A few days ago a comment was posted here by an anonymous Saghampton reader, who felt he or she was being forced to leave the area due to the high cost of living here. I was going to reply directly to the comment, but thought the issue could use a bit more exposure, so I’m putting my response here in a new post. (Click on the link above or here to read the original comment.)
Anonymous, I am saddened to hear that you feel you must relocate. Your comment about “family lineages crumbling” is so important, and not just for the “old” families like yours. Even families that have been here for one or two generations, but who thought that this would be home to their children and grandchildren are being forced to choose between living here, or living near their extended family in a place they all can afford to live. And, as you know, we’re not talking about the poor. They were pushed out of this area long ago. We’re talking about middle and upper-middle class families who are also now being shown the door.
Here’s the rub: it’s no one’s fault…and yet it’s everyone’s. No one’s because we’re simply seeing a very visible example of free market forces at work. Everyone’s, because any one of us “regular” people could turn down that offer from the real estate speculator who wants to buy our home…but we don’t. Perhaps it’s not fair to say that anyone could refuse to sell, because I know that there are plenty of families, like you, who just can’t afford to stay; farmers who had to sell off acreage because potatoes just weren’t paying the bills; regular folks who were tired of working two or three jobs to stay afloat. Perhaps they really couldn’t say no when offered a king’s ransom for their homes or land. Yet, others of us could have hung in there, but instead, chose to take the money and run. Still, others, who could afford to sell their land for a little less so it could be used to create affordable housing — not public housing, but affordable, decent, attractive middle-class housing — choose instead to go for full-market value simply because they could.
It’s tempting to look to government to solve this problem, but as our local official’s tepid efforts have shown, in the time it takes government to create five affordable housing units, ten families will have left the area. As usual, government is not the answer. And, as much as I love Habitat for Humanity, and I do love and respect them for the work they do, they will not solve the problem here either. It’s the real estate market that is the driving force behind the problem, and it will be people who know how to work the market that will solve it. Sooner or later an individual or individuals out there will see an opportunity in the development of affordable housing; an opportunity to make money, and an opportunity to do some good for the community. All it will take are a few developers, a few builders, an architect or two, who are willing to work for a slightly smaller profit. All that is needed is a handful of savy people with a vision of Saghampton that’s both consistent with its past, and protective of its future.
But they’d better get religion soon ’cause we’re at the crossroads now. Every day another family packs up and moves to a more affordable location. Every day, another reasonably-sized older home is “improved” into a super-sized, lot-filling, faux-historic monstrosity that will serve as a second, or third home for someone not at all interested in whether or not there is a viable year-round working community here. Every day we lose another hardware store/pharmacy/deli/five-and-dime to be replaced by a real estate office, designer boutique, or trendy restaurant. Fewer businesses, fewer jobs, fewer places to live, and pretty soon all you’ve got are second-home owners and the businesses that cater to them. Workers are imported from somewhere else. What was once a thriving, economically diverse, charming community becomes a Disneyesque theme park of gift shops, restaurants, and fake period architecture.
One of the key ingredients that makes this area so attractive to visitors and summer residents is the fact that Saghampton is a place that’s populated year-round with real people who have a history here and care about the place in which they live. The year-round, middle-class working community makes it real, makes it vibrant. When that community is gone – as it will be soon — all that will remain is some very unspecial, very large, very perfect restored houses. Disneyland by the sea.
And so I’m truly sorry, Anonymous, that you will be leaving us after sixteen (or more) generations. All of Saghampton is poorer for losing you. You will be missed.
I couldn’t have said it any better . . .how discouraging it has been as a young woman w/masters, stable income and active member in the community . . .maybe we need to change the “affordable housing” title to our issue out here. It is a stretch to use that term anywhere in New York these days, but a term that won’t be so “ugly” to those who disregard the issue with their own stereotypes of who is in need out here. I commend all those who are putting forth to come up with solutions instead of those who have been complaining about the issue for the last decade waiting for someone to fix it. The voice of the young community also needs to be heard-please attend these meetings and represent! You are a valuable community member that deserves a home and legacy!
Eric, you’ve hit the nail on the head once again. The South Fork isn’t limited to this phenomena; your brethren here in the North are feeling the effects as well. I too have been offered a good deal for my digs that I cannot refuse and am currently looking for a new, more affordable residence. Oddly enough, if I choose to live in Flanders, there is affordable housing there, on the South Fork. (The pricey realtors do not like to admit that Flanders is on the southside!) However, after much soul and house searching, I’ve decided to stay on the Northside as long as I can, but in a different neighborhood.I will continue to dress like a farmer and work on my tan as a way of rejecting the crazy values that are driving most middle class Americans into debt and worse. That’s what the North Fork lifestyle (traditionally) is about and why I was drawn here to begin with. Thanks for a great blog!