Yaphank Center

While serving at Camp Upton during World War I, Irving Berlin was so captivated with the name of the surrounding community that it inspired his first Broadway show: "Yip, Yip, Yaphank."

With a name like Yaphank, it's no wonder that this once rural Brookhaven backwater has inspired jokes as well as songs over the years. But joke no more.

Yaphank is about to inspire one of the most ambitious community building programs undertaken on Long Island in recent years. Suffolk County is inviting developers to propose uses for some 400 acres of vacant land owned by the county.

What's remarkable is that the county proposes to use much of the land to meet Long Island's greatest need: affordable housing. The county also wants to develop sports and entertainment facilities on part of the site.

It's all part of the county's plan to work with towns to locate sites and build workforce housing. To its credit, the county has consulted widely with the Yaphank community, and has promised to be sensitive to its views. Over the years, many in Yaphank have complained that their community--the site of the county's large jail--has become a dumping ground for facilities no other community wants.

But with its Long Island Rail Road station and ready access to the LIE, Yaphank is an excellent location for economic development and workforce housing.

That's the vision Suffolk Executive Steve Levy has been sharing with Yaphank residents in an open process that invites residents as well as developers to share their ideas. With all this potential, the possibilities are exciting, and the process is, appropriately, open. Thomas Rising
Medford, NY

I went to all of the meetings and I feel it is not right to let Mr. Levy and his so-called bias committee put workforce housing on this land .We must have had close to 1,000 people at the three meetings, and Mr. Levy's committee did not care about what we want on the Yaphank land. I guess Mr. Levy does not care about people racing on the streets when he said that he would build a track to make it safe for the residents on Long Island. Donald Vane
Great Neck, NY

Workforce housing? Sounds more like welfare housing. Just what we need on Long Island is more housing. It is hard enough now to find decent jobs on the island. The state legislature needs to get their act together. I would rather see a motor sports complex being built. Think of all the full time jobs the place would create, let alone the tax revenue that it would bring to Long Island. It would be a win-win situation for everyone. Kim Bartley
East Northport, NY

Good for you. This article is near perfectly neutral. And now for a wholly biased opinion, let me raise my voice in support of the addition of a racetrack facility on the land currently in question.

Think of it this way: would you rather have roving pockets of gearhead freaks roaming the countryside, tearing up the asphalt with their trails of acrid rubber? Or would you rather have a single centralized location where these same antics are tolerated--nay, encouraged--and supervised by proper authorities? Thank you for your time. Donna DiMaggio
Shirley, NY

I hope they build the entertainment center here in Yaphank. Our young people need entertainment. Racing is a family sport and has been part of Long Island as far back as I can remember. We lost the Westhampton Beach Track. Let's build this one and give them a safe place to race. Jim Drannbauer
Bohemia, NY

I'm not sure whether I agree or disagree with the editorial. I think it is great that Steve Levy is consulting with so many organizations about the use of the land. I also feel that if all the politicians had paid attention to what was going on with Westhampton Dragstrip (in use since I believe 1955) there would not be so many arguments about what should be done with the land. Now that the Dragstrip is closed, there is a lot of money being spent each weekend by racers and their families that have to drive to New Jersey (the closest drag strip to Suffolk County is approx. 90 miles), spending a lot of money not only on gas but also on tolls. When at the track, a large amount of money is spent on meals, souvenirs and apparal and, occasionally, overnight lodging. It would be nice if all this money could stay on Long Island and the taxes collected on this spending be put to good use here instead of in NJ. I think it is time that Long Islanders put some money back into the communities that they live in. Alan Gross
Bayport, NY

From what I have seen, you have it wrong. The articles I have read have stated that Mr. Levy is in favor of more than just workforce housing. All more housing will do is increase taxes for the rest of Brookhaven and Suffolk County. The proposal for a sports complex seems much more in need. Long Island used to be a place to go for entertainment. It no longer is because all of our entertainment has been shut down by the NIMBY residents of the island. We need some place to go to be entertained, not to sit in more traffic, which is all that mass housing will produce. Luigi Pinello
Nesconset, NY

I agree on the issue of an entertainment center. We do not need more houses on Long Island. I moved from Brooklyn to get away from all the housing. We need an entertainment center with a drag race track. I am sick of giving New Jersey my hard-earned money. I will be retiring in five years. I plan to move down south so I can race and start a new career in motorsports. With a track on Long Island, I would stay and put my money into Suffolk County. There are many people leaving the island just because they cannot race. The main reason is that it is so expensive to live here. If you want to keep me here I will pay high taxes, but only if I can race. Thank you. Please make the right choice and build a track. William Peysson
Farmingdale, NY

I don't know how many acres are being recommended to be put aside for housing vs. a sports entertainment facility. All I do know is that I would very much like to see an entertainment facility. If they need the entire 400 acres, then so be it. If they can coincide, I'd be okay with that. I just don't want to see the housing expand to the detriment of the sports facility. Chris Malatos
Kings Park, NY

