LONG ISLAND, NY – More than $7 billion in planned development projects could reshape communities across Nassau County and Suffolk County, bringing thousands of potential new homes, major healthcare facilities, industrial warehouses, shopping center renovations and new employment opportunities to a region facing persistent housing affordability and land-use challenges.
A November 4, 2026, investigation by Newsday identified 20 major development projects in various stages of planning, approval or construction. Twelve projects with publicly available cost estimates collectively represent more than $7 billion in planned investment, while nine residential developments could eventually produce nearly 6,000 homes if completed as proposed.
The developments range from new apartment communities and downtown redevelopment projects to a proposed billion-dollar warehouse, a major hospital campus and a multibillion-dollar scientific research facility. Together, they illustrate how developers, employers and local governments are reconsidering the use of commercial, industrial and residential property across Long Island.
Not all of the projects are guaranteed to move forward. Some have received significant approvals or are already under construction, while others remain subject to environmental reviews, zoning decisions, financing arrangements, litigation or community opposition.
Melville Could See a Major Transformation
Among the communities experiencing significant development interest is Melville, where the Town of Huntington is advancing a plan to transform portions of an established commercial and industrial district into a more walkable neighborhood with housing, retail businesses and public gathering spaces.
In April 2026, the Huntington Town Board voted 4-1 to approve a special use permit for Melville Crossing, a proposed $130 million mixed-use development at 75 Maxess Road. The project would replace an approximately 170,000-square-foot office and industrial building with 290 rental apartments, 110 condominiums, more than 37,000 square feet of commercial space and public amenities.
According to Long Island Business News, the development would include a public plaza, promenade, walking trail and clubhouse. Approximately 20 percent of the residential units are designated for affordable or workforce housing. Additional project-level approvals and construction requirements may still apply.
Another development, Cornerstone Melville, has received a special use permit for a proposed $85 million complex on Baylis Road. Plans call for 168 rental residences, 12 townhome-style residences offered for sale, and more than 20,000 square feet of office and retail space. The project was awaiting site plan approval as of Newsday’s November report.
The Town of Huntington’s Melville Town Center initiative aims to introduce a pedestrian-oriented downtown environment to an area historically dominated by offices, parking lots and light industrial properties. The town has also established provisions for assessing infrastructure and public-service impacts as residential development proceeds.
New NYU Langone Hospital Could Bring Thousands of Jobs
One of the region’s most significant institutional proposals is a new NYU Langone Health academic medical center in Melville. The healthcare system announced in June that it had purchased approximately 45 acres at Huntington Quadrangle for $135.5 million, with plans to establish a large hospital, medical school and research campus.
According to NYU Langone Health, the proposed campus would include more than 500 private inpatient rooms, approximately 70 emergency department treatment bays, advanced surgical facilities, research space and the NYU Grossman Long Island School of Medicine.
The multibillion-dollar development could become the first entirely new hospital constructed on Long Island in decades. Newsday reported that NYU Langone estimates the project would support approximately 8,000 temporary construction jobs and another 2,500 indirect jobs associated with construction and hospital operations.
However, the medical center remains a proposal requiring municipal and state approvals, including authorization from the New York State Department of Health. Its eventual construction would also introduce additional questions about traffic, transportation capacity, nearby housing demand and the availability of public services.
Thousands of New Homes Planned Across Long Island
Housing represents another major component of the region’s development activity. Rising housing costs, limited available land and demand for properties near employment centers and transportation hubs have encouraged developers to pursue multifamily residential projects in communities traditionally associated with single-family suburban homes.
In Ronkonkoma, the $1.2 billion Station Yards redevelopment continues transforming property surrounding the Long Island Rail Road station into a mixed-use community. The overall development plan allows for as many as 1,450 residences, approximately 195,000 square feet of retail space and 360,000 square feet of commercial space.
Developer TRITEC Real Estate Company reported in November that more than 1,050 homes had already been delivered across completed and current phases. A planned $170 million expansion would introduce another 285 residences and approximately 30,000 square feet of medical office space, with Northwell Health expected to occupy the medical portion.
In Mineola, construction is underway on The Bridge, a $130 million condominium development near the village’s commuter rail station. The nine-story project is expected to contain 101 residences priced between approximately $1 million and $2 million, with a projected opening in 2029.
Other developments are targeting residents with more limited housing budgets. One Carleton Green, a $65 million mixed-use project in Central Islip, is expected to provide 96 apartments, including 80 affordable units, along with ground-floor retail space.
Meanwhile, the long-proposed Heartland Town Square development in Brentwood envisions approximately 3,504 apartments and 1.2 million square feet of commercial space on part of the former Pilgrim State Psychiatric Center property. The ambitious redevelopment remains stalled amid litigation, underscoring the uncertainty surrounding some of the region’s largest housing proposals.
