The mayor and trustees of the Village of Baxter Estates have been persistently engaged in the issues surrounding the Baxter House, before, during and after the devastating conflagration that all but consumed the historic building. Discussions with the property owner had progressed to the point that just days before the blaze, the owner’s attorney had contacted the Village to announce that the owner had finally decided to restore the building and that plans were being drawn up by her architect. Then came the fire.
Since then the mayor and trustees have hired professionals to assess the damage so their insights regarding the prospects for restoration can be provided to the Landmark Preservation Commission.
Clearly, such professional guidance is critical for the LPC to make an informed and equitable decision with respect to both the homeowner and the village and even to the greater Port Washington community.
VBE has also reached out to Nassau County, the Town of North Hempstead and the Port Washington Public Library to gauge their interest in acquiring and restoring/replicating the building for their use and/or as a museum.
Suggestions have been made that the Village purchase the property.
In fact, VBE considered the property for its Village Hall prior to the current owner’s buying the property.
The idea was overwhelmingly rejected by the residents for reasons ranging from the cost to taxpayers, to maintain the building, to the inappropriate space configuration to inadequate parking; factors that have only been exacerbated by the fire.
While there has been a good deal of disinformation in circulation — and even some outright dissembling — the basic facts are that, while landmarked, the property is privately-owned, and the landmark designation only applies to the exterior of the building and the general layout of the parcel, itself.
Thus, the village’s Landmark Law provides only a narrow range of remedies the LPC can consider, basically limited to restoration, or if the damage is too great, replication of the exterior of the building; VBE has no jurisdiction over the interior.
And it should be understood that should the LPC’s decision be challenged, a court would consider whether the commission properly balanced the fairness to the homeowner versus the benefits to the community.
In the wake of the fire, the Village has been advised by the homeowner’s counsel that the earlier-submitted plan needs to be reviewed as it is no longer viable.
As already announced, the LPC will meet on Wednesday, March 1st, at 7:30 in the evening at the Port Washington Public Library (Latham Room).
While all village meetings are open to the public, ordinarily the LPC would not hear comments from the floor.
However, given the interest in the fate of the Baxter House, the LPC will open the floor to comments.
Nora Haagenson
Mayor, Village of Baxter Estates
