5 Photos
First grader Keith Figueroa carefully selects his next Lego. KATE RIGA
Wooden outdoor furniture.
Photo by Dawn Watson
Lys Marigold, Dianne B. and Adele and David Sadiq
The front view of Billy Joel's home in Sag Harbor Village if renovations are approved.
Billy Joel’s builder, Jeffrey Collé, and design consultant, William Beeton, discussed at Thursday’s meeting plans to turn the singer’s house into a more traditional Sag Harbor home.
“There is a problem of configuration of the two buildings,” Mr. Beeton said. “It’s an unhappy union of the two buildings—the owner’s interest is to address that.”
According to the Chairman of the Board of Historic Preservation and Architectural Review, Anthony Brandt, the two separate structures on the property, which are zoned both residential and commercial, would be joined together. However, he said, the strange nature and positioning of the two buildings are what makes Sag Harbor unique.
“Part of the problem with this is that it is not only the buildings, it is their relationship to each other, and this is a historic relationship,” Mr. Brandt said. “The slightly askew—it is one of the quirky things about Sag Harbor that we all love.”
There would be a “middle piece” that connects the two buildings together, which would also be used for residential use itself, Mr. Beeton said, adding that it would be constructed to “marry the three forms together.”
To do that, the old foundation of the home would be taken out and a new foundation would be built, Mr. Beeton said.
Mr. Brandt noted that the main issue with the preliminary plans is the water table because Mr. Joel wishes to increase the size and depth of his basement.
Mr. Collé, who has previously designed a recording studio for Billy Joel, told the board that he has a lot of experience with historic preservation. “I have done a lot a lot of restoration out here. That is why Billy is interested in having me do this,” he said. “He really wants me to keep as much of the old structure as I can.”
Members of the board will take a trip to Mr. Joel’s home in the near future to get a real grasp of the plans.
Changes could be on the horizon for Billy Joel’s house on Bay Street in Sag Harbor Village.
Listed under a New York-based limited liability company called Maritime Properties LLC, Mr. Joel’s house is scheduled for discussion at Village Hall Thursday night.
According to Anthony Brandt, the chairman of the Board of Historic Preservation and Architectural Review, Mr. Joel would like to realign his house with a warehouse that sits next to it.
“It either means tearing down the house or rebuilding the house there, or lifting up the house somehow and realigning it with the other building so that they will both be joined and in a straight line on Bay Street,” Mr. Brandt said, adding that the plans are not yet clear.
A formal application detailing the plans for the home has not yet been filed, Mr. Brandt said. Thomas Preiato, the village’s senior building inspector, also noted that there was limited information on what will be proposed.
The meeting was scheduled to begin at 5 p.m. in the Municipal Building on Main Street.
on Feb 25, 2016