Residents Question Southampton Center Of The Arts Plans

The Southampton Center of the Arts—a new entity being formed to fill the gap left by the Parrish Art Museum’s move from Southampton Village to Water Mill next summer—is envisioned by its planners as a multidisciplinary center that will present art, rather than produce it. The center also aims to serve as a much-needed community gathering space that will anchor a planned village arts district, partner with New York City institutions and help boost local business in Southampton.

The project will also involve an expansion of the 17,000-square-foot village-owned Jobs Lane building, which is more than a century old, and a sprucing up of its 2-acre surrounding arboretum, which is already underway.

But with the Parrish’s move to a new, larger building on Montauk Highway expected next summer, much of the plans for the center are still very preliminary—and costs have largely been missing from the equation.

Unknown costs, concerns about duplicating other East End arts organizations’ offerings, and criticisms over a survey designed to gauge community input dominated residents’ concerns at a Southampton Village Planning Commission meeting on Thursday, September 1, at the Southampton Cultural Center, which included consultants Webb Management Services and Foresite Facility Planners, and public relations firm DKC.

According to the results presented by the village team that night, the final results of a community survey showed 79 percent of the respondents wanted the spot to continue to have a cultural use, and 76 percent 
are in favor of preserving the building’s architecture and grounds.

“Obviously, if you ask people, ‘Do you want a cultural center?’—my goodness, yes. To be against culture is to be against motherhood,” commented village resident Evelyn Konrad, who also, to laughter and applause from attendees—who numbered about 60—questioned the village’s priorities. “What is more important to you: this amorphous center, marvelous though it might be, or getting the telephone and electric lines underground?”

Other village residents also questioned the way the survey was conducted.

“Asking artists if they need more support from the community or gallery space is like asking children if they need more candy. Of course they do,” complained Susan Stevenson, who called the survey a fait accompli. She also noted, “There are budgeting issues without mention of a dollar—ever.”

Last Thursday’s presentation, along with one on July 7 held at the Southampton Village Justice Center, mentioned various possibilities to rework the grounds, create multiple entrances to the building and offer space for theater, dance, after-school arts programming and other pursuits. But no figures have been presented.

“We would like to see some financials here, and all we hear is cloud work,” said village resident Orest Bliss.

“The goal here is not to have this impact the taxpayer in the Village of Southampton,” Mayor Mark Epley said. Funding for the center is expected to come through private donations, as well as rental income from groups that use the center and ticket sales, he said. Mr. Bliss disputed the statement that the project would not cost taxpayers.

Mr. Epley noted that leaving the building unoccupied also would cost village taxpayers, as the village would have to pay for maintenance of the building and grounds, as well as water and electricity.

Previously the mayor had estimated that a renovation and expansion project might cost $20 million and take about three years, but he said later that he realized all the renovation work does not have to be completed before programming can come in. A restoration of the building, which he said is strongly needed, could cost from $6 million to $9 million.

The theme that the village needs a community center—particularly for teens and senior citizens—came through in the presentation and was supported strongly by attendees.

“I really think we need to just have a gathering place, a place where you can go and see who’s playing bridge and maybe have a partner, a place that would really foster a sense of community in this village. I just don’t think we’re lacking in arts events,” said Penny Wright, the director of adult programs at Rogers Memorial Library. She received hearty applause when she said she wished for the center to serve as a community center first and foremost.

Although most of the public’s comments were critical of the process, Mr. Epley said he welcomed them.

“We are in a visioning process. We are trying to get feedback from the community. No solid, sound decisions have been made. There’s nothing written in stone,” he said. “The village has no choice. We’ve got to find an occupant for the building. And we as a community have got to make decisions.”