Letters

Public opposition to Bay Street Theater’s expansion plans isn’t unexpected. Resistance generally tends to be more vocal than support. While criticism of their process is warranted, the ultimate question for us has to be: How do we keep Bay Street Theater in Sag Harbor?

To do this, we need to disentangle the “how” from the “what.” The project’s financing — the how — is distinct from what the project’s architectural design or scale is. Conflating the two leaves neither with a clear path to resolution.

The “how”: Friends of Bay Street present themselves as benevolent speculators. Their interest appears to be threefold:

1. Build a new theater.

2. Assist in relocating the businesses affected by the theater.

3. Provide additional green space and access to the water through the already proposed Steinbeck Park.

The benevolence of speculators, however sincere, will always be suspect in the eyes of a significant portion of the public. But unless there is an alternate path, how can one expect the modality of many a future development to be any different?

The “what” — this is a separate question and would remain even if the theater were planning a self-funded expansion. What does a theater such as this mean to the Sag Harbor of today?

Theaters can be architectural confabulations designed to become instant monuments. Theaters also can be integrated into the urban fabric and become a sort of binding glue.

My personal opinion is that Sag Harbor needs the latter. Bay Street needs to engage with the public not just when the doors open but as one of the few congregant spaces in the village, before and after as well.

Both questions, I contend, can be resolved by thinking of them in the broader context of an “urban plan” for Sag Harbor.

I am advocating for a plan in the fashion of what the architect Maziar Behrooz has produced for East Hampton Village. An urban plan is a creative document — a design as opposed to a report, an intention as opposed to a prescription. It is an aspirational vision as opposed to a dispassionate account.

Let’s not let this crisis go to waste — let’s work on a larger vision that keeps Bay Street Theater in Sag Harbor. I urge the village to formulate a task force of land planners, architects, environmentalists and a representative from the Planning Board. This task force can provide representation tailored to find a path forward with Bay Street while keeping an eye on the broader effects on the village.

To those who see only an excuse for red tape and delays, consider: How is our current development model any quicker? Leaving institutions like the Bay Street Theater to fend for themselves eventually will result in their departure.

Nilay Oza

President

AIA Peconic

Mr. Oza notes that his letter represents his own opinions and not those of AIA Peconic’s membership — Ed.