We have been following the story of the Baxter House since December 2015, when the Cow Neck Historical Society began to shine light on the deterioration of the landmarked property and began pushing the Village of Baxter Estates to force the owner to repair and maintain the exterior. It’s puzzling how the house stood here since 1673 and only now has been discovered.
In the early 2000s, the previous owner of the Baxter House came to a village meeting praising the historic nature of the home and how proud he was to be a steward of such a treasure and invited everyone to the real estate open house. He supported landmarking, but as we later learned, only as long as it was done after he sold it. It became obvious why. Had it been landmarked, it would never have sold. Better to stick it to some unsuspecting buyer.
The Village of Baxter Estates considered purchasing the house as the Village Hall. We at first supported this. But after the open house it was obvious what a money pit this house would be to repair and maintain. As reported in Newsday, Dec. 20, 2015, experts consulted by the owners said the foundation was crumbling. This was already obvious at the open house. At a standing-room only meeting, village residents soundly rejected the purchase, not only due to the million-dollar price tag but also due to projected repair and maintenance costs.
The new owners presented plans to subdivide and build a second house on the property soon after they bought it in 2003. The village rejected their plans. Two years later, against their objections, the village landmarked it. The village has now enacted a new preservation law to force the new owner to repair and maintain the landmarked exterior. The new owner resurrected her proposal to sub-divide, build a second house and use the funds to repair the landmarked Baxter House. This sounds like a fair compromise. Otherwise, the village must prepare to defend itself in a threatened lawsuit at the expense of village taxpayers.
We agree with the mayor’s letter, which invited the Cow Neck Historical Association or parties interested in owning the Baxter House to contact the owner. If all the preservationists across Long Island and all the residents of Port Washington want this house saved, as we have read, they should have no problem raising the money to buy the house.
If the village did not want to purchase and preserve it, then it was cruel and heartless to put this burden on Ms. Wu (or should we say the victim?). Is this who we are? We attended many meetings over the years and this is not the treatment we witnessed. Our village always acted with consideration and fairness towards the residents. No, this is not who we are.
Jim and Marilyn Sacrestano
