New York Construction Report staff writer
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) Board has approved a 99-year ground lease with an affiliate of Gotham Organization to redevelop a former commuter parking lot at the Westbury Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) station into a residential development with 184 apartments.
The development, which includes 19 income-limited affordable apartments, 2,000 square feet of retail space, a public plaza and 254 parking spaces, will be the first transit-oriented development project on Long Island Rail Road-owned land.
The board’s approval follows a unanimous endorsement by the Westbury Village Board of Trustees in September 2026.
“This project is a model of the transit-oriented development Gov. Hochul has long championed,” MTA Chair and CEO Janno Lieber said in a statement. “Westbury is revitalizing its downtown with a more walkable and dynamic environment that brings new housing within steps of the LIRR, connecting residents to jobs, education and opportunities throughout the region.”
Under the agreement, GO Westbury LLC, an affiliate of Gotham Organization, will develop, operate and maintain the property, while the MTA retains ownership of the land.
The 99-year lease is expected to generate $15.5 million for the MTA capital program on a net present value basis. The agreement also includes real estate tax revenue and other public benefits, including new public open space at the station.
MTA Construction and Development President Jamie Torres-Springer said the project will provide additional housing and public amenities while generating revenue for transit infrastructure.
Long Island Rail Road President Rob Free said the development will improve access to commuter rail services and provide funding for capital improvements across the MTA system.
Gotham Organization President of Development Bryan Kelly said the project will transform an underused property into a residential community in downtown Westbury.
The site became available for redevelopment in 2021 after construction of a new 683-space commuter parking garage north of the station.
The garage was part of the LIRR Main Line Expansion project, completed in 2022. The $2.6-billion infrastructure project addressed delays and bottlenecks along a 9.8-mile section of the Main Line between Floral Park and Hicksville.
Work included eliminating eight street-level railway crossings, modifying seven rail bridges, installing sound and retaining walls, upgrading stations and adding substations and parking facilities. The project also included accessibility improvements.
Westbury Mayor Peter Cavallaro said the development will create a new gateway to the southern end of the downtown area and provide additional housing opportunities.
He said the project is part of the village’s broader transit-oriented development strategy to create a more sustainable and active downtown.
The MTA said the transaction is part of its efforts to use agency-owned properties to support housing development while generating revenue for transit system improvements.
