How Mixed-Use Developments Are Connecting with Their Neighborhoods, Not Replacing Them

Monday, February 24, 2025

• Mixed Use Focus: Large developments are always challenging, especially mixed-use projects. We spoke with the developers behind one of the country’s most impressive live/work/play communities to learn how they brought it to life.

• CRE Investing Webinar: Join Thesis Driven's Brad Hargreaves and Propmodo's Franco Faraudo on February 26th to discuss winning strategies for real estate fundraising and investor relations. Sign up.

• Mixed-Use Webinar: Learn how owners and operators can boost profits in mixed-use developments by leveraging data-driven decisions, creating tenant synergy, and embracing adaptive design. Sign up.

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How Mixed-Use Developments Are Connecting with Their Neighborhoods, Not Replacing Them

For most New Yorkers, Ronkonkoma is simply the end of the Long Island Rail Road line—a quiet, rural town with a population of 18,000. But in 2017, Governor Cuomo announced a $650 million development project set to transform the area into a bustling transit hub and mixed-use community. While some feared that the project would overwhelm the small town and alter its character, others saw it as a long-overdue chance to revitalize an underutilized area and stimulate local growth. The stakes were high, and the challenges were significant—yet the development moved forward.

What followed was a massive undertaking to add residential units, commercial spaces, and even a new sewage infrastructure—all while balancing the needs of the existing community. Tritec, the family-owned developer chosen for the project, faced a series of obstacles, from legal opposition to the complexity of creating an entirely new sewage system for the area. But rather than bulldozing ahead with a one-size-fits-all plan, the team worked tirelessly to involve the community in the development process, ensuring the project aligned with local needs and values. The result? A unique, walkable space that supports both new growth and the town’s long-standing businesses.

While the development still carries its fair share of setbacks, it has brought significant economic opportunities to Ronkonkoma—turning it into a model for how large-scale projects can coexist with existing communities. With the introduction of unique local retailers, vibrant event programming, and even partnerships with the local school district, Tritec has demonstrated that development doesn’t have to be a zero-sum game. Instead, it can be an opportunity for growth that benefits everyone involved.

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