Background
The waterfront hamlet of New Suffolk, on Long Island's North Fork,
commands a sweeping view of Cutchogue Harbor and Robins Island. A
natural anchorage, Cutchogue Harbor and New Suffolk were home to a busy
port by the end of the 18th century and a flourishing shellfish industry at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries. New Suffolk's waters were also the site for the trials of the US Navy's first submarine, the USS Holland, and the port served as a submarine base from 1897-1905.
The last oysters and scallops from the area's still bountiful waters
and wetlands were packed in New Suffolk's oyster houses decades ago and
the old wooden buildings are but a fading memory, even for the hamlet's
oldest residents. However, Cutchogue Harbor remains as majestic as
ever, home these days to dozens of small sail and powerboats. And the
scenic hamlet of New Suffolk, with its two-room schoolhouse and 280
homes laid out on a tree-lined grid almost 200 years old, still
stretches out behind the waterfront.
For the residents of New Suffolk, the waterfront has always been the
village's living heart. Even after the last oyster house burnt down in
the 1980s, New Suffolk's little waterfront remained a vibrant place
until the last years of the 20th century, home to small
marinas, fishing stations, a post office, a general store and a
restaurant. Although some nearby businesses continue to thrive, the
waterfront itself went into slow decline. Seeing an opportunity,
private developers proposed various schemes for the 3.5 acres at the
center of the waterfront area, including condominiums in the 1980s, a
large marina and conference center in the 1990's, and most recently a
"rack and stack" boat storage operation. None of these projects was in
keeping with the history and character of the hamlet, and one by one,
in the face of vigorous opposition from the community, organized
through the New Suffolk Civic Association, these development ventures
were abandoned.
The New Suffolk Waterfront Fund
About 20 years ago, the Civic Association began to "vision" an
appropriate redevelopment of the property. Then, in 2005, some members
of the New Suffolk Civic Association resolved to take a more proactive
stance. Instead of continual, defensive opposition, they reasoned, why
not take the initiative and purchase the property? Only in this way,
they realized, could they ensure the appropriate development of the
property in keeping with the vision that would celebrate and enhance
its maritime heritage and preserve its natural beauty for the benefit
of the community. To accomplish this purchase, they established a
501(c)(3) organization, the New Suffolk Waterfront Fund, Inc (NSWF) and
proposed a collaborative effort with the Peconic Land Trust, which had
kept a file on the property for 20 years. Using monies from its
revolving fund, the Land Trust negotiated a bargain sale with the prior
owners, acquiring the entire 3.5 acre package for $2.4M. A critically
important element of the deal was a conservation easement requiring
that at least 57% of the property be set aside as open space accessible
to the community in perpetuity. The Trust's purchase was finalized in
December 2007, with the understanding that the NSWF would replenish the
Land Trust's funds and assume ownership by the end of 2010.
Since the purchase by the Land Trust, the NSWF has raised $1.2 M
towards the replenishment goal of $2.6M (includes $200,000 closing and
administrative costs). The more than 160 contributions include a
large matching grant from a local charitable foundation, several other
six figure donations, more than a dozen over $10,000 and smaller
donations from multiple sectors, including about 33% of all New Suffolk
full-time and summer residents. All four of New Suffolk's existing
local businesses have made financial or in-kind contributions. Other
donors include people from Cutchogue and other hamlets of Southold Town
who enjoy New Suffolk's home-grown Fourth of July parade, who watch or
participate in the Wednesday night sailboat races around Robins Island,
or who simply enjoy New Suffolk's beautiful water views.
The NSWF Fund is governed by a ten-member board of directors. The
directors are all residents of either New Suffolk or surrounding
Cutchogue and bring a broad range of experience in business, farming,
administration and finance to the Board. In addition, the board is
advised by a professional land use planner and by a local attorney with
broad experience in land-related issues. The Peconic Land Trust sends a
representative to the board meetings. This board is responsible for
ensuring the success of NSWF's mission:
- To preserve and protect New Suffolk's unique and historic
waterfront in ways that respect the property's scenic beauty and
maritime heritage;
- To support recreational, educational, and commercial activities on
the site that enhance community life and are environmentally
sustainable for both the uplands and the bay; and
- To assure public access opportunities now and for future generations.
Goal:
Now the task before the NSWF, with the support of the New Suffolk
community, is to raise the balance of $1.4 M to complete the purchase
of the property from the Peconic Land Trust by December 2010. The
project seeks to create a vibrant, active waterfront focused on
education, preservation, and community-based activities. More
specifically, the NSWF wants the project to adhere to these values:
- Redevelopment must nurture the spirit, diversity and essence of New Suffolk's small hamlet character.
- The sustainable, historic, walk-able, character of the downtown must be enhanced and strengthened.
- The panoramic view of the waterfront must be preserved.
- The nature and intensity of uses on the site must be
environmentally sustainable.ยท The mix and intensity of re-development,
including parks and open space, must be fiscally sustainable.
- Partnerships with like-minded sponsors who agree to honor the NSWF Mission Statement are essential.
Through its fundraising committee, the NSWF is actively seeking
large and small donations from individuals and from foundation grants.
A site plan is being developed that identifies areas for open
space/parkland, education and commercial activities related to
sustainable waterfront use, including possibly a sailing school and an
historical museum. All of these uses would be accessible to the
community and many would be open to the general public.
Community Involvement & Partners
New Suffolk has always been a hamlet filled with activity. The
community regularly holds pot lucks, beach and road clean-ups,
community yard sales, and a very home-grown 4th of July
parade. A movie night, fall apple cider tasting, and a clam chowder
party recently have brought people to the waterfront site and
reestablished the idea of the site as a locus for community activity.
Early in the planning process, the NSWF and Peconic Land Trust held a
series of meetings that sought input from the community on their
priorities for the site. The community's stated preferences are
embedded in the NSWF mission statement and included in the draft site
plan (see attached).
Other partners with the NSWF include:
- Cornell University's Marine Science program is already running a
shellfish seeding program on the 2.1 acres of underwater property also
a part of the site.
- The Group for the East End in collaboration with the NSWF has
planted native plants on the site and will sponsor the kayak paddles at
the August 15th "A DAY IN NEW SUFFOLK" event.
- The Submariners: veterans of the submarine service who will help in memorializing the historic site.
Continued role of NSWF
Once the area has been redeveloped, the NSWF will serve as stewards
of the property, ensuring that ongoing activities there support the
vision and contribute to the financial sustainability of the area. The
board has employed an administrative assistant and a part-time marina
steward to manage the property's docks, which will provide slips for up
to 20 boats.
