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While blueprints for three “next generation” houses on Bailey Road in Southampton Village are still on the drawing board, lead architect John David Rose has already begun building a team of local contractors eager to volunteer their time and labor toward the effort.
By recruiting contractors he has worked with before and who have worked in the village, Mr. Rose has assembled a roster of about 10 and counting—engineers, interior designers, landscape architects and other professionals ready to provide their skills and services for free, he said during a recent interview.
Why has Mr. Rose decided to undertake such a project?
“I’m a local guy, but I was never in the fire department or the ambulance corps, so this was a way of giving back to the village,” Mr. Rose, whose office is on Main Street in Southampton Village, explained. “Yes, it’s only three houses, but it’s a great start.”
The plan is to build three affordable houses on three roughly half-acre lots on the private road in the village’s northwest corner. The land was seized by Suffolk County through a tax lien less than a decade ago and then transferred to the village with the condition that it must be used to build affordable housing or be returned to the county, as per its 72h Land Transfer Program.
With the village becoming increasingly expensive to live in, the project has emerged as a symbol of hope for village officials who have expressed concern about losing young families, according to Southampton Mayor Mark Epley, who has named veterans, volunteer ambulance corps members, police officers and teachers as among the intended occupants. The term “next generation” itself refers to allowing the next generation of children to stay in town, he explained.
Mr. Rose said he felt inspired to get involved after reading about the project in the newspaper and talking with Village Trustee Bonnie Cannon. Ms. Cannon said she names social issues as one of her greatest passions.
“I kept bringing it up to the Trustees, saying, ‘We’ve got to do this, we’ve got to do this,’” she said of her interest in the project and her role in getting it rolling.
The project is now in the design and development phase. Gathered at the site late last month, volunteers noted that although they do not know exactly what they will be doing on the project—the size of the houses and shape of the driveways, for example, are still being drafted—they do know that they are ready to volunteer.
Mr. Rose said the latest estimate was for each house to measure between about 1,200 square feet and 1,500 square feet, with three bedrooms, two baths and a story and a half in height.
“My goal is to get a great quality home,” he said. “It’s not a quick type of home that you can just throw up. It’s gonna be a real handcrafted home, and the only way we can get that and bring it in at an affordable price is to have a lot of people donate their time.”
Those from Southampton Village who have stepped up to the plate so far said they are enthusiastic about applying their talents.
“I always feel it is important to give back to the community,” said Judy Hadlock of Old Town Crossing, who said she would be working to select the color schemes, floor plans and materials inside the houses.
Gene Berry of Precision Excavating said he plans to do excavating and sanitary work on the project with his father, Frank Berry.
“I think it’s a good cause and we would not hesitate to help John,” he said.
According to Tim Blenk, of Tim Blenk Tree Care, volunteering is a no-brainer for those who can lend a hand.
“At the end of the day, I think everybody involved is doing well in this community,” he said. “It sounded like a great thing to be involved with.”
Motioning toward the trees that currently cover the site, Mr. Blenk noted that his role would involve clearing some trees while protecting those that are to remain.
Katie Maresca of Steve Maresca & Associates, the company which will be providing engineering services for the project, said she will be drafting foundation plans on the computer. Her father, Steve, will prepare a number of foundation and framing plans, with, perhaps, a little drainage and sanitation on the side.
Others involved include: Perry DeLalio (DeLalio Coal & Stone), who will serve as a landscape architect; Mark Himmelsbach (Ironwood Construction), who will help with contracting work; John Tortorella (J. Tortorella Group), who has signed on to provide concrete and gas services; and Bruce Peterson (Bruce A. Peterson Inc.), whose company will perform the irrigation work.
It’s this type of spirit that makes Mayor Epley proud, he said.
“This is one of the great reasons why Southampton is such a great place to live,” the mayor said. “Because of the pure volunteer spirit that exists in this community.”
Subdivision approval was granted from the Village Planning Board this winter and the project has now moved into the design development stage. Next up, plans for the houses will be presented to the village officials and must win approval from the Village Board of Historic Preservation and Architectural Review.
The village is also working with the Long Island Housing Partnership on the project to define eligibility and to create a lottery system whereby applicants can be selected to buy the homes.
on Mar 7, 2011