Laffalot Deal Falls Through

Demolition seems likely for “Laffalot” in the Art Village of Shinnecock Hills, now that a behind-the-scenes deal to move the historic structure to a new spot has fallen through.

According to Sally Spanburgh, who heads the Southampton Town Landmarks and Historic Districts Board, the board was preparing to ask the Town Board to pay half the cost of moving the residence across the street, from Ochre Lane to Studio Lane, to save it. But Laffalot’s potential new owners declined the proposal this week, saying it wouldn’t be enough money.

The current owners—the tax bills go to John J. Danilovich, which is the name of a former U.S. diplomat, ambassador and current secretary general of the International Chamber of Commerce, according to Wikipedia, although the property’s ownership is listed under an LLC—want to raze the building, saying it would cost too much to rehabilitate it.

Built in 1892, Laffalot is one of the remnants of what used to be the Shinnecock School of Art led by William Merritt Chase, which attracted wealthy aspiring artists who sought instruction in plein air painting. The cluster of buildings, which once also included boardinghouses, is today known as the Art Village.

Ms. Spanburgh said the money to move the house across the street would have come from—and essentially tapped out—what remains of a portion of a $1 million fund donated by the Sebonack Golf Club to Southampton Town as part of a planned development district agreement clearing the way for the course. Half of the fund was meant to be spent on historic preservation, with $25,000 already spent on a townwide survey of historic structures; $200,000 allocated to the Landmarks Maintenance Award Program, which helps owners of historic homes pay to maintain them; and $200,000 allocated to the Burial Ground Committee to help restore headstones and similar memorials.

The owners of the property on Studio Lane, who are listed as John and Lisa Cowell, wanted all the remaining money, which was $64,000, according to Ms. Spanburgh. According to the minutes of an ARB meeting in June, the owners of the Ochre Lane property believe that Laffalot, which is unheated and has not recently been inhabited, is not salvageable without significant expense. Nonetheless, the board, which has only advisory power, recommended restoring it and considering it for landmark designation.

The attorney for Laffalot’s owners, Linda Riley, did not immediately return a phone call seeking comment, nor did the Building Department return a call seeking information about whether an application for a building permit had been filed for the lot on Ochre Lane.