Southampton Town looks at buying waterfront Quogue acreage for open space
The Town of Southampton may buy property here on Second Neck Lane in Quogue to preserve as open space for public use along the waterfront. Credit: Morgan Campbell
Southampton Town may buy adjacent properties in Quogue to open about 11.7 acres of waterfront land for public use.
Under the proposal, the town would spend about $7.6 million to acquire the two properties at the end of Second Neck Lane that overlook Penniman Cove and Shinnecock Bay.
The money would come from the town’s Community Preservation Fund, which is used primarily to preserve open space. Money for the fund is generated through a 2% tax on most real estate transactions.
“It’s spectacular looking over the bay there toward Dune Road,” said Jacqueline Fenlon, Southampton's community preservation fund director, during a public hearing on the topic at a Feb. 27 town board meeting.
Fenlon said the properties are a “sleepy area” and would be kept as open space as opposed to a park with amenities like a playground or courts, citing the “sensitivity of wetlands.” She said there could be a trail on the property.
The town board is planning to consider resolutions Tuesday that, if passed, would formally begin the process of buying the land.
One of the parcels, at 38 Second Neck Lane, is 6.4 acres and owned by Pennimans Point Limited Partnership, according to Fenlon. That property is undeveloped, she said, and the purchase price is $3.8 million.
A separate trust in the same family owns the adjacent 5.3-acre property at 40 Second Neck Lane, Fenlon said. There is open green space on the property as well as a retaining wall that is in “good condition” that the town would leave in place, the Southampton official added. The purchase price is $3.85 million.
Councilwoman Cyndi McNamara said a plaque at the entrance to the area off Montauk Highway says the road is private property. She asked if that would be changed and Fenlon said she would look into it further.
No members of the public commented on the proposal at the meeting.
Separately, the board will consider spending $815,000 from the Community Preservation Fund to acquire an undeveloped 1.3-acre property at 710 North Magee St. in North Sea. The town already owns four adjacent properties around an intersection of North Magee Street, West Neck Road and Millstone Brooke Road.
Southampton Town may buy adjacent properties in Quogue to open about 11.7 acres of waterfront land for public use.
Under the proposal, the town would spend about $7.6 million to acquire the two properties at the end of Second Neck Lane that overlook Penniman Cove and Shinnecock Bay.
The money would come from the town’s Community Preservation Fund, which is used primarily to preserve open space. Money for the fund is generated through a 2% tax on most real estate transactions.
“It’s spectacular looking over the bay there toward Dune Road,” said Jacqueline Fenlon, Southampton's community preservation fund director, during a public hearing on the topic at a Feb. 27 town board meeting.
Fenlon said the properties are a “sleepy area” and would be kept as open space as opposed to a park with amenities like a playground or courts, citing the “sensitivity of wetlands.” She said there could be a trail on the property.
The town board is planning to consider resolutions Tuesday that, if passed, would formally begin the process of buying the land.
One of the parcels, at 38 Second Neck Lane, is 6.4 acres and owned by Pennimans Point Limited Partnership, according to Fenlon. That property is undeveloped, she said, and the purchase price is $3.8 million.
A separate trust in the same family owns the adjacent 5.3-acre property at 40 Second Neck Lane, Fenlon said. There is open green space on the property as well as a retaining wall that is in “good condition” that the town would leave in place, the Southampton official added. The purchase price is $3.85 million.
Councilwoman Cyndi McNamara said a plaque at the entrance to the area off Montauk Highway says the road is private property. She asked if that would be changed and Fenlon said she would look into it further.
No members of the public commented on the proposal at the meeting.
Separately, the board will consider spending $815,000 from the Community Preservation Fund to acquire an undeveloped 1.3-acre property at 710 North Magee St. in North Sea. The town already owns four adjacent properties around an intersection of North Magee Street, West Neck Road and Millstone Brooke Road.
Joe Werkmeister covers the towns of Southampton, East Hampton and Shelter Island. He is a graduate of St. Bonaventure University and previously worked as the editor of two North Fork community newspapers.
