Mills Pond House Unsafe - SuffolkJournal.com

Mills Pond House Declared Unsafe - Closed
by Nancy A. Bock

August 1, 2003

Historic Home in Critical Condition

Repairs to the front and rear porticos of Smithtown's Mills Pond House were only some of the major work needed to keep the building open. When the contractor walked off the job leaving the entries unfinished it opened a firestorm which lead to the ultimate closure of the entire building, deemed unsafe by the town engineer.

Listed on the New York State registry of historic buildings, the Mills Pond House dates to the early 1800's and is owned by the town. The terms of the grant require that it be used to promote the arts and it has been ocupied by the Smithtown Township Arts Council (STAC) as both a studio, gallery and event center for years. In the past, STAC earned additional funds by renting the mansion and grounds for special events and weddings, but the home's deteriorating condition made that infeasible recently.

The house has four chimneys, each of which shows missing mortar and lean. According to Town Engineer Paul Schettini they are in danger of falling down, hence his recommendation that the building be closed. Because of the portico renovations, STAC had relocated its summer events to the First Presbyterian church on Main Street but the building was still being used by artists and members until the town's public safety director was directed to closed it entirely. In addition to the leaning chimneys Schettini warned that the basement support beams were deteriorated and "cribbing" would be needed immediately. Schettini recommended most of the exterior of the 12-foot main chimney be rebuilt and the other four chimneys be wrapped in wire mesh and stabilized until permanent renovations were made.

Councilwoman Jane Conway asked how STAC, a tenant, could order renovations to the town's building (the porticos) without the town's knowledge or consent. Funds for the renovation came through a state grant secured by former Assemblyman Robert Wertz. The organization had received additional funding through a member item grant from Legislator Andrew Crecca (this was actually part of a $200,000 grant secured by former Legislator William Holst for the purchase of the Smithtown Theater building - when the purchase was not effected Crecca, then in office, redirected the grants to other groups).

STAC maintains that Elite Building Enterprises of Albertson, defaulted on the contract to renovate the porticoes, and rear and front entranceways. That work remains unfinished. Although the town board authorized "emergency" repairs to the chimneys and framing, they must first clear such work with the NYS Office of Parks and Historic Preservation due to its historic designation and the terms of the renovation grant.

Supervisor Patrick Vecchio, Councilwoman Conway and Councilmen Thomas McCarthy and Edward Weirheim voted to secure the services of restoration architect Walter Hollien to evaluate the building and oversee the renovation/restoration work on the house. Vecchio also directed Conway and Weirheim to form a "historic buildings" committee to oversee all of the townowned historic properties. The details of the composition and mission of the committee is vague at present.