We need a track for the young people to race their cars, and some older folks like me would like it too. Stephen Mandy
Manorville, NY

The island needs business to pick up some of the heavy tax load that is usually passed on to the average citizen. A recreational facility as well as a sports arena would bring in huge revenue and create jobs for Long Islanders. The community concern is traffic. A big sporting event such as Nascar comes maybe one weekend a year. I think for the benefits, we could put up with a little inconvenience. Let's keep our dollars on Long Island instead of having to go out of state for recreation! Tracy Chirico
Huntington, NY

With all of the foreclosed homes that seem to be popping up on Long Island, why would we build more housing for a work force that is having trouble finding sustainable employment here? And who in their right minds do you think would be attracted to "affordable housing" surrounded by a jail and a dump? In my opinion, a sports and entertainment complex would be a much more suitable use for the property, or the majority of the property, anyway. This would provide jobs for many, and has the potential to provide an economic boost to the area that borders on the unimaginable. Imagine the impact on local businesses (hotels, restaurants, shops) if we brought tourists to Long Island, and let Long Islanders spend their disposable income here in their own backyards, rather than traveling out of state to go to racing venues, ATV and motorcross facilities, and other entertainment venues. Wouldn't that make more sense than adding housing for a population that needs jobs, and adding housing to a school district that is undoubtedly already overburdened? Aurelio Menuzzo
Westbury, NY

We need a beautiful and culture-rich development. We don't need more housing in Long Island. Pretty soon every piece of entertainment and culture that Long Island possesses will be destroyed and houses built. Why not allow something innovative, somewhere that we can take our children on the weekends, a place for fun? Everyone, please vote against yet another housing development. We don't need more people living here. We need good reasons for staying in Long Island. John Klett
East Patchogue, NY

This is total garbage. If people need jobs, why not give them jobs to pay for houses? Putting "affordable housing" is a total waste of that space. If people had a job at, let's say a sporting complex, maybe the legislators would not lean towards a band-aid--making money for the county, creating jobs, and tons of money for local business. If the local businesses are busy, do you think they would hire more people? Why is it that a young college student can see this when the people running the county can not?

Many people disagree with a motor sport entertainment center. Why, because they want to see more illegal street racing? Because it is going to be so loud? Or they could possibly take the entire family where they could all have a good time? God forbid!

Low-budget housing is not going to be a bed of flowers for the people of Yaphank. I am so close to Yaphank I can smell the dumps. I do not want a low-budget housing facility near me, and that's the bottom line!

Five-hundred-plus people showed up at Suffolk Community College in Selden to support the motor park and family entertainment center and less than a dozen to oppose. Is the vision and will of the residents unclear?

As for me, if I have a place to take my car to test its limits, I will go. English Town is way too far away, but the streets are right there. This whole thing just blows my mind sometimes. Cure a couple of problems at a time, or just put a band-aid on it? Bob Blair
Sayville, NY

"Workforce Housing," "Affordable," "Subsidized," "Projects;" call it what you want, but it's always the same failed notion. Go slightly further west and look at the projects in New York City or cross the ocean and view the burnt-out remains in France. Build the project that the average Long Islander can benefit from: a recreation park. Christopher Poggi
Coram, NY

I for one support the Yaphank building proposal. I feel we should all support the proposal for a new multi-use racing facility to be built on part of the land. Racing of all types has swept the nation and has always been very apparent on Long Island. Yet with all the racing support on Long Island, all the speedways and dragways have been closed. This has put all Long Island racing on our local streets and highways (and has probably affected our insurance rates as a result).

The creation of a new speedway has many advantages. It creates a safe and legal environment where everyone from Long Island can participate in or view various racing activities. As of now, our tax dollars leave Long Island so our residents can go to New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Delaware and New Hampshire to enjoy racing sports. Being among the newest venues to be built in the Northeast in years also brings the potential for attracting sponsorship from national racing organizations such as the NHRA, AMA and NASCAR to sporting events. I believe our money should be reinvested in our community, not sent elsewhere. The revenues and taxes collected as a result of this race park should be collected in Suffolk. This proposal will create jobs. Jobs to build it, operate it, maintain it and to support it. Also, the businesses which are sure to grow up around it will generate more jobs for Long Islanders. This race park should be built. It's a homerun for Suffolk County and all of Long Island. Len Laufer
East Northport, NY

What we need on Long Island is a way to generate revenue and jobs. The sports complex answers both needs. In addition to adding a family facility, it would be a tourist attraction. Paul Salvatore
East Patchogue, NY

"Even though Yaphank has inspired jokes and songs over the years....?" Huh? Who wrote this article? Make no joke about it. The last thing we need is more low-income housing in a place jobs are already hard to find. Let's not build a facility to create revenue and more jobs, let's build homes for more people to come and be unemployed. Perfect! I am a small local General Contractor. We have enough work to stay busy. No more houses! Race on.... Kevin Kepler
Huntington, NY