Amazon and Other Companies Pursue Large Industrial Projects
Long Island’s development activity extends beyond residential construction. Major retailers and logistics companies are pursuing industrial facilities designed to serve the densely populated New York metropolitan region.
In Holbrook, a proposed Amazon warehouse would encompass approximately 4.2 million square feet on 140 acres, representing an investment exceeding $1 billion. The project could create an estimated 1,000 jobs, but remains in an early stage of the local approval process and has encountered opposition concerning its size and potential effects on the surrounding area.
A separate Trader Joe’s distribution hub is under construction in Islandia. The approximately 922,000-square-foot complex is planned for property formerly occupied by Computer Associates and is expected to support the grocery chain’s regional distribution operations.
Such projects could bring new employment opportunities and restore activity to underused commercial properties. However, large warehouses can also generate concerns about truck traffic, road conditions, noise, environmental effects and compatibility with nearby residential neighborhoods.
Shopping Centers Are Also Being Reinvented
Several prominent Long Island shopping centers are undergoing or preparing for major redevelopment as property owners respond to changing consumer habits and the growth of online retail.
Green Acres Mall in Valley Stream is undergoing a renovation estimated at $130 million to $150 million, while Broadway Commons in Hicksville has received approval for a redevelopment valued at approximately $200 million. The latter property is being repositioned as The Shops on Broadway, with completion targeted for late 2028.
In Nassau County, the former Sunrise Mall property in Massapequa remains the subject of redevelopment planning, including a proposed Amazon facility. The Town of Oyster Bay scheduled a November 12, 2026, public hearing concerning the warehouse site plan. The larger property’s future remains unresolved.
These projects reflect a broader shift in retail real estate, with owners exploring new store layouts, open-air shopping environments, entertainment offerings, restaurants and alternative uses for properties once dominated by traditional department stores.
Brookhaven Laboratory Plans a Multibillion-Dollar Research Facility
Another major investment involves Brookhaven National Laboratory in Upton, where a roughly $3 billion Electron-Ion Collider project is advancing through development and procurement.
The scientific facility is intended to replace the laboratory’s aging Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider and allow researchers to study the fundamental particles and forces that make up matter.
Although the project differs substantially from conventional residential or commercial real estate development, its construction represents a significant investment in Long Island’s research infrastructure and could support specialized employment, scientific activity and related economic development.
What the Development Wave Could Mean for Long Island Residents
The scale of planned investment illustrates both the economic appeal of Long Island and the difficult decisions facing its communities. Developers see opportunities to replace aging office parks, industrial buildings and struggling shopping centers with projects designed for current housing, healthcare and commercial needs.
Additional housing could provide more options for young adults, working families, older residents and others who have struggled to find suitable homes in Nassau and Suffolk counties. New hospitals, research facilities and businesses could also create jobs and strengthen local commercial activity.
At the same time, residents and municipal officials face questions about whether roads, schools, sewers, water systems and other infrastructure can accommodate additional development. The affordability of new housing, potential environmental impacts and the use of public tax incentives are also likely to remain important considerations.
Importantly, the more than $7 billion identified in Newsday’s investigation represents estimated costs for a selection of major projects, not money already spent or a guarantee that every development will be completed. Likewise, the nearly 6,000 potential residences depend on projects receiving necessary approvals and advancing through construction.
Key Facts & Details
| Region | Nassau County and Suffolk County |
| Major Projects Examined | 20 developments identified in Newsday’s November 2026 analysis |
| Estimated Investment | More than $7 billion across 12 projects with published cost estimates |
| Potential New Housing | Nearly 6,000 residences across nine developments, subject to completion |
| Melville Crossing | $130 million; 400 proposed residences in Melville |
| Station Yards | $1.2 billion; up to 1,450 residences in Ronkonkoma |
| The Bridge | $130 million; 101 condominiums in Mineola |
| One Carleton Green | $65 million; 96 apartments in Central Islip |
| NYU Langone Medical Center | Multibillion-dollar hospital and medical school proposed in Melville |
| Amazon Holbrook Proposal | More than $1 billion; approximately 4.2 million square feet in Holbrook |
| Brookhaven Research Project | Approximately $3 billion for the Electron-Ion Collider |
| Development Status | Varies by project; includes proposals, approved developments, construction and stalled plans |
| Primary Reporting | Newsday, November 4, 2026 |
Whether all of these projects ultimately move forward remains uncertain, but their combined scope points to a potentially significant period of change for Long Island. From new housing near railroad stations and redevelopment of established business districts to investments in healthcare, science and distribution facilities, decisions being made by developers and local governments today could influence where Long Islanders live, work and shop for decades to come.
