Dan's Papers - May 9, 2008 - What Really Happened At Sag Meeting

For many months, the Save Sag Harbor Committee has been brainstorming ways of preventing the big box stores from coming into this unique, historic village. On April 29, they received input from two representatives of the National Trust For Historic Preservation, which makes it their business to preserve communities like Sag Harbor.

There was a tremendous turnout at the meeting held at the Bay Street Theatre, which was filled almost to its capacity of 275. Roberta Lane, Program Officer and Regional Attorney with the National Trust's Northeast Regional Office, gave a presentation showing what her organization has done across the country. They have grant and loan programs to help preserve neighborhoods, and have established "most endangered" lists of places in jeopardy of being lost. Some of these endangered places include 2 Columbus Circle in New York, the staircase of the World Trade Center, Brooklyn's Industrial Waterfront, the Hudson River Valley towns, and the entire state of Vermont.

Lane discussed some of the National Trust's "special initiatives," such as preserving historic neighborhood schools and urban houses of worship, working on the problem of chain drugstores invading local Main Streets, and making sure that "tear downs" are done correctly. "We identify tear downs and their effect on the neighborhoods, and we try to keep historic neighborhood schools as schools, since they provide an educational experience that is unduplicated," she explained.

Teresa Lynch, Senior Program Officer and Manager of Special National Trust Main Street Center Projects in Washington, D.C. explained how her group has helped cities from Boston to Baltimore enhance their Main Streets. In 1977, the group started a pilot project in three Midwest cities, and it took off from there. The group's efforts created physical improvements, new businesses, jobs and reinvestment opportunities. "Many things have happened to America's Main Streets, from shopping malls, to competitive super stores, to the Internet," Lynch said. "When we look at a Main Street, we try to first establish its assets, including unique stores, personal service and infrastructure."

Lynch said that after a day of exploring Sag Harbor she and Lane found the village to have a unique Main Street, which would attract visitors from other areas - not big news for village residents. What impressed her most about the village, in addition to the wonderful Main Street businesses, were the people she met. She explained that with the Main Street approach of her organization, Sag Harbor could go from an A to an A-plus.

"Your village is at a critical juncture with development pressures, and having some downtown commercial buildings that need work," she said. "You also need to make this more of a year-round village, so that the businesses can stay busier all year long. You can use more events to expand the retail sales potential here." Lynch explained that her Main Street Program could raise Sag Harbor's "curb appeal," which is important to bringing in more business. She cited more examples of successful cities that attract tourists, but added that some places, like Freeport. Maine, have gotten so touristy that they have "lost their soul."

Some residents in the audience complained that they'd rather not promote or attract more business to Sag Harbor's Main Street, because it may ruin the quiet appeal of this small village. "I don't want to see Sag Harbor become Rehoboth Beach," said one woman.

"But if the Main Street businesses don't do better all year-round, they'll leave and then it opens it up more for the big chain stores to come in," said Lynch. One Sag Harbor resident said he feels an obligation to support the local stores, even though he could save money by shopping in the malls.

The Committee approached Lynch to Save Sag Harbor, and thought the village residents might like to consider working with the National Trust to improve Main Street. If the Village agreed, she said her group "would first do an assessment to look into design, property and business development, marketing analysis, and we would make about three-day visits here, and then produce a report on our findings, and then get the community input."

Following the over two-hour meeting, guests gathered in the lobby for more discussion. Nada Barry, owner of the Wharf Shop in Sag Harbor, said she hopes the Save Sag Harbor Committee decides to work with the National Trust. Kelly Smith, owner of A Little of What You Fancy store in East Hampton, said as one of only a few "mom and pop" shops left in this village, she thinks the National Trust should have helped her downtown stores.

"But it's too late for East Hampton," she said. "Most of the shops have already sold out to large chain stores."

April Gornik, one of the founders of Save Sag Harbor, said the next step is to encourage communication within Sag Harbor to decide if they want to hire and get advice from the National Trust.