattan-based real estate firm Signature Partners, which acquired a portion of the long-decommissioned Grumman flight-test complex late last year, has submitted preliminary plans to convert the property into a high-security indoor cannabis growing campus. The proposed project envisions repurposing three existing structures totaling 126,500 square feet to support controlled-environment crop cultivation, operating entirely closed to direct retail traffic.
Because the historic industrial site sits within the protected Central Pine Barrens Core Preservation Area, the development team has applied for a hardship waiver with the Pine Barrens Commission. The developers emphasize that the project is designed to minimize local environmental impact by restoring existing building footprints rather than expanding into surrounding natural habitats. Proposed site enhancements include internal facility updates, upgraded septic systems, resurfaced parking areas, and strict environmental mitigation controls for light, noise, and odor.
The application must navigate public hearings with conservation authorities alongside site-plan reviews with the Town of Riverhead, which recognizes indoor crop cultivation under municipal agricultural zoning. If approved, the adaptive reuse project would represent one of the largest specialized indoor cultivation spaces in New York State, transforming a legacy military testing site into a state-of-the-art agricultural asset.
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