This past Fall, Farmingdale village officials approved plans to construct the proposed Staller Project—located at 285 Eastern Parkway in Farmingdale—which will usher in 27 residential housing units. Now, after further discussion with village officials, developers with Staller Associates, Inc. have modified their original renderings to change the once olive-colored facade with steel panels to red brick, to better match the motif of downtown Farmingdale.
After discussing the initial proposal with several residents, some of whom did not feel the cold steel panels were a good fit with some of the surrounding buildings, Farmingdale Mayor Ralph Ekstrand said he contacted the Hauppague-based developers to find a way to better compliment the community.
“The village appreciates the Staller Associates for grabbing the bull by the horns and changing their designs,” Ekstrand said.
Since the plans were already approved, Staller did not need to redraft their designs, but did so to appease residents in the village. In addition, their latest designs try to match the exterior of the building with an over 100-year-old brick warehouse, adjacent to the property.
Glancing back-and-forth between the two designs, Building Superintendent Steve Fellman said he prefers the new brick design versus the bland olive color initially proposed.
“There was no architectural relationship,” Fellman said.
Fellman pointed out that by changing the aesthetics of the facade, the building would jibe better with the neighboring warehouse as well as some of the other post-WWII residential properties around the village.
While the exterior of the project changed from the original proposal, the project still encompasses construction of a 3-and-a-half story building that contains 40,000 square feet split among 27 rental apartments. Of the residential units slated for construction, 10 percent—or approximately 2-3 units—will be affordable housing. In addition the village provided a variance for offsite parking for new residents.
“We can’t wait to see you start on the development,” Ekstrand said.
