Listen to this articleThe former Smithtown home of Long Island’s largest youth soccer academy has been purchased by a growing church organization.
V1 Church bought the 25,720-square-foot building on 2.5 acres at 905 West Jericho Turnpike for $5.2 million. The property was formerly occupied by SUSA FC, which operates its main soccer complex in Central Islip.
Founded by husband-and-wife Mike and Julie Signorelli in 2016, the nondenominational V1 Church has locations in Huntington Station, Brooklyn, Manhattan, Plainfield, N.J., Portage, Ind. and Miami, Fla. and also holds services online.
The Smithtown acquisition represents a major step forward for the church.
“Our recent acquisition of the former SUSA property brings a mix of emotions. Many of our congregants hold cherished memories of attending events there with their families over the years,” Mike Signorelli told LIBN. “While we share in the sadness of seeing a beloved community space close, our hope and prayer is to carry forward the heart and essence of SUSA by continuing to serve Smithtown and the surrounding areas.”
Signorelli said the church provides clothing and food for those in need, organizes backpack drives each school year, provides thousands of Christmas presents, and offers scholarships for counseling services as part of its mental health awareness initiatives.
“Despite any differences, we believe we are stronger together,” Signorelli said. “We honor and acknowledge the incredible efforts of the many organizations serving Smithtown, and we are committed to working alongside them to make a positive impact in our community.”
The Smithtown acquisition is the latest in a string of Long Island property purchases by church organizations in the last few years. In March 2024, The Church of Scientology purchased an office property in Melville for $15.2 million. The 62,500-square-foot office building on 5.5 acres at 263 Old Country Road was formerly occupied by ADI Global.
In Dec. 2022, the Christian Congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses bought the 236,365-square-foot office building on 20 acres at 750 Woodbury Road in Woodbury for $27 million. The development plans for the property, the former long-time home of GEICO, include construction of a 52,400-square-foot assembly hall, a 3,900-square-foot maintenance building and a 2,500-square-foot residence.
John LaRuffa, Dan Abbondandolo and Victor Little of Cushman & Wakefield represented V1 Church, while Howard Nemshin of Atlantic Property Services represented the seller, SUSA, in the Smithtown sales transaction.
“The property, chosen for its strategic location and suitability for the church’s expanding needs, aligns perfectly with V1 Church’s long-term growth plans,” Abbondandolo said. “The asset, previously a soccer training facility, will now serve as a hub for V1 Church’s administrative functions, meetings, events, and weekly services. This acquisition marks an important milestone in the church’s expansion, highlighting the demand for versatile, well-located properties on Long Island.”