After years of frustration over the condition of the vacant Long Island Railroad station building in Riverhead, a new day may be dawning.
Jill Lewis, Riverhead deputy supervisor, said on Thursday that Helena Williams, the president of the MTA, has been "responsive" to Riverhead Town Supervisor Sean Walter's request to have a presence at the site.
To that end, Williams said the MTA has issued a request for proposals for a ten-year lease at the site.
Those interested in submitting a proposal will be offered an opportunity to view the property on Friday at noon.
Individuals interested in submitting an RFP, click here.
The train station has been a source of controversy over the years, after the Open Arms soup kitchen, which was operating out of the train station and feeding Riverhead's homeless population, was asked to move; the train station has also served as a pickup point for Maureen's Haven, a program run under the auspices of the Peconic Community Council to serve the homeless.
Walters and others have said the soup kitchen and the homeless at the station presented the wrong image for travelers who take the LIRR to Riverhead and find the station to be the gateway to the town.
