Letters

I read in this week’s Sag Harbor Express that Adam Potter plans to introduce a new development scheme for the Bridge Street property, which, frankly, is no big surprise [“Potter Development Plans Submitted to Sag Harbor Village Show Pair of Three-Story Buildings,” 27east.com, August 30].

Potter is now proposing a lengthy list of items that he wants the village to consider, including 20 market-rate apartments, 19 affordable apartments (smaller than allowed by law), a not-for-profit community center or auditorium or theater, about 11,000 square feet of commercial space, an unspecified number of parking spaces, a 65,000-gallon flood water containment system, permission to remove three historic village houses from the site, and relief from a two-story zoning height restriction. Quite an extensive shopping list for the 1.4 acre site.

So, what’s really going on? Well, like any real estate developer, Potter & Company is looking to maximize a financial return for his investors. What’s significantly different this time around is his carrot-and-stick approach with the mayor, village trustees and village boards. He offers to remediate the polluted site (doubtful), control water runoff and flooding (equally doubtful), add a new community facility (not needed), and thinks he can convince village officials into granting him the necessary variances to proceed with the project.

He assumes (incorrectly) that the village needs a new community facility, which is total rubbish. I need not remind everyone that The Church, Sag Harbor Cinema, library and Whaling Museum are community facilities in our village.

Parking is certainly an important issue, given the uncertain legal status of the former gas ball site (95 spaces). I noticed a 299-seat “theater” in his proposal. Is this a possible home for a new Bay Street Theater?

As to flood water containment along Bridge and Rose streets, a 65,000-gallon subterranean system might not be adequate. In fact, it might very well require a considerably more sophisticated system, with a financial commitment from the village, to prevent further flooding of the area.

Frankly, Potter is no better or worse than any other real estate developer. His interest is strictly financial and he has little or no concern for the historic character of our village. Plain and simply, he and his private financial backers are looking for a nice return. Period.

I have dealt with many real estate developers in my 40-plus-year career as a practicing architect, and Potter is no different from other developers in that he believes a carefully orchestrated negotiation with village officials will win the day. He most likely believes the village will be willing to compromise or negotiate with him.

The sooner we recognize what Potter and his investors represent, the better off we’re all going to be. The very best answer for our village’s future is to say, “No way,” and keep saying, “No way.”

Evan Schwartz

Sag Harbor