Politics & Government

Amended Legislation Could Affect Canoe Place Inn Preservation

Southampton Town Board considers amending law on demolition permitting process.

A controversial proposal by the town board to amend legislation on the demolition permitting process, making it harder to demolish historic structures, could spell the end for a developer's plan to raze the Canoe Place Inn in Hampton Bays.

The amended legislation calls for the town's Landmarks and Historic Districts Board to approve or deny any demolition applications that come before it.

Mea Knapp, an attorney for Germano and Cahill, which represents the owners of the Canoe Place Inn, said at Tuesday's Southampton town board meeting that the new legislation seems to be directed at denying the demolition of the structure. "That was the gist of their remarks," she said. The owners of the Canoe Place Inn property, Mitchell and Gregg Rechler, could not immediately be reached for comment. The Rechlers plan to demolish the structure to clear the land for future development.

Find out what's happening in Westhampton-Hampton Bayswith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Opponents of the Rechler's plan have called for the structure to be saved based on its historical significance. The Canoe Place Inn, where Lucille Ball, Gary Cooper, Babe Ruth and Franklin D. Roosevelt reportedly stayed, was a stagecoach stop and tavern in the 1700s. 

Knapp said the Rechlers applied for a demolition permit on Oct. 1, but no permit was every issued. She added that applications for demolition usually have a very quick turnaround.

Find out what's happening in Westhampton-Hampton Bayswith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Supervisor Anna Throne-Holst said that amending the legislation had been discussed by the board in the past. "This is not a new consideration," she said. "This is just the latest edition of it." She added that the new legislation speaks to the quality of life in Southampton. "I think it is part of what makes this such a special place," she said.

Mary Jean Green of Hampton Bays commended the board for creating the new legislation and making an effort to preserve the town's historic properties. "This looking back and reaching forward . . . is a collaboration of ourselves and our ancestors," she said. "You have to have rules and regulations to embrace the common good. If you don't pass this, you might as well throw out your master plan. Put it in your fireplace." Green also presented the board with a letter from the Hampton Bays Civic Association approving of the amended legislation.

Ann LaWall, a member of the Southampton Business Alliance, protested the amended law saying that it violates property rights. She added that it would be detrimental to the economy and would further depress the real estate market. She asked the town board to hold off on passing the legislation for at least one month.

Part of the proposed amendment of the law states that structures 75 years and older must be reviewed by the Landmarks and Historic Districts Board.  Charles Bellows, chairman of the Landmarks and Historic District Board, said that the town should be ashamed of its record on historic preservation and pointed out that neighboring townships have well-defined historic districts and Southampton Town does not. "This is one of the last townships left in Suffolk County with such important historic resources," he said.

The town board voted to adjourn the public hearing until the Nov. 30 meeting, which will take place at Town Hall at 6 p.m.


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