The Southampton Town Board plans to designate the Hampton Bays Park District as steward of the Lyzon Hat Shop, a historic property that is being restored by the town this year.
The board approved the appointment at a meeting on Tuesday afternoon, saying that including the park in the district will not affect the tax levy for Hampton Bays residents. With the designation, the park district will be responsible for future improvements, maintenance and landscaping at the site, which eventually will be open to the public.
The Lyzon Hat Shop was built around 1896. It was originally located on the other side of Montauk Highway and served as a general store. In the early 1900s, the building was transformed into a hat shop, popular with locals and visitors alike. Many people would frequent the shop for one-of-a-kind hats made by shop owner Walter King.
After its hat shop heyday, the house stayed in the King family and became known as the art space Camp King. The building was sold in the 1980s to Brian Whalen, who eventually donated the house to the Hampton Bays Historical and Preservation Society in 2006, which in turn donated the house to Southampton Town in 2013, one year after it was designated a historical landmark.
The shop is currently being renovated, and will be moved roughly 80 feet back on the property. With Suffolk County Health Department approval, it will be attached to an existing septic system, and a modern bathroom will be installed. In addition to a new foundation, the property also will get roof and siding work done, as well as interior woodworking, restored floors and windows, and a paint job. The project is slated to be completed in January.
The town anticipates spending roughly $38,500 on the improvements and upkeep of the property, but because the park district has a fund balance of $244,000, there is no proposed increase to the annual tax levy for the district. Currently, the annual tax levy for the park district is $54,209.92, an estimated cost of $.0154 per $1,000 of assessed value. So, for a property valued at $500,000, the annual tax is $7.70.
A public hearing on the park district designation has been scheduled for August 11 at 1 p.m. at Southampton Town Hall.
Erin McKinley on Jul 15, 2015