UPDATE: New Owner Of Former Library Building Is Former Goldman Sachs Partner

UPDATE: TUESDAY, JUNE 19

Jonathan S. Sobel of Manhattan is the owner of Ajax Holdings LLC, according to the New York State Department of State. Mr. Sobel is a former Goldman Sachs partner and recently purchased the BMW and Mini of Southampton dealership on Montauk Highway as well as the Audi Dealership on County Road 39. Mr. Sobel has also been a longtime supporter of the Parrish Art Museum and his wife is currently a museum trustee.

According to the Parrish Art Museum Public Relations Director Mark Segal, Mr. Sobel is leasing the building back to the museum for $1 so it can continue using it until the move to the new building in Water Mill is completed.

ORIGINAL STORY:

The Parrish Art Museum’s Carroll Petrie Center for Education building, located at 11 Jobs Lane—the historic original home of the Rogers Memorial Library—has been sold for $2.875 million.

According to the Long Island Real Estate Review, the sale was closed on April 30 and recorded on May 15.

Southampton Village Mayor Mark Epley said today that while it is unknown what will become of the building, the new owner, Ajax Holdings LLC., plans to restore the structure and do “what’s right for the village.”

In 2000, the Parrish Art Museum bought the century-old building from the Rogers Memorial Library, which had relocated to its current building on Windmill Lane, for $1.1 million. Museum board member Carroll Petrie donated $3 million to offset the cost of the purchase and to renovate the structure.

Since then, the building has been used for the art museum’s educational programs.

“We bought the building when we were planning on staying here in the village and expanding,” said Parrish Art Museum Director Terrie Sultan. “The idea was that we would renovate the 25 Jobs Lane [building], and expand on site, and create a mini-campus where various parts would be presented in high-quality facilities.”

Ms. Sultan said after the proposal was rejected by the village and museum officials decided to build “from the ground up” in Water Mill, it was important to make sure the educational program, permanent exhibition and the special exhibition went together under one roof.

As a historic building, 11 Jobs Lane has myriad covenants placed on it which aim to protect the facade, Mr. Epley said. The covenants allow for renovation or complete replacement, but only in an effort to duplicate what exists.

“When the library occupied [the building], it was in bad shape,” the mayor said. “I can only imagine what it’s like after another 12 to 13 years with no improvements on the building. It needs significant restoration.”

Mayor Epley said the building’s roof, windows and siding are in rough shape, and that handicap accessibility is an issue.

“The building now has a very enthusiastic property owner who’s going to restore the building to its original charm and create activity in the space that’s been relatively dormant,” he added. “I’m excited.”

The Parrish Art Museum has until January 1, 2013, to vacate the building, according to the president of the Morley Agency, Morley Quatroche Jr. Mr. Quatroche said his real estate agency now has the task of finding a tenant for the building once the renovations are complete, but he said he could not say what use the new owners are planning and would not identify them.

Mayor Epley said that he met with the buyer in the spring and walked the property and talked about the building’s history and how important it is to keep Southampton Village’s traditions going, such as the lighting of the Menorah each Hanukkah, and the village’s use of the northwest corner of the property as green space where a variety of activities have taken place in past years.

Although he said he doesn’t know what kind of business the new owner wants to introduce, Mayor Epley said it will most likely end up as a retail store with office space upstairs.

“I’m happy it’s going to be taken care of, and I’m ecstatic that it’s going to be restored,” he said. “To me, it’s all about activity.”