A key milestone has been reached in the construction of The Bridgeview, a $45 million waterfront apartment development rising on the former Bridgeview Yacht Club site, as developer John Vitale emphasized both progress and the workers behind.
On March 31, project partners from Vitale Properties and B2K Construction joined Town of Hempstead officials to sign a ceremonial steel beam marking the building’s “topping out” — the point at which the final piece of structural steel is installed.
Vitale, 71, described the moment not as a celebration of completion, but as recognition of the labor that made it possible.
“To us, this was really about recognizing all the guys who worked all winter through that brutal weather — the framers, the concrete workers, the people doing site work. We had a little gathering, some food, and thanked them for getting us to this point.”
While topping out is widely recognized as an important milestone, Vitale viewed it as a moment to acknowledge the team’s progress and hard work.
“Until the building is finished, that’s when I’ll be doing my celebrating,” he said. This was really for the workers and recognizing where we are in the progress.”
The 177-unit development, located along the Barnum Island shoreline near the Long Beach Bridge, is expected to open in the fall, Vitale said, with roughly six months of construction remaining.
Once complete, The Bridgeview is expected to stand out among Long Island residential developments for its waterfront location and modern amenities. Plans include boat docks, a fishing pier, a yoga room and a golf simulator, as well as an elevated pool overlooking the water.
The building will also feature a large community space designed as a tribute to the former Bridgeview catering hall, incorporating signage and memorabilia from the site. Vitale said former patrons — including couples who held weddings there — have already expressed interest in returning to visit the space.
Beyond amenities, the project reflects a broader shift in development along the South Shore since Hurricane Sandy in 2012, which devastated much Vitale’s former waterfront restaurant portfolio, including Paddy McGee’s and the Bridgeview Yacht Club.
“The property has been raised, and all the apartments are well above sea level,” Vitale said. “Everything is fortified. These are some of the safest properties on the South Shore.”
The site has been elevated and designed with flood-mitigation measures, including raised living spaces and reinforced infrastructure, part of a long-term strategy to adapt to increasingly frequent coastal flooding.
Local officials, including former Town Supervisor Don Clavin, attended the topping-out ceremony, signaling municipal support for the project.
“We were excited that supervisor came down and recognized the project,” Vitale said. “He talked about smart growth, and that’s something we believe in too — development that makes sense for the community.”
Vitale added that backing from local government is essential for large-scale redevelopment efforts.
“You need your town officials behind a project,” he said. “It meant a lot to have that support.”
The Bridgeview is the latest phase in Vitale’s transformation of roughly 10 acres of waterfront property from a nightlife destination into a residential community. Following the success of the nearby Channel Club apartments, which opened in 2019, Vitale said the shift toward housing has proven beneficial for the area.
With construction progressing on schedule, Vitale remains focused on completion rather than milestones.
“The goal,” he said, “is to get the building done.”
