$25M Land Deal Sets Stage for Major Mixed-Use Project on Former Dowling College Campus in Shirley

Major Mixed-Use Development Planned for Former Dowling College Property in Shirley, NY


 

A new chapter is unfolding at the long-vacant Dowling College aviation campus in Shirley, Long Island. New Jersey-based Hampshire Venture Partners LLC has closed on a $25 million acquisition of the 105-acre site, paving the way for a large-scale industrial and recreational redevelopment.

Located adjacent to the Town of Brookhaven’s Calabro Airport, the property was once home to Dowling’s aviation school. Hampshire Venture Partners—an affiliate of Hampshire Real Estate Companies—plans to transform the land into a vibrant mixed-use development combining nearly 600,000 square feet of warehouse space with expansive public recreational facilities.

Project Highlights

• Total land acquired: 104.73 acres

• Warehouse space: ~600,000 sq. ft. across three buildings (206,206 sq. ft., 183,750 sq. ft., 206,800 sq. ft.)

• Public contribution: 45 acres dedicated to the Town of Brookhaven

• Recreation center: 81,250 sq. ft. facility with two NHL-sized ice rinks

• Open space: 22 acres of wooded land preserved for public use

• Existing infrastructure: 53,000 sq. ft. of office/classroom space and a hangar to be repurposed

A Public-Private Partnership in the Making

Hampshire’s plan includes dedicating 45 acres to the town, retaining three athletic fields on the north end of the site and preserving more than 20 acres of natural woodland. A state-of-the-art recreation complex, to be built by Ronkonkoma-based J. Petrocelli Contracting, will serve the community with ice hockey rinks and multi-use space for youth and adult sports leagues.

The 72,000-square-foot Dowling dormitory will be demolished, but existing classroom, office, and hangar structures will be preserved for potential reuse—enhancing the project’s adaptive reuse credentials.

Zoning and Development Timeline

Currently zoned for residential use, the site will require a zoning change. The Brookhaven Town Board is expected to schedule a public hearing soon to review proposed zoning adjustments allowing for industrial development and the recreation center.

“We are enthusiastically looking forward to presenting our applications to the town board and the public very soon,” said Christopher Kent, real estate development partner at Farrell Fritz, who represents the project.

Hampshire Real Estate aims to secure site-plan approval by the end of 2025, with construction to begin shortly thereafter, according to John Durso, the firm’s Chief Investment Officer.

Background and Past Ownership

Previously owned by Triple Five Aviation Industries, a subsidiary of Canada's Triple Five Worldwide Group, the site was acquired in 2018 for $14 million during Dowling’s bankruptcy sale. Triple Five had ambitious plans for a research and development hub but failed to move forward after a key operator withdrew.

Triple Five also remains entangled in litigation with the Town of Riverhead after its $40 million plan for the Enterprise Park at Calverton (EPCAL) was scrapped earlier this year.

What This Means for Shirley and Brookhaven

The project signals a major investment in the economic revitalization of Shirley, bringing both industrial job growth and public recreational amenities. For the Town of Brookhaven, the combination of preserved open space and community-focused infrastructure like ice rinks and parks is a significant win.


Tags: Shirley NY development, Dowling College redevelopment, Hampshire Real Estate, Brookhaven warehouse project, Long Island mixed-use, industrial real estate, Long Island ice rinks, public park investment, zoning change Brookhaven, adaptive reuse Long Island