By JIM McCUNE //
Garvies Point is a residential and recreational paradise on Long Island’s North Shore.
Most of the present-day Garvies Point Preserve was formerly part of the Garvie Estate, named for Thomas Garvie, who emigrated from Scotland to Glen Cove in 1803. One of only two local physicians at the time, Garvie was a talented young surgeon, businessman, geologist and maritime enthusiast, and a pillar of the local community.
Fast forward 199 years: Garvie would be proud of the surgical precision that reimagined his creek-side homestead into a stunning, mile-long waterfront esplanade connecting green spaces, marinas, residences, businesses, restaurants, a ferry terminal and more.
While the initial concept for a mixed-use development (codename: Glen Isle) began in 2002, the project actually dates back to the 1990s. Then-Glen Cove Mayor Thomas Suozzi championed the construction of the ferry terminal while dredging the creek and managing a massive environmental cleanup – earning the city some praise and some hefty Environmental Protection Agency grants.
Jim McCune: Likes what he sees in Glen Cove.
In 2006, RXR Realty Chairman and CEO Scott Rechler, a Long Island native, took on the waterfront development, promising a vibrant downtown waterfront mixing the best of suburban and urban living.
It would take five years of hard work, perseverance and legal battles for RXR to earn project approval from the Glen Cove Planning Board, which finally arrived in May 2011.
To honor Garvie and preserve Glen Cove’s heritage, RXR named the project Garvies Point. It broke ground in 2016, including a complete reengineering of Herb Hill Road to accommodate the massive fleet of construction equipment and building materials.
The Phase One plan included restored wetlands, an educational ecology pier and other amenities – including 28 acres of public open space, waterfront parks and esplanades. It was completed in 2018, when RXR announced other exciting news: The developer had secured financing for another mixed-use development, Village Square, to be built within walking distance of Harbor Landing at Garvies Point.
Among Village Square’s attractions: Another 146 studio, one- and two-bedroom rental apartments, a 16,500-square-foot public plaza, extensive retail space and a public dog park.
Major complications arose in 2019, of course, with the coronavirus pandemic. Garvies Point construction was shut down completely for 108 days during quarantine. State Senator Jim Gaughran praised RXR during the Village Square’s October 2020 ribbon-cutting ceremony, commending the construction crews for working hard through a frustrating crisis.
Pub sprawl: The spacious Garvies Point Brewery & Restaurant is more than just burgers and beers.
Now, two decades since this story began, Harbor Landing is bustling with residents and has welcomed its first retail tenant: Brendel’s Bagels. Meanwhile, The Beacon at Garvies Point – a 166-unit luxury waterfront condominium community – is three-quarters sold.
“As a Glen Cove native, it’s been exciting to see Garvies Point transform into the ultimate live/work/play community,” said Joseph Graziose, RXR’s executive vice president for residential development and construction. “We’re delighted by the success of the waterfront promenade and expanse of the green spaces … we’re continuously growing and evolving the local business community.”
This year, Garvies Point welcomed the Deep Roots Farmers Market, a Chase Bank branch and the first brick-and-mortar store for The Shoppe by Trubee Hill, which offers luxury home goods, many locally made. It also hosted an inaugural Kite Festival and an annual Greek Festival, introducing thousands to the newly renovated waterfront and its 1,100-plus new residences.
In a statement, The Shoppe by Trubee Hill founders and longtime Glen Cove residents Adam and Ian Siegel said they were “thrilled to open our doors to the Glen Cove community,” adding “there’s no better place for our business to be located.”
This year also marked the launch of the much-anticipated, 8,500-square-foot Garvies Point Brewery & Restaurant, featuring all-new outdoor-dining and private-event spaces.
“The addition of Garvies Point Brewery & Restaurant has brought such an enthusiastic response from all of our residents,” Graziose noted. “The unique ability to ‘dock and dine’ right in the Garvies Point marina perfectly embodies our lively waterfront community.”
Garvies Point Brewery & Restaurant co-founder Mark Scorposki is especially proud of the establishment’s draft taps – 24 in the all-new tasting room, 10 more at the outdoor patio bar – while partner Jim Scorposki, who is also owner of Bayville’s Crescent Beach Club and its Ocean restaurant, praised an “eclectic menu with something for everyone.”
Also tasty: According to project projections, the construction effort generated hundreds of jobs with the equivalent of $36 million in annual earnings. And the new brewery is part of 540 permanent Garvies Point jobs projected to generate more than $22 million in annual earnings.
It’s another win for RXR, an innovative investor and developer headquartered in New York City. RXR has expertise in value-creation activities and uncovering value in underperforming properties, and in the $1.3 billion Garvies Point development, they’ve created a game-changing “city within a city” – and a roadmap for Long Island redevelopment.
Jim McCune is director of the Craft Beverage Division at Melville-based EGC Group.
