Letters

My partner, Leon Esker, and I support the Village of North Haven’s plan for the demolition of the Lovelady structures [“Effort Underway To Save House on Lovelady Powell Property in North Haven,” 27east.com, January 11].

I attended the Village Board of Trustees meetings in the early stages of the Community Preservation Fund’s acquisition of the Lovelady property. Then-Trustee Chris Fiore worked diligently on the preliminary plans for the park. Deputy Mayor Dianne Skilbred, Trustee Claas Abraham and Trustee Fiore explored realistic ways of saving the Lovelady structures.

There seemed no practical or cost-effective solution, especially considering the agreement with the CPF to preserve open land as a park. The trustees encouraged paying tribute to the rich history of the site, but not at the expense of a liable blot on the otherwise tranquil landscape.

I have spent time inside the Lovelady structures, especially the old rehearsal space, visualizing what went on there. I reached out to John Sebastian and Graham Nash and had lovely email exchanges.

John was moved by the idea of preserving the rehearsal space, but as he described it back then, 54 years ago, the space is nothing like that today. It has been crudely converted in a rather makeshift way into a caretaker cottage. It is in severe disrepair.

The main house, asbestos aside, is in worse deterioration. The idea of spending taxpayer’s money to bring these structures up to code is absurd.

The Hamptons is filled with famous musicians: Let’s take Paul McCartney’s former Amagansett house, Roger Waters’s house, Billy Joel’s, Paul Simon’s various houses — they all get together in their homes with other famous musicians and jam. They create. They move out of their houses, their houses trade, some get knocked down.

What John Sebastian catalyzed back in the winter of 1968, 1969, was, indeed, magical. But the enchantment of the Lovelady Preserve is not in the dilapidated structures. It is in the sprawling lawns, the gleaming ponds, the gaggle of geese with their furry goslings, the perfectly aligned shimmering silver maples. The music sings in harmony with the movement of the stupendous white oak branches.

The “magic” is in the land.

And with Phase One completed — exposing Sebastian Pond, the planting of the native rye grass, the natural benches to sit upon, the colonnade walkway — this enthralling land is being restored to its splendor.

As concerned North Haven citizens, Leon and I sure hope a protracted debate doesn’t ensue, delaying the demolition and the further development of our community park.

Camille Petrillo

Sag Harbor