I for one would like to see the race track built. The positives of it would be an increase in tax revenue, decrease in incidents of traffic accidents and deaths related to racing, and an increase in jobs and services that are associated with building and maintaining such a facility. Think about all the events, sponsors, visitors and revenue that such a facility would contribute to the area. It would be wise to have jobs for people before you build them workforce housing. If there is no work, how can you sustain workforce housing? Build the race track. The positives greatly outweigh the negatives. Anthony Tumbarello
West Hempstead, NY

This workforce housing will kill Long Island's economy. It will never generate the money a motorsports/entertainment facility will! It is only going to cost Long Island in the long run. Who in their right mind is going to buy a house located next to a state prison, a fireworks company, a sewer treatment plant and a compost company? And please don't try and tell us that today's young people can not buy a house because there is no affordable housing. The reason is that the job market is not good because there is no more manufacturing on Long Island! Steve Duncovich
Islip Terrace, NY

People talk about the amount of traffic that would be brought in because of a major racetrack. It couldn't be any worse than the traffic brought in because of the golf tournaments that come to the island. Everyone keeps saying "racetrack"--people have to keep in mind that it's much more than this. There's a whole entertainment center planned that would have numerous venues and types of entertainment. These venues would appeal to various ages, from single people to families. I hope that Levy listens to the majority and gives us a place to play. Jay Caputo
Islip Terrace, NY

It seems that with all the housing going up, it doesn't seem to do much except keep our taxes going up. How many more years do we have to spend our hard-earned money and support the racetracks in other states? Not to mention the jobs we create there. I think it is about time we start to think about doing something for Suffolk County. The entertainment center would do just this by creating jobs and keeping racing where it belongs: on the track, not the street. Larry Lamme
Wheatley Heights, NY

I think affordable housing means welfare housing. Now maybe the show Cops can come to Long Island and film. It's also a way to put money in the pockets of developers, who in turn donate to politicians. I have an idea. How about listening to the people who pay the politician's salaries? Jim Altemose
Smithtown, NY

"Workforce" housing is the chosen wording. Not "Commuter" housing or "Young Professional" housing. This sounds suspiciously like an effort to relocate the Farmingville housing problem, or worse yet, create a new one. I think Long Island needs projects that improve the quality of life of its residents and encourages spending. Family-oriented entertainment facilities with shops and restaurants would achieve this. Workforce housing is more likely to spawn a problem area than a desirable area. Ann Russo
Bellport, NY

Does anyone on Long Island have children? Although I agree that entertainment centers should be available, the need for them is not nearly comparable to the need for affordable housing. How many of your friends, family and neighbors are moving away to have a more affordable way of life? How many people are moving off Long Island because there are no racetracks here? While I have noticed that the common agreement is that a racetrack will provide jobs and bring in revenue, in all honesty I can guarantee you that the $10 an hour that the common racetrack employee will make will barely cover his medical insurance, let alone his $450,000 home. I am 23 years old, and an upstanding citizen, with a respectable position in a reputable company in Suffolk County, and yet I cannot afford to live on my own. The affordable housing that is in question is not something that anyone off the street can qualify for. The affordable housing in question would only be available to those who are financially responsible enough to get through an extensive screening process. I urge residents to consider the next generation. You want a racetrack, keep open Riverhead Raceway. Andrea
Middle Island, NY

I am and sick and tired of hearing about how our local politicians (and even some of our citizens--shame on you!) want to "build out" Long Island "in the name of young people." I am 28 years old and have been a resident of Brookhaven Town for twenty-four of those years. I have three younger siblings, am a school teacher, and am married to a school teacher. With that, I not only know a lot of twenty-something-year-olds, but I also feel pretty confident that I know a lot about what these young people and others in our communities like them are really searching for. In fact, I've been conducting surveys over the past few months to prove it, and I'm not sure which young people you are all talking about, because every single young person who has so far responded to the open-ended question of "What is your vision of how you would like to see Long Island develop and change?" has done so with a loud and clear, "No more development."

Truth be told, young Long Islanders are not just looking to move off the Island because of the housing problem; they're searching elsewhere because of the overdevelopment that is occurring here. I know this might actually sound surprising to the politicians who think that making Long Island into NYC is just what we all want, but it isn't; overcrowding is just not desirable... or safe. One thousand more houses equals 2,000 more cars. Yay! More traffic jams! And then, soon, they'll widen our roads or build more roads to fix the traffic jams, so watch out--your house might just be in their way! Keep in mind, it wasn't that long ago that many people lost 15 feet of more of their backyards to an ever-expanding Route 347.

Young people want affordable housing, not more housing. And they definitely aren't hoping to live in the low-cost housing units or mega-dorms the government is advocating. We don't need to create more housing to make affordable housing; we need to make changes to the home buying process. Give young people incentives, not more low-cost housing units. This project, and others like it, is going to push out the precious young people you are trying to get to stay here.