Laffalot Home In Art Village Of Southampton Faces Demolition

An application has been filed with Southampton Town to demolish “Laffalot,” one of the original homes in the Art Village in Shinnecock Hills, where William Merritt Chase headed an art school beginning in the late 19th century.

The owners of the home, Laffalot LLC, have said they want to demolish the house, which is located at 11 Ochre Lane, because of its poor condition.

The building has been abandoned for some time, but Sally Spanburgh, the chairwoman of the town’s Landmarks and Historic Districts Board, has said she thinks it can be rehabilitated.

The Art Village is made up of a cluster of properties, some with multiple dwellings. It was originally the site of the Shinnecock Summer School of Art led by Mr. Chase, and it attracted a well-to-do and creative crowd. Operating for 11 years, from 1891 to 1902, it was the first major art school of its kind in the United States, offering “en plein air” painting instruction.

The school was established by Janet Ralston Chase Hoyt, a real estate investor, philanthropist and artist, and neighboring parcels were purchased by wealthy supporters.

Built in 1892, Laffalot was sold in 1896 to Rosella “Zella” de Milhau, an art student, who had the house renovated by another student, Kate Budd, who was the first female architect to become a member of the American Institute of Architects in New York.

After the renovation, Ms. Milhau named the house Laffalot, and made it a hub of social activity and good cheer, according to historians.

Public records indicate that the property was purchased from the estate of John Strang for $600,000 in 2013.

There is not much the town Landmarks and Historic Districts Board can do to stop the demolition, other than make a recommendation, because the house has not been deemed a historical landmark.

The board—which is accepting letters of comment—has the demolition application on the agenda for its next meeting, at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, June 21, at Town Hall.