After nearly a decade of having fallen into disrepair in the wake of Superstorm Sandy, Violet Cove is on the road to recovery, and a makeover that residents of Mastic Beach say they will be proud of. Most recently, Violet Cove Restaurant, which occupied 2 Violet Road in Mastic Beach, was leveled by Suffolk County, paving the way for improvements moving forward. The County acquired the property due to non-payment of taxes.
The County-appointed Project Advisory Committee, (PAC), which consists of a cross representation of community organizations and whose charge is to define goals and oversee aspects of the project, conducted its first in a series of committee meetings last week. PAC members will be working in conjunction with the Department of State, Suffolk County officials and the County's Department of Economic Development and Planning, the Brooklyn-based nArchitects firm, and Nelson and Pope project engineers and consultants. A $1 million New York State grant was issued for Violet Cove's development and redesign.
In an interview last week, Suffolk County Third District Legislator Jim Mazzarella discussed various aspects of the plans for the six mile stretch of waterfront property. "We had a very successful first meeting where many of the PAC members from different organizations throughout the community were able to share ideas about the site with the design professionals and with each other, and we look forward to a continued, open dialogue as we begin to shape what will become an amenity for the entire community to enjoy," Mazzarella explained.
Mazzarella estimates the planning stage will take approximately one year with no development expected to commence until after the planning and permitting process is complete. Ultimately, the Legislator said "flexibility" is key to shaping the future of Violet Cove, floating possibilities that could include educational space, snack stand, food truck, kayaking launch and any number of multi use low-impact projects.
Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone, in a recent press conference marking the demolition of Violet Cove Restaurant, referenced Violet Cove as "An extraordinary natural resource," stating, "There is a rebirth on the site where people are able to come back to this site and really enjoy the natural beauty of this location."
Violet Cove is situated on the peninsula on the south end of Mastic Beach, and is surrounded by the Narrows Bay that gives way to a vista of the Smith Point County Park.
Summing up the project as stakeholders prepare to advance development and design initiatives on Violet Cove, Mazzarella told South Shore Press: "A key factor of Violet Cove is its potential connectivity to many destinations along our shoreline such as Smith Point Marina, Bayview Park, and Osprey Point." Speaking to the prime waterfront real estate within Suffolk County's Third Council District, Mazzarella pointed out, "Our pristine coastline from Carmen's River to the Forge River is what makes our peninsula such a great place to live. Violet Cove sits central to that and will become yet another destination that allows for our residents to access the beautiful waterfront." Mazzarella noted that a series of public informational meetings will be scheduled as part of the planning process.
Reached for comment, Brookhaven Town Sixth District Councilman and Deputy Supervisor Dan Panico echoed Mazzarella's suggestions for potential projects, but underscored that the PAC's inaugural meeting was introductory and cordial in nature, with an informative presentation by the County. "They laid out possibilities and some of the challenges given the proximity to the water," Panico said, noting that there will likely be no building at grade due to the property's low elevation which is almost at sea level. Commenting on the future of Violet Cove, Panico stated, "I think it's good to see so much interest and investment by Suffolk County in what is one of the most beautiful, unspoiled coastline of Mastic Beach."