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Town updates timeline for Montauk Second House restoration; phase three to begin soon
Summary
Town officials and the Montauk Historical Society updated the board on the Second House restoration: phases 1 and 2 are complete, septic was upgraded March–April 2024, and phase 3 (interior finishes, MEP, site work) was awarded with notice to proceed in March 2024; construction could last up to a year.
Town staff and Montauk Historical Society leaders updated the East Hampton Town Board on restoration work at the Second House, a historic property in Montauk that the board described as a gateway structure for the hamlet.
Council member David Lease summarized past work and recent milestones, saying the project is a multiyear, multiphase restoration aimed at returning the house to an 1880s appearance. "This multiphase effort for the restoration hasn't gone without bumps in the road but overall it does continue and we show our commitment of the Town board to the historical preservation of the town's facilities," Lease said.
James Pinot, capital projects manager, outlined completed phases: phase one (2018–2019) included stabilization and foundation work; phase two (bidding and exterior restoration) was completed in September 2022. Pinot said phase three — interior finishes, mechanical, electrical and plumbing and site work — was rebid because earlier estimates were higher than expected and a scope was adjusted to include some town forces. He said notice to proceed for the awarded contract was issued in March 2024 and that the on‑site septic system had been upgraded to an I/A system between March and April 2024 using CPF water‑quality grant funding.
"Phase three is going to be the larger of the phases," Pinot said, noting the schedule depends on contractor sequencing and site conditions. He told the board that interior construction could last "upwards of a year," though a firm timeline will follow after contractors mobilize.
Joe Gaviola, president of the Montauk Historical Society, thanked the town and asked for clarity on a specific start date, saying the society hopes the work will not keep the museum closed past next summer. "We're hoping does that take us out of next summer," Gaviola asked; staff said they would seek more detailed contractor start and duration information.
Officials said the Historical Society will continue programming as the restoration proceeds and that the project aims to maintain craftsmanship standards set by historical consultants. The board emphasized its ongoing financial and operational support and said staff will provide schedule updates as they become available.
