Long Languishing Westhampton Beach Property Exchanges Hands Again

Arguably the most visible and dilapidated commercial property in Westhampton Beach could soon receive a much-needed makeover following a recent change in ownership.

The half-acre property that sits on the southwest corner of Montauk Highway and Oak Street, one of the village’s main entrance ways, actually features two buildings—a boarded-up one that most recently housed The Corner Restaurant while the second is home to Boom Burger, a popular restaurant.

The rundown property, the fate of which has been the topic of discussion for several years, was sold this week to Manny Maris, according to Westhampton Beach Mayor Maria Moore. The prior owner, Micky Biss, a real estate developer who splits his time between Miami and Westhampton Beach, purchased the property during bankruptcy proceedings for just $17,500 in 2010, according to the Southampton Town records, though he never renovated the one building due to preexisting stipulations of a previous site plan.

Mr. Biss, who did not return calls this week, also blamed village officials for his inability to attract new tenants for the long-shuttered building.

Mr. Maris, who the mayor said is a local, did not return calls this week.

Ms. Moore noted that Mr. Maris has retained architect Nicholas A. Vero of Westhampton Beach to redevelop the corner property, though she was uncertain if those plans will also affect Boom Burger, which has been leasing the second building for several years.

Representatives from Boom Burger could not be reached for comment on Wednesday.

Noting that she has met with the new property owner several times, Ms. Moore explained that Mr. Vero has been retained by Mr. Maris to submit revised plans to the Village Building Department. She added that she is excited to see Mr. Maris develop the property, noting that he owns several successful restaurants in Manhattan, including the TAO chain.

“We are very pleased that one of the blighted properties on the corner to the entrance of our village, and has been in a state of disrepair for so long, will now be redeveloped into something functional and, hopefully, attractive,” Ms. Moore said.

Ron Scala of Scala Properties in Remsenburg, who served as the real estate agent for the purchase, confirmed the transaction though he declined to share the sale price.

He also noted that there are no specific plans for the property, explaining that myriad businesses, including another restaurant, could open on the lot that lies in the village’s business district.

“The long languishing Montauk Highway corner, home to the former Dora’s and The Corner Restaurant, has been sold to a local developer,” Mr. Scala said in a prepared statement. “Plans are in the works for a new beautiful building with a property parking lot, curbs, sidewalks and attractive landscaping.”

Renovation plans for the property date back more than a decade. Jimmy Chih, the owner before Mr. Biss, filed site plans in 2005 to upgrade the property, work that included the installation of new draining and parking. But Mr. Chih filed for bankruptcy before those plans could be carried out—a turn of events that would lead to the slow deterioration of the corner building.

Renewed hope for the property came in 2010, when Mr. Biss of Biss Realty purchased the property but his plans were derailed when he refused to adhere to the previously approved site plan. The village refused to allow him to ignore those plans, and Mr. Biss never submitted an alternate site plan—a standoff that has resulted in the continued vacancy of the corner building.

Westhampton Beach Building and Zoning Administrator Paul Houlihan said this week that he has also had discussions with the new owners, adding that he is also optimistic that plans to redevelop the lot will get off the ground soon.

“I’m glad to see the property has sold,” he said. “From my preliminary discussions with the new owner’s architect it seems as though he understands what he has to do and he is in the process of preparing a site plan.”