Looking Past Regal, Walter Sets Eyes on Downtown Demographic Study

After announcing to a civic group Wednesday night that , Supervisor Sean Walter said Thursday morning that the town board is hosting smart growth planning firm Vision Long Island at its weekly work session.

Walter said that from his understanding, one reason Regal chose not to come downtown - or made an offer so low he said it couldn't be considered - was that after a demographic analysis, the numbers didn't come in as high as they would have liked.

So taking advantage of a , Walter said he wants to look toward creating a marketing package for downtown.

Town Community Development Director Chris Kempner said last year upon receiving the grant that it could be used for "creative financing ideas" to promote growth on Main Street, as Riverhead was granted the second-highest total among 21 recipients from the total sum of $6.2 million. Brownfields, according to the Department of State, are, "dormant properties where contamination has impeded redevelopment, making them an economic and environmental drain on localities."

"Right now all we have is me, the Business Improvement District, and Community Development Agency members," Walter said. "We don't have what I would call a marketing package ... so we need to have a demographic analysis for things like movie theater or supermarket downtown."

Following Thursday's presentation, Walter said the town would likely hone its own idea of what it wants and then go out to bid for a demographic analysis. 

"Am I upset? Yes," Walter said. "Am I deterred that Regal may not be coming downtown? No. Now is not a good time for movie companies and nobody said this was going to be easy."

What would you most like to see downtown?