The Riverhead Town Board hopes to move forward with its downtown revitalization plans by using eminent domain to acquire two pieces of land on either side of the proposed town square. The town said it needs to take over the future home of the Long Island Science Center at 111 E. Main St. and Craft'd Bar at 127 E. Main St. to move the project along. Eminent domain gives governments the power to seize private property for public use, even if the owner doesn't want to sell, as long as the owner gets "just compensation," usually determined by a judge.

"Downtown is really great and I see the improvement, but I can understand from the businesses that are there," Riverhead resident Cindy Milligan said. "I mean that's hard to give up your business." In December 2022, Gov. Kathy Hochul awarded Riverhead $10 million for its downtown revitalization efforts. The proposal includes a new town square, more public green space that better connects Main Street to the Peconic River, an adaptive playground, amphitheater, condos and parking. In 2020, the Long Island Science Center purchased a former department store property on East Main Street as part of its vision to expand to include more than 6,000 square feet of exhibition space. The nonprofit is currently and temporarily operating out of a spot in the Tanger Outlets about 4 miles away. According to public documents, a town inspection found structural issues and flooding risks at the East Main Street building, which remains unoccupied. Laurence Oxman denied any issues and urged the board to reconsider in a letter presented at the town's meeting on April 1. "The Science Center is concerned that the town board does not have the correct and most up-to-date information on their property, Oxman wrote. According to Suffolk County property records, Riverhead purchased the building that Craft'd calls home in 2021 for $950,000, but would still need to negotiate the remainder of the bar's lease.

"We still need places to go and have fun," Riverhead resident Deborah Miles Brown said urging the town to save the bar.

News 12 has reached out to the town board, Long Island Science Center and Craft'd for comment early this morning, but has not heard back at this time. The town board scheduled public hearings on the possible eminent domain for May 21.