Town to Seek Grant Funding for Freight Village at EPCAL

Vintage Village. Legacy Village. Freight Village.

While the name may not ring the same nostalgic tune as some of the recent multi-use proposals from around the area, Community Development Director Chris Kempner pitched the idea of a freight village at Enterprise Park at Calverton to town board members on Thursday morning as a "transformative project" she is pursuing grant funding for.

The concept would utilize a recently-constructed rail spur and the industrial core at EPCAL to draw businesses that could benefit from the existing infrastructure and space that is still available to create an intermodal hub for private business.

"If we can get a freight village out here, it would take thousands and thousands of trucks off the highway each year," said Councilman John Dunleavy. "Plus it would help the environment, without all that diesel [exhaust] coming out of the trucks and into the air."

Councilman George Gabrielsen said that the savings gained from fuel and shipping costs would only be passed onto consumers from companies who could take advantage of such a project.

Kempner said the grant application for the "Transformative Project Proposal" could be anywhere from $10 million to $15 million, out of a collective $1 billion pool statewide.

Meanwhile the undeveloped part of the 2,900-acre area continues to be subject to a $450,000 .

The idea for freight villages around New York City rises from a goal of the New York Metropolitan Transportation Council, which is attempting to create distribution and warehouse centers around the city in an effort to ease congestion on the area's thoroughfares. NYMTC spans from Suffolk to the Hudson Valley and consists of officials attempting to address transportation issues to benefit the region.

Just over one year ago, EPCAL was measured by NYMTC along with five other sites, as suitable locations for a freight village. While EPCAL was outscored by three other sites, it was the highest-rated location scouted on Long Island. And among the six sites, Calverton was predicted to create the second-most most jobs, with over 6,300.

Over 365 acres at EPCAL was said to have favorable potential as a freight village. Pros included a strong commitment from town leaders, existing infrastructure on site, the presence of an airport, and existing businesses. Cons included a lengthy distance from New York City - thus limiting interstate commercial activity - and moderate road access to the area.