The Village of Baxter Estates drew strong criticism last week after the Port Washington Times reported an agreement had been reached that the historic Baxter House would be demolished and rebuilt.
But the village said no official decision had been made.
Residents who oppose the proposed action started a Facebook group called “Save the Baxter House.” The group currently has 347 members.
About 20 people gathered in front of the Baxter House on Thursday, an event organized by members of the Facebook group, to support the house after it was reported that a News Channel 12 reporter intended to visit the home.
Five trustees of the Cow Neck Peninsula Historical Society were among the attendees, who held an informal meeting when no News Channel 12 reporter arrived.
“We all want to believe the village is doing the right thing,” Nancy Johnson, a resident, said at the gathering. “It’s pretty rotten what has happened to be honest. We were hearing about the process for a while and then we hear nothing and then we see what’s going on from a story with a valid source.”
Stephanie Hall, who lives just outside of Baxter Estates, said the village has let the owner, Sabrina Wu, allow the house to deteriorate, saying that she isn’t following village code.
Hall cited a law passed earlier this year that requires residents to maintain and repair designated landmarked properties.
In a letter to the editor, Mayor Nora Haagenson disputed the Port Washington Times account, which quoted Trustee Chris Ficalora as saying that Wu and the trustees had agreed that she would tear down the house and build an exact replica.
Haagenson said the article contained “several inaccuracies” that “unnecessarily created anxiety within the community” and that the village had discussed both the possibility of major renovations with the owner as well as the possibility of demolishing the house.
“But those are informal discussions, and the village has not yet received an application, let alone a decision,” she said.
Ficalora said that the article was correct but that the process is still not official and that Wu has yet to submit an application indicating whether she will demolish and rebuild or renovate the house, which was built in 1790 and is at 15 Shore Road.
A lawyer for Wu declined to discuss her plans.
Haagenson said Wu had hired an architect to complete a rendering of the exterior of the house and submitted the as-built drawings to the village.
Haagenson said in the letter that after the board reviews the drawings Wu will need approval from the village’s Landmarks Commission. Then the village’s Board of Zoning Appeals will need to approve it, according to the village code.
Wu is required, under the village code, to rebuild only the exterior of the house as an exact replica, because the interior is not landmarked.
Haagenson said Wu has been issued two “outstanding orders to remedy,” which she has appealed.
Hall said she has been inside the house and believes the house is salvageable.
The village hired an engineering firm in September to conduct one of four assessments of the property and found deterioration of many parts of the house, including the foundation, roof, wood floor framing and chimney.
The assessment listed what the owner needs to fix, but does not make a suggestion whether the owner should complete renovations or demolish and rebuild the house, according to the report.
Richard Brody, a resident, said, like other residents, that Wu is “playing the village.”
“She neglected the house, and told them what they wanted to hear,” Brody said. “And now she is doing it again.”
Brody, who works in real estate, said Wu listed the house on the market because she wanted to create the appearance that she was taking action.
Wu listed the house for $3.6 million, Brody said.
According to Nassau County land records, the house’s current fair market value is $751,600. Wu purchased the property in 2003 for $990,000.
“I don’t believe Wu will follow through with an agreement at all,” Brody said. “She is using this as a negotiating point.”
The village will take out a bond to assure Wu complies with the agreement and rebuilds the house according to the original plans, village trustees said.
