Baxter House Owner Applies For Demolition Permit, Gets Rejected

The owner of the Baxter House, a historical home that was destroyed by a massive fire in February, has expressed intention to demolish the structure. Despite this, the fate of the Baxter House remains uncertain.

The Village of Baxter Estates tells Patch the Demolition Permit application submitted by the property owner was rejected by the building inspector.

The application was rejected because it was deficient, according to the Village.

In March, concerned community members were packed inside a room in the Port Washington Public Library to discuss the fate of the Baxter House and to rally for its preservation. The meeting was originally scheduled to discuss the owner of the Baxter House submitting an application to tear down and replicate the property, but the application was withdrawn prior to the meeting.

At the meeting, Thomas Levin, the attorney for Baxter House owner Sabrina Wu, clarified the application was “not exactly withdrawn.” He said Wu “agreed to revisit the idea to preserve the house,” but didn’t officially agree. Since then, Wu has revisited the idea of demolishing the structure.

Levin described the Baxter House as an “eyesore,” an “unwanted tourist attraction” and an “invitation for people to explore [the private property.]”

About one week after the fire, Village Building Inspector Joseph Saladino and independent structural engineer Dean Koutsoubis evaluated the building from behind a 6-foot chain-link fence and determined the building should be demolished. On Feb. 22, the building was inspected by officials on the property, Levin said, and also concluded the house was a “total loss.”

Many residents firmly disagree with Levin. For instance, several residents at the meeting accused Wu of neglecting the outside of the home, causing it to look dilapidated. Wu bought the property in 2003 and two years later it was deemed a historic site by the Village. This means Wu would have to get Board approval whenever she would want to make outside changes to the home. One speaker called her an “absentee landlord.”

Many speakers urged for the Village to get an independent forensic architect with experience working with historical homes to inspect the Baxter House. Howard Kroplick, the Town Historian of the Town of North Hempstead, said a decision on the house should not be made until there is an interior inspection.

Further details on the meeting can be found here.

Photo courtesy of Amy Bagnato