Islip Town Officials Sell Surplus Land for $3.6M

Islip Town officials approved the sale of surplus land in Central Islip for $3.6 million on Tuesday in efforts to bring in more revenue.

Islip Town Board unanimously approved a resolution to sell 275 Carlton Avenue in Central Islip to West Rac Contracting Corporation for $3,590,000. This is the third piece of land the town has sold off over the last year to bring in more revenue to tackle its fiscal problems. 

Deputy Supervisor Trish Bergin Weichbrodt has led a committee who has analyzed the needs of employees, the state of Islip's more than 50 municipal buildings and properties in order to sell off parcels that have fallen into disuse or are no longer needed by the town. 

"What this Town truly needs right now is a solution to the fiscal crisis that was left to us,” Bergin Weichbrodt said in a written statement. “This land sale, and the others that have preceded it, will make a significant impact in reducing tremendous budget gaps and helps to put Islip back on the right financial track.”   

The Carlton Avenue property is a 17.95 acres of municipal land, part of an 80-acre plot, that is zoned PPD Research Industrial. Several bids were received by the town for this land, the highest coming from West Rac Contracting for $3.59 million. Tuesday's resolution will allow Supervisor Tom Croci to enter into a contract with West Rac and move forward on a closing date. 

The town has previous sold off two other pieces of land in 2012 to make revenue. In July 2012, Islip officials sold an empty lot in Islandia to Pinewood Development Company for $503,100. This was followed by the approval of agreement to sale for an aging DPW facility in East Islip for $3.2 million. Bergin Weichbrodt said additional sales of smaller properties in Bay Shore have netted the town $29,000.

"By relieving the Town of this excess land we are not just achieving a one-shot burst in revenue.  Opening these tracts of land to development puts these properties back on the tax rolls, increases business opportunities in our Town and creates local jobs," Bergin Weichbrodt said in a written statement.