Huge makeover under way for historic Jamesport corner
Paint store being replaced, Meeting House refurbished
0 comments below
The demolition makes way for a new historically appropriate building that will house the same business, while also sprucing up the picturesque hamlet.
"We wanted to give the town something it could be happy with and proud of," said Van Kemenade's owner Tony Brinkmann of Sayville, who bought the parcel in 2002. "It fits with the architectural heritage of the North Fork and it should work out really nice sitting on that corner there.
Demolition of the Van Kemenade Paint store in Jamesport began last Thursday morning to make way for a new two-story brick building that will include room for a second store and upstairs apartments.
In addition to the paint store, the new building will include room for another store and a 600-square-foot apartment upstairs. Most of the structure will be covered with shingles, wood siding and clapboard. The paint store's facade will be brick.
"And, of course," Mr. Brinkmann added, "brick walkways, landscaping, grass with sprinkler systems. And the parking is going to be in the rear, rather than coming off of Main Road."
"They just laid locust posts down on the ground and built on top of that," Mr. Brinkmann said, explaining why the old structure couldn't be salvaged. "The floor was wavy inside. No matter what we did, the roof would always leak. It was kind of a hodgepodge the way it was constructed; it was just a collection of poorly done additions over time."
Riverhead Town Supervisor Phil Cardinale, who lives in Jamesport, said the original building never had historical value. "There was no hue and cry to save it," he said, welcoming news of the new building.
The new building will sit across Manor Lane from the hamlet's most treasured historical structure, the Jamesport Meeting House, built in 1731. The Meeting House is considered the oldest religious structure on the East End. It was purchased in October by a nonprofit group led by Jamesport resident Richard Wines, with the intention of restoring the building to its former glory while keeping it in community hands. Mr. Brinkmann credited Mr. Wines for his help and guidance in designing his new paint store.
"It did have an interesting history, but aesthetically there was nothing on the outside that was worth saving," Mr. Wines said, noting that this will be the first new building since Jamesport was declared a historic district.
"The first design [Mr. Brinkmann] came up with wasn't really designed to fit into that district," Mr. Wines recalled. "So we walked around and looked around and that night he did a sketch himself.
"What he came up with was a handsome design that we think is going to complement the Meeting House across the street and other buildings in the rest of the historic district."
Van Kemenade Paint, which has temporarily relocated to 1116 Main Road in Aquebogue, former site of Arlene's shop, specializes in Benjamin Moore paints. The family-operated business, established in 1977, has several locations on eastern Long Island, including Sayville and Miller Place.
Construction of the new Jamesport location should be completed in about a year, Mr. Brinkmann said.
mwhite@timesreview.com
The Riverhead News-Review is pleased to offer readers the ability to comment on stories. We expect our readers to engage in lively, yet civil discourse. The Riverhead News-Review does not edit user submitted statements and we cannot promise that readers will not occasionally find offensive or inaccurate comments posted in the comments area. Responsibility for the statements posted lies with the person submitting the comment, not The Riverhead News-Review. Please be reminded, however, that in accordance with our Terms of Service and federal law, we are under no obligation to remove any third party comments posted on our website.
0 comments found
