GGV SPOTLIGHT PROVIDED BY JAEL FERGUSON
Northville
Commons
A future collaboration with the First Baptist Church of Riverhead
Northville Commons will be a transformative new community in Riverhead, created through a partnership between the First Baptist Church of Riverhead and Georgica Green Ventures. Planned on long-vacant church-owned land, the project will reimagine how housing, services, and community life can come together to serve local residents. Phase I will deliver 80 high-quality affordable rental apartments designed for individuals and families who live and work in Riverhead, including 20 homes reserved for residents with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) supported by Family Residences and Essential Enterprises (FREE), a nonprofit that has been empowering individuals and families on Long Island since 1977.
PROJECT HIGHLIGHTS
Transformative partnership with First Baptist Church of Riverhead to revitalize underutilized land into a vibrant community that delivers affordable housing, supportive services, and community benefits.
The Town of Riverhead adopted the Community Benefit District zoning in 2016, later amended in September 2025 to specifically allow Northville Commons to move forward as-of-right with no variances required.
The project has immense community support from the NAACP, Town of Riverhead, Suffolk County, and elected officials, and other community organizations.
Phase 1 includes 80 affordable rental units for households earning 50–80% AMI, as part of a larger master plan that also envisions 8 for-sale homes and a community center that will serve both residents and the wider Riverhead community.
Twenty apartments (25% of total units) will provide permanent supportive housing for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD), with capital and operating support from OPWDD and on-site services by Family Residences and Essential Enterprises.
The Project has secured non-HCR financing commitments, including funds from Suffolk County HOME ($1.2 million), Suffolk County Housing Opportunities Program ($1.5 million), Empire State Development LIIF ($3.6 million), and OPWDD ($2 million).
The development will meet 2025 HCR Sustainability Guidelines and Enterprise Green Communities Plus standards, incorporating solar panels, EV charging stations, and energy-efficient materials.
Located just north of Downtown Riverhead and near major transit routes, the site offers residents convenient access to jobs, shopping, and services while revitalizing a historically underserved corridor.
Northville Commons will generate substantial construction and permanent jobs and supports minority, women, and veteran-owned businesses.
The project represents years of coordinated effort between FBC, GGV, nonprofit, municipal, and private partners.
This Project is fully supported by Suffolk County Executive Bellone, Legislator Fleming and Legislator Krupski, SUNY Stony Brook, Northwell Health, Cornell Cooperative Extension of Suffolk County, CVS-Health, Long Island Regional Planning Council and Long Island Housing Partnership, exemplified by Project support letters.
MORE ABOUT NORTHVILLE COMMONS
The development will feature seven two-story townhouse-style buildings and a resident amenity center across a 7.5-acre site, with open green spaces, a community room, broadband internet, and EV charging stations. The development will meet the latest HCR 2025 Sustainability Guidelines and Enterprise Green Communities Plus standards, incorporating solar panels, all-electric systems, and water conservation measures for a healthy and energy-efficient living environment. Accessible design will also be central to the vision, with units specifically adapted for residents with mobility, hearing, and vision impairments in partnership with United Spinal Association and SILO.
Supported by Suffolk County, New York State, and the Town of Riverhead, Northville Commons will demonstrate how public-private collaboration can drive meaningful community renewal. With funding from Suffolk County HOME and Housing Opportunities Programs, Empire State Development, and the Office for People with Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD), the project will advance the Town’s “Pro-Housing Community” goals and align with its broader downtown revitalization efforts.
Located less than two miles from downtown Riverhead and the Long Island Railroad station, Northville Commons will bridge the area’s agricultural roots and vibrant commercial district, offering future residents a place to live, work, and thrive. As the first phase of a larger master plan that will also include affordable for-sale homes and a future intergenerational Community Center, Northville Commons represents a long-term commitment to building a stronger, more inclusive Riverhead where everyone belongs.
This Project is fully supported by Suffolk County Executive Bellone, Legislator Fleming and Legislator Krupski, SUNY Stony Brook, Northwell Health, Cornell Cooperative Extension of Suffolk County, CVS-Health, Long Island Regional Planning Council and Long Island Housing Partnership, exemplified by Project support letters.
