The developer behind Grumman Studios is seeking to build a similar facility in the Village of Port Washington North and has received a grant from the state for its construction.
The 13-acre 101 Channel Drive property houses a one-floor, 160,000-square-foot structure originally built in 1958. It was used as office space by Publishers Clearing House and was bought by Setauket-based Little Rock Construction Inc. in 2014.
Developer Parviz Farahzad, who spearheaded the Grumman Studios project in Bethpage, said at a Port North Board of Trustees meeting on Dec. 18 that he wants to build out the studio from the current structure to a height of 65 feet, and divide it into six production stages for filming movies, TV series and commercials.
Alex Badalamenti, representing Patchogue-based BLD Architecture, which is designing the proposed building, said that landscaping would be used to obscure the structure from a condo community bordering the site, though a full design has not yet been completed.
In the state’s Regional Economic Development Council’s grants for 2019, an applicant called 101 Channel Dr LLC, whose proposed project is labeled as “Port Washington Film and TV Production Studios,” has been awarded $1.25 million for construction on “[converting] a vacant building in Port Washington into a six-stage television and movie production studio.”
Calls for comment to Little Rock Construction and the Village of Port Washington North were not returned. The village will continue public comment sessions on the proposal at its Jan. 22 Board of Trustees meeting.
