Southampton Town CPF Purchases: Where $30 Million Went

More than 90 acres of land were preserved in Southampton in 2015 using $30.1 million from the town's Community Preservation Fund.

Included in the 91.02 acres were 13.44 acres of farmland for which enhanced development rights were purchased, meaning that the land can be used only for specific, active agricultural purposes.

There were 26 purchases in six different CPF categories. Six parcels were purchased to protect wetlands, three for green/parks and recreation" in the town's villages or hamlets, 11 for open space, one for historic preservation, one in the Central Pine Barrens, and four to protect farmland.

The smallest expense was $430 to cover the closing costs on land donated by the Gazza Corporation on Great Hill Road in North Sea. The Gazza Corporation made four donations last year, for a total of 22 parcels throughout Southampton Town. The most expensive purchase last year was from Melzer & Company Retirement Trust for $5.3 million paid for five parcels totaling 11.9 acres of marshland on Laila Court in Remsenburg-Speonk.

Another expensive CPF purchase last year was from Recam Holdings for the .82-acre property once owned by Pyrrhus Concer, an African-American resident of historical significance. The town purchased the land for $4.3 million after a lengthy battle between David and Silvia Hermer and the Village of Southampton over the demolition of the home, which many believed should have been landmarked. The property was put on the market after the house was demolished, and the town agreed to purchase the property, on which Southampton Village will build a replica using remnants salvaged from the Concer home.

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