Residents and preservation group urge full‑parcel designation for John Osborne Homestead

East Hampton ec. 5, 2024

The East Hampton Town Board heard a sustained appeal from residents and preservation advocates to designate the John Osborne Homestead at 66 Waycott Main Street as a local historic landmark that includes both the buildings and surrounding farmland.

Hillary Osborne, who gave a historical presentation on the property, described the Farmhouse nd barn nd said the acquisition opportunity could be lost if not seized. "The stars have aligned and I think there was only one chance to grab it," she told the board, urging preservation of the site and offering her narrative and visuals for the town to post.

Representatives of the Wayne Scott Heritage Project said the group supports the town cquisition using the Community Preservation Fund and urged the board to designate the entire parcel —uildings and land s historic. "This acquisition aligns fully with our mission," a speaker for the group told the board, describing the property s a cultural landscape that includes farmland, meadows, wetlands and a coastal pond.

Carolyn Logan Gluck, co‑secretary of the Wayne Scott Heritage Project, and other residents reiterated that the dwelling is historically inseparable from its farmland and cited precedents in town where parcels, not just individual structures, were designated to protect viewsheds and agricultural context.

A caller from the public, David Buddha, asked why the public hearing notice had been edited to exclude agricultural land from the local designation and requested clarification from board members on the rationale for limiting the designation to the two principal structures.

Background: the board opened the hearing noting an assessment of the property by architectural consultant Zachary Studenroth dated Nov. 18 is on file. Speakers recounted the farmhouse—onstruction and use (including a period when it served as a village library) and described the barn nd associated outbuildings, artifacts and landscape features that supporters say contribute to the site's historic value.

The board did not announce a final vote on a full‑parcel designation during the public comments; the meeting proceeded to other agenda items and scheduled further public hearings and resolutions. The town stated the full assessment and presentation materials will be made available on the town website for the record.

What happens next: The town board will consider the public record, the consultant assessment, and the testimony presented before taking any formal designation vote. The public hearing opened on Dec. 5 remains part of the administrative record.