Feb 15, 2012 12:11 PM
One of the houses that would be preserved as part if The Estates at Remsenburg is approved by Southampton Town. LOREN CHRISTIE PHOTOS
Plans for a new 17-home subdivision in Remsenburg continue to elicit strong opinions from community members, most of whom said that, if given an option, would prefer to preserve the bucolic quality of their sleepy hometown.
But if the 23 acres that make up the former Webb Estate must be developed, the majority of hamlet residents interviewed this week said they support developer Lawrence Citarelli’s proposal for The Estates at Remsenburg. His plan calls for the building of 17 new houses on the property, which is zoned residential, and the preservation of three historic buildings and an estimated 6 acres of open space along the west side of Nidzyn Avenue.
“This is the only [large] piece of vacant land left in the area,” said Michael Molinaro who, along with is wife, Martha,... more
But if the 23 acres that make up the former Webb Estate must be developed, the majority of hamlet residents interviewed this week said they support developer Lawrence Citarelli’s proposal for The Estates at Remsenburg. His plan calls for the building of 17 new houses on the property, which is zoned residential, and the preservation of three historic buildings and an estimated 6 acres of open space along the west side of Nidzyn Avenue.
“This is the only [large] piece of vacant land left in the area,” said Michael Molinaro who, along with is wife, Martha,... more
I saw his plan and I actually like it. I think Mr. Citarelli is trying to keep the character of the neighborhood intact.
But, yeah... Maxwell is right. There are a lot homes for sale in the area.
She doesn't speak for everyone in the area, and I for one, am for this. He is a good builder, and actually cares about where he lives. He's not a "weekend" resident from Manhattan (some of my best friends are from Manhattan). He lives here, his kids go to school here, he's vested in this community people. And he's allowed to make money too!
Go Larry - Don't give up just because a few naysayers are ...more outspoken. Go for the gold and sue if necessary. Don't try to negotiate and don't back down as you'll spend more time and money that way and in the end it would have been cheaper and faster to sue.
Now that's the American way!
Boycott the Remsenburg Assoc!
Lawrence can you present a business argument ...more for adding more housing inventory to an area overloaded with existing properties on the market? What is it about your plan that enables you to overcome the challenge of oversupply?
HREO.com lists 125 houses for sale in Remsenburg (I am sure there are double listings). How many houses are there in Remsenburg total? My dartboard guess is 300-350. So roughly 30% of all houses in Remsenburg are for sale and 'days on market' are extremely high.
If you owned a restaurant and the number of patrons was on the decline would you expand the number of tables in the dining room?
If the number of people visiting Las Vegas is shrinking would you want to build a big new casino right now?
I understand the risk element of business, but this is risk tied to the local real estate market which has been suffering for the past 4 years. I like it ...more here but Remsenburg is not Sagaponack or Amagansett and people are not paying any price to own a piece of property here.
Lots of spec homes were built in the area over the past 5-6 years that have languished on the market and when they do sell it is for a substantially lowered price. For example, the house on the corner of South Country and Jagger has been for sale for 4 years and it finally has a sold sign on it. I'll be curious to see what it finally sold for.
I hope this doesn't burn anyone.
It seems to me that many people are just tired of their home being developed beyond reproach. They don't see more luxury as a solution, and the construction jobs provided are a short term solution. The fact that these "homes" will be far outside of the fiscal reach of those who build them, and most likely their children, probably irks them as well.
This used to be such a quiet, bucolic ...more place of tranquility. Now that almost every scrap of buildable land has been developed, it feels more like some type of bastard suburbia. Couldn't just visit, say "How beautiful!", and leave. Nope, we need to cram into "paradise", like it's a can of sardines thus fouling the entire garden.
Thanks for all your help achieving the creation of this bastard suburbia which now exists. That's my opinion, and now, I'll be on my way. I'm going out of town, and need a fresh copy of my birth certificate from Village Hall...