The New Suffolk Waterfront Fund (NSWF) is a 501c3 non-profit organization. It was created in 2005 to purchase a 3½ acre property and prevent its development as a large rack and stack boat storage facility, restaurant and parking lot. For the past 11 years, the NSWF board has been responsible for the acquisition, management, development and maintenance of this waterfront property. The NSWF board is comprised of volunteer members from the community.

Timeline

In 2004, members of the New Suffolk Civic Association became concerned when a large-scale development threatened this tiny hamlet. They created a separate committee, to fight it. By the end of 2005, the committee created the non-profit Waterfront Fund. The Fund board is comprised of 12-16 volunteer board members from New Suffolk and neighboring communities who bring a variety of talents and skills to the job.

Almost immediately after being formed,the NSWF board decided that buying the property slated for development was the only way to insure it would be developed appropriately.

Fundraising was, and has continued to be, the board's most formidable task. In 2013, the Fund was awarded a $400,000 acquisition grant from N.Y. State Dept. of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation. We raised an additional $3 million to complete the property purchase in 2012. In 2013 we sold 1 acre to Robins Island Holdings with a view shed easement.

Later in the same year, as the Fund prepared to renovate to the already dilapidated Galley Ho, Superstorm Sandy struck and severely damaged the building and the marina. The NSWF board applied for, and was awarded, a low interest loan to rebuild from the Small Business Administration. In 2016, storm renovation work was complete, and the NSWF searched for, and found, a tenant to again operate the restaurant.

During the past 11 years, the board has hosted events, provided programming and activities on the property, managed the community garden and marina, and raised money for on-going site renovations. Today, the NSWF board continues to be responsible for the property’s financial viability, for its day to day maintenance and operation, for planning future renovations and property improvements, and for protecting this community asset for future generations in accordance with our mission.