(Updated: Oct. 6 at 5:50 a.m.- See editor’s note appended) The plan to relocate the 19th Century structure known as the Norton House that was once a blacksmith shop serving area shipyards has been abandoned and the building is now slated to be demolished.
A resolution on the town board’s agenda Tuesday states that the relocation plan announced at the Oct. 1 work session by Councilwoman Jodi Giglio will not be pursued.
The resolution, which grants final site plan approval for the construction of a four-story 36-unit apartment building, states that “after further analysis and review of the proposed site of relocation” the town board decided “a definitive determination regarding preservation and relocation of the existing Norton House is not feasible at this time.”
At the Sept. 24 work session, Giglio announced an agreement with Bob Castaldi, the owner of the old Second Street firehouse to relocate the Norton House to the north side of that site, fronting Third Street.
The resolution on this week’s town board agenda states that the town board “discussed the proposal at its work session on October 1, 2020.” But the town board at its Oct. 1 work session did not discuss the feasibility of relocating Norton House at all. The Norton House relocation was not on the agenda as a discussion item.
The resolution approving the site plan was in the resolution packet reviewed by the town board on Oct. 1. Giglio did raise the issue of an excavation permit needed by the developer and the amount of material to be removed from the construction site. Planning aide Greg Bergman and the developer’s attorney Christopher Kent answered Giglio’s questions about the excavation permit. No mention was made of the Norton House relocation or any change in the relocation plan discussed at the town board work session the week before.
Neither Giglio nor Castaldi could be reached for comment.
Riverhead Industrial Development Agency executive director Tracy Stark-James told the IDA board of directors at its meeting today that the Norton House would be demolished rather than relocated as originally thought. The IDA board tonight approved financial benefits for the development project planned for 331 East Main Street. The term of the benefits agreement was reduced from 20 years to 10 years.
After the IDA meeting, Kent said in a phone interview it was his understanding that the town could not reach an agreement with the owner of the Second Street firehouse property. Accordingly, the Norton House was to be demolished along with another existing building on the site, he said. His client, he noted, had agreed to pay up to $70,000 to move the Norton House to a site to be determined by the town board.
The Riverhead Landmarks Preservation Commission had asked for the Norton House to be relocated and preserved, citing its historic significance. The commission suggested relocating the house to town-owned property across the street, to town-owned property, currently a portion of a municipal parking lot, between two other historic homes on East Main Street, the recently restored Howell House and the Tuthill-Mangano Funeral Home.
At the Sept. 24 work session, Giglio announced the alternative site on Third Street.
In a text message last night after publication of this article, Giglio said, “No, not true, still working on it.” Asked about the language in the resolution stating “a definitive determination regarding preservation and relocation of the existing Norton House is not feasible at this time,” Giglio replied, “When we discussed it on Thursday it was in the conditional approval. Told them we were still working on it.”
It is not clear what discussion Giglio was referring to, since the town board did not discuss the Norton House relocation at its work session on Thursday.
The preliminary site plan approval granted by the town board on Aug. 4 stated the following condition: “If a suitable location is found within the Town of Riverhead for the relocation of the existing Norton House located on the subject parcel, the applicant shall agree to provide a maximum $70,000 to assist in funding the efforts to relocate the structure.”
The resolution on the Oct. 6 meeting agenda, granting final site plan approval, states:
“WHEREAS, the potential preservation, disposition, and/or relocation of the Norton House on the subject parcel was discussed with the Town Board at its work session on August 24, 2020 [Editor’s note: This date is incorrect; it was discussed on Sept. 24], at which time a potential location on 3rd Street in Downtown Riverhead (SCTM No. 600-128-5-25.2) was identified by members of the Town Board after consulting with local property and business owners; and
“WHEREAS, after further analysis and review of the proposed site of relocation, the Town Board discussed the proposal at its work session on October 1, 2020, and has made the determination that a definitive determination regarding preservation and relocation of the existing Norton House is not feasible at this time given consideration of financial impact, safety considerations related to reconfiguration of town land, and logistical and procedural issues involved in relocating the building to the proposed parcel of land; and
WHEREAS, the Town Board, at its October 1, 2020 work session, discussed ways to commemorate the Norton House and celebrate its contributions to the history of the Town of Riverhead with marque or plaque to commemorate the Norton House once existing at the 331 location;”
Editor’s note: This story was updated after it was originally published to reflect comments from Councilwoman Jodi Giglio sent to RiverheadLOCAL by text message post-publication. A comment from the developer’s attorney in a phone interview immediately after Monday afternoon’s IDA meeting but not included in the original story was also added for context.
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