Sagaponack Homeowner Hopes To Rebuild After Fire

After a fire comes the rebuild.

Peter Smith’s historic home on Sagaponack Main Street, which dated to 1650, was all but destroyed by a blaze in September and later demolished. The former executive at investment banking firm Lazard Freres now is trying to build a new one.

The fire started in the early morning hours, and firefighters said a gas can and gasoline-soaked rags were found in a cemetery near the house. Arson was suspected, and Southampton Town Police confirmed that a key “person of interest” was Thomas Gilbert Jr., whose family had a house in Wainscott and against whom Mr. Smith had an order of protection following an altercation at Sagg Main Beach. Mr. Gilbert was never charged with arson, although he was later charged with murdering his 70-year-old father, Thomas Gilbert Sr., a hedge fund manager, at his New York City apartment in January.

In the meantime, Mr. Smith, who lives in Connecticut, has been seeking approval for a new vacation home that would be roughly 30 percent larger than the old one, but that he says would replicate the authenticity of the historic structure.

In April, Mr. Smith appeared before the Sagaponack Village Architectural and Historic Review Board, seeking support for his application before he goes on to make his case with the village’s Zoning Board of Appeals next month. His attorney, David Gilmartin, and architect, Jim McMullan of Fleetwood & McMullan, were in tow.

According to the village’s minutes of the meeting, “Mr. Smith stated that he purchased the house when he was single, but now his family has outgrown the house.” He told village officials that some bedrooms were only 6 by 10 feet, and that people in the old house had to go through bathrooms to access some of the bedrooms.

The new home would have a similar facade to that of the historic one that preceded it, but with an addition off the rear of the house. The overall square footage would increase from about 7,500 to about 10,000. There would be 11 to 12 bedrooms and as many bathrooms. Mr. Smith would also like to rebuild his pool house and relocate a shed to the northeast corner of the property. The projected cost of the project is $3 million.

Members of the Architectural and Historic Review Board were initially concerned about the scope of the project and the variances it would need from the ZBA. For example, the original home had a third-story living space with 2 bedrooms and a bath. Mr. Smith would like that again, but only two stories of living space are permitted by code. Other variances are needed for the extension and a covered porch, among other things.

Ultimately, the board agreed to adopt a resolution supporting the variance application, out of concern that a denial would result in a new house that might degrade the village’s historic character.

“One has to ask the question, ‘What does the village get out of this? Is there a benefit? The benefit is that we get a replica of a house that was lost to fire, rather than a mega-mansion that would replace it … in a modern sense,” said Tom White, chairperson of the Architectural and Historic Review Board.

About two weeks ago, that board’s members learned that the proposal they saw has since been modified and is different from what ZBA members will see. It is not entirely clear how it has changed, but Mr. White said he believes the new extension may have been reduced in size.

“We were willing to give a letter of recommendation … and we now are aware that what we saw is not what they’re going to be submitting to the ZBA,” said Mr. White, adding, however, that the final plans will indeed come back to his board for approval.

Attempts to speak with Mr. Gilmartin for comment were declined, as he said he was instructed by Mr. Smith not to speak to the press.

Located on Sagg Main Street, the historic home that burned down was known as the Pierson-Smith House. First built in 1650, it was enlarged in 1842 by Jesse Pierson. Later, it was owned by Mr. Pierson’s son, David, and then by James Henry Devereaux as a summer home.

It was also used as a boarding house called the Hearthstone Inn until 1962, when it was purchased by the Robb family for use as a summer home. According to town documents, Mr. Smith has owned the property since the early 1970s.

He is scheduled to meet with the ZBA on July 10.