The Commack Rental Market Expands With New Luxury and Senior Lifestyle Projects
When commercial real estate markets develop organically, they are mostly shaped by predominant lifestyle trends. In the case of Long Island, one of the latest trends consists of new construction projects in the categories of luxury rentals and senior communities. The lifestyle trend shaping the business models behind these new projects is a preference for sleepy suburban hamlets such as Commack.
Located in Suffolk County near the South Shore, Commack is an unincorporated community of about 37,000 residents. In recent years, a series of ribbon-cutting ceremonies have announced the opening of new senior living communities catering to prospective tenants with deeper pockets. Sutton Landing at 90 Hauppauge Road, for example, is a $60 million project that added 65 units to the burgeoning luxury rental market of Commack. This is a 55+ community where rents start at $4,500.
Commack is where a few developers who specialize in luxury rentals and retirement are setting up offices to explore opportunities in the region. Months before Sutton Landing opened its gates to prospective renters, a Commack-based developer took advantage of financial incentives from the nearby Town of Brookhaven to build Sun River Town Homes, a 125-unit project with monthly rents starting at $2,350.
Sutton Landing follows the modern resort-style school of luxury residential development, which means that it offers a wide range of amenities that appeal to discerning active seniors. The gated community is located within a greenbelt enclave that makes it seem secluded despite being just minutes away from shopping centers, cafes, pubs, restaurants, and other suburban comforts. The architectural style combines elements of Nantucket and Caribbean home design. This pet-friendly community features a stunning recreation center with a resort-style swimming pool, cabanas, a state-of-the-art fitness center, a coffee bar, walking trails, pickleball courts, a sports bar, and multiple lounge spaces. Sutton Landing residents can enjoy social gatherings, yoga classes, workshops, games, and trips organized by an onsite activities director.
The Sun River Town Homes project in Brookhaven is also a gated community, but the architectural style is inspired by New England row houses. Located near the Pine Hills Golf & Country Club, which was developed by the same firm, Sun River offers rental units that are more spacious than at the golf community next door. Tenants and their guests can enjoy amenities such as a fitness center, swimming pool, and clubhouse; plus, they can get into more fun activities at Pine Hills through a community sharing agreement.
What is interesting about Commack and Brookhaven is that they are transforming into upscale retirement towns that meet new lifestyle criteria. From the 20th century until about 2015, 55+ renters flocked to Long Island towns that were also tourist destinations. Greenport on the North Shore and Fire Island on the North Shore are examples of such communities that were preferred by affluent seniors from previous generations. These are charming towns with easy access to the beach; they feature vibrant town centers with Main Street boutiques, antique shops, and art galleries.
The new wave of senior renters in Long Island have a different concept of how they want to enjoy their retirement. They are more interested in laid-back leafy suburbs such as Commack, which is not a tourist destination. In the past, Commack would have been labeled as a bedroom community; these days, however, it is perfect for what affluent seniors are looking for, which is an upscale and tranquil lifestyle with easy access to local attractions such as the many beaches and golf clubs of Long Island. In other words, they want to live reasonably close to Main Street, not next to it.
Another interesting aspect of how Commack is transitioning from a suburb to an upscale luxury rental and retirement community is that many tenants are former Long Island homeowners. The real estate boom in the region prompted many residents to sell their properties in more populous towns such as Hempstead and Islip. In the past, these sellers may have moved to Florida; however, the new cohort of senior citizens is more interested in staying closer to home. As more luxury rentals and upscale 55+ communities come on the market, developers will compete to attract discerning tenants who sign shorter leases; this aligns with another lifestyle trend of staying at various gated communities around Long Island.