The total overhaul of a now mostly blighted and vacant downtown in Suffolk County is the closest it's ever been to reality since first being proposed nearly a decade ago. Tonight, the Town of Brookhaven and the developer, The Beechwood Organization, will hold a series of public hearings marking the most significant step in the long-awaited process. “The redevelopment of Neighborhood Road has been a long time coming,” Brookhaven Town Supervisor Dan Panico wrote in a statement. "After years of planning and multiple studies, we stand ready to bring this project to reality.” The $500 million plan, which covers most of Neighborhood Road and Commack Road between Maywood Road and Doris Drive, would create up to 630 new homes, up to 130,000 square feet of commercial space and 16,000 square feet of community space.

The proposal also calls for new sewer lines, underground utilities and street lighting. Neighborhood Road and the surrounding areas have been under-supported ever since the village of Mastic Beach dissolved at the end of 2017. The area is now filled with mostly blighted properties, vacant buildings and homes in desperate need of repair. Last November, News 12 reported that hundreds of people packed the William Floyd High School auditorium for a meeting where the master plan was presented. The concept mainly received vast community support from people who are hoping the changes will bring a new life to the area, add jobs and more tax dollars to support future growth. Some people raised concerns about the impact on traffic, design and that the changes will make the area unaffordable. “We are committed to giving Mastic Beach residents a downtown of which they can be proud; a place where they can eat, shop and meet friends and family, and be proud to call their home," Brookhaven Town Councilwoman Karen Dunne Kesnig said in a statement. Tonight's public hearings will focus on the environmental impact, land use and zoning code. The meeting is scheduled to take place at Brookhaven Town Hall in Farmingville beginning at 5:30 p.m.