Housing to be transformed

developer based in Lawrence plans to transform Freeport Village’s former public housing development into a 200-unit apartment complex, with units specifically designated for veterans and seniors. The deteriorating Moxey Rigby property, built in 1958 and managed by the village’s housing authority, suffered damage during Superstorm Sandy. Representatives from BOSFA Properties announced on Thursday, during a zoning board hearing, that the property will undergo extensive renovation to become modern housing. The five-story complex will consist of 10 studio apartments, 100 one-bedroom apartments, 70 two-bedroom apartments, and 20 three-bedroom apartments.

BOSFA, operated by father and son Danny and Aron Goldstein, aims to revitalize the vacant structure, which has been plagued by security and quality-of-life issues, as mentioned by Village Mayor Robert Kennedy recently. The village intends to sell the 2.5-acre property to BOSFA for $17.5 million. Additionally, the apartment complex is projected to generate approximately $500,000 in annual property taxes for the village, according to Kennedy. The mayor added that the sale of the building is expected to be finalized by the end of the year.

During the zoning board hearing, Jack Martins, the attorney for BOSFA, stated that the developers are planning a multi-generational property. Out of the 200 units, 40 will be allocated for seniors, 40 for veterans, and the remaining units for workforce housing. Rent prices will range from $1,500 to $3,000 per month, as stated by BOSFA spokesperson Dave Sutton. Sutton further emphasized the goal of creating a positive community by combining the life experiences of seniors with the ambitions of a younger workforce, while paying tribute to the sacrifices and dedication of veterans.

The original Moxey Rigby property consisted of three buildings, which developers plan to connect and modernize by installing elevators, Martins explained. The building for veterans will be named after Arthur Weaver, a Black veteran who served in a segregated U.S. Army unit during World War II and moved to Freeport in 1986. The building for seniors will be named “The Alder,” and the workforce housing building will be named “The Prodigy,” in honor of the late Freeport rapper Albert Johnson, known by his stage name Prodigy, who was part of the duo Mobb Deep.

Construction is expected to commence later this year and be completed by fall 2025, according to Sutton. The property is situated approximately three-quarters of a mile from the Freeport Long Island Rail Road station. The former housing authority building will be transformed into a resident hub, featuring workout equipment, an amenity center, meeting rooms, and lounge space, as outlined by Sutton. Architect Emilio Susa, speaking at the zoning hearing, stated that the building’s small windows will be replaced with floor-to-ceiling windows. The property will also include more walkways and landscaping compared to the original Moxey Rigby, with updates aimed at aesthetically enhancing and modernizing the property for the 21st century.

As part of the sale, the adjacent warehouse will be included and subsequently demolished to make way for a 177-space parking lot. The vertical, stacked parking lot will be managed around the clock by an attendant, according to Susa.

To honor Moxey Rigby, Nassau County’s first Black judge, BOSFA is establishing a scholarship program. The annual $10,000 scholarship will benefit a resident of the village, recommended by the village board and selected by the mayor. Sutton confirmed that the scholarship will be funded for at least 15 years.