In a bold move to secure public access to the shoreline, officials in the exclusive Hamptons enclave of Southampton are poised to spend $25.8 million on a lavish oceanfront mansion, with plans to tear it down completely.
A Rare Opportunity for Public Access
The target is a stunning three-story home at 1950 Meadow Lane, a street colloquially known as 'Billionaire's Lane' for its ultra-wealthy residents and properties worth up to $75 million. The 11-bedroom, 11-bathroom residence boasts 172 linear feet of pristine ocean frontage and sits adjacent to the acclaimed Cooper's Beach.
Jacqueline Fenlon, director of the town's Community Preservation Fund (CPF), described the potential purchase as a "rare opportunity" to preserve such valuable coastline. The land is valued at a staggering $11.7 million per acre, making this the second-largest acquisition in the town's history using the CPF, which is financed by a two percent tax on real estate transactions.
Coastal Resilience and Public Safety
The initiative is driven by a dual purpose: expanding public beach access in an increasingly private area and bolstering coastal resilience against environmental threats. "We have been trying to, throughout the town, prioritise coastal properties for coastal resiliency practices, habitat restoration and habitat preservation," Fenlon told Newsday.
Environmental advocates strongly support the strategy. Bob DeLuca, president of the Group for the East End, argued that acquiring such properties offsets long-term public costs and human risk. "It definitely has a habitat value. It definitely has a public safety value and it has a public access value," he said, noting the deal would provide access "in an area that's increasingly devoid of access."
Approval Process and Next Steps
While Southampton has already reached an agreement with the current owner, Frances Katz, the plan is not yet final. The town board must formally approve the sale. A crucial public hearing on the matter is scheduled for Tuesday.
This is not the town's first effort to preserve waterfront land. Fenlon cited similar preservation projects along Dune Road in Hampton Bays, Westhampton Beach, and Quogue. The demolition costs for the Meadow Lane mansion would also come from the CPF, though the exact figure remains unclear.
The property was last listed for $27 million in August 2023, having previously been on the market in 2021 for $24.495 million. If approved, its demolition will mark a dramatic shift from private luxury to public asset on one of America's most coveted shorelines.
