By Hank Russell
During the LIMBA (Long Island Metro Business Action) meeting that was held on April 25 at the Candlelight Diner in Commack, Smithtown Town Supervisor Ed Wehrheim shared with those in attendance his achievements since he became the town’s leader, but also took a moment to dismiss criticisms from his detractors about the newly constructed apartments in the town.
Wehrheim spoke about the new apartment complexes that are almost filled up, including a 98-unit luxury apartment complex in Commack, a 71-unit complex on Route 25 and Maple Avenue that replaced a “dilapidated” Nassau Suffolk Lumber building and is currently 70% occupied.
“We’re taking these blighted properties and turning them into money-raising properties,” Wehrheim said.
He also acknowledged that some people have expressed opposition to these residential developments, namely his Republican primary opponent, whom he did not name, but he said that what they are saying is misinformation.
“They said that [these buildings] will never be filled, that it will be low-income housing,” Wehrheim said, adding that the retail stores in the Maple Avenue complex are thriving and these apartments run from $1,600 to $1,700 a month. “Nothing could be further from the truth.”
He also dismissed his opponent’s accusation that Wehrheim was trying to build a 45-unit apartment complex on the parking lot of the former Rite-Aid. “Not true,” Wehrheim said. “He has it all twisted. He said we won’t sell it out, then turn it into Section 8 housing.”
Another accusation his opponent lobbed at Wehrheim was that the supervisor was looking to turn the town into Queens. “If I wanted to turn [the town] into Queens, I could,” Wehrheim said, “but that’s not going to happen.”
Wehrheim also addressed his opponent’s claim that the proliferation of rental housing will increase traffic, which Sal Formica, a Republican candidate for the Suffolk County Legislature, waved away. “It’s fearmongering,” Formica said. “We haven’t seen any of that.”
He cited the new housing opportunities have resulted in more foot traffic throughout the town.
On the topic of parks, Wehrheim talked about the investments he made to improve them. “My opponent says it’s a waste of money,” he said. “You know who uses these parks? You have children, parents, grandparents and great-grandparents. Our parks are now full to capacity.”
When he was a town council member under the previous administration, “I paid attention to the quality of life,” said Wehrheim, who got his start with the town 40 years ago in the Parks Department. “I used to go to the previous administration [and ask for funding for the parks]. I got turned down; they told me the same thing: ‘We don’t have the money.’”
Among the projects were the proposed renovation of Flynn Memorial Field, the construction of the new KP Sports Park and improvements to Hoyt Park, which he says, “is packed all the time.”
In addition, many businesses have moved to Smithtown, thanks to the renovation of the Lake Avenue storefronts and the renovation of blighted properties. Some of the companies include PGA Superstore — only one of two Long Island locations — Tesla, Restoration Warehouse and Carmax.
“They’re not relocating until they do their due diligence,” Wehrheim said. “Why [are they moving to Smithtown]? They’re seeing the improvements that we’re doing.”
To work with companies that wish to move to Smithtown, Wehrheim said the town board, not the planning board, will make the decisions on whether or not the company is a fit. “Even if we say ‘It’s not gonna fly,’ you won’t waste one penny” on application fees.
He also spoke about the town’s fiscal prudence that resulted in a budget without piercing the tax cap and earning a AAA bond rating since 2018.
Wehrheim said it’s all about the town’s future. “Either you continue to go forward or you move back to stagnation.”