Letters

As a recent transplant from the city, I am excited to officially call the East End my home. I have a new business that I opened in August, Ari’s Closet (a curated consignment store in Southampton Village), an amazing group of friends, and a very happy puppy who loves to explore her new digs.

While I was able to navigate opening a business here, I am saddened to say that finding an affordable place to live has been a battle.

Over the past six months I have lived in three different homes, and I am about to move into yet another room for the season. One could ask: “Ari, why are you moving? Are you a bad tenant? Are your landlords mean or unreasonable?” The answers to these questions would be a resounding, “No.” In fact, I have become close friends with all of my landlords, all of whom have been nothing but helpful and welcoming to my dog and me.

My reluctant nomadic lifestyle is the result of a lack of affordable housing options. I have called every apartment building, asked friends of friends, and have scoured every paper for a long-term lease that’s under $3,000 a month. Nothing. Nada. Zilch. (I did find one basement apartment advertised, and when I expressed interest to the owner, I found myself on a 30-person wait list. Needless to say, I did not get said apartment.)

We can all see the commercial vacancies plaguing the village and other parts of the East End, and it is imperative that we encourage small-business owners to live, work and play in the Hamptons year round. To do this, affordable housing should be at the forefront of our work as a community. If we can’t afford to live here, we can’t afford to work here, either, which will only serve to diminish the value of all property throughout the area.

Give business owners the ability to afford a home or apartment, and incentivize the entrepreneurial spirit to stay in the Hamptons.

Arielle Haller-Silverstone

Southampton Village