Southampton Town’s Community Preservation Fund Allocates $4 Million For Sag Harbor Cinema Art Center

On Tuesday, October 23, the Southampton Town Supervisor Jay Schneiderman and Town Councilpersons Tommy John Schiavoni, John Bouvier, Christine Scalera, and Julie Lofstad unanimously approved to use $4 million from the Town’s Community Preservation Fund to purchase restrictive use and historic preservation easements on the Sag Harbor Cinema Arts Center.

“We are thrilled with Supervisor Jay Schneiderman and the Members of the Board of the Town of Southampton’s unanimous support of acquiring a use and facade easement on the Cinema property,” said Treasurer Susan Mead, Treasurer.

During the hearing, Supervisor Schneiderman underscored the value of the Sag Harbor Partnership’s role in community preservation. This purchase and the Empire State Development grant, which the Partnership – who purchased the Cinema and is spearheading restoration efforts – received a year ago, are the most significant contributions in support of the Cinema, to date.

“It not only is a fantastic boost to the construction but insurance that the Cinema Art Center will be preserved for generations to come, regardless of what zoning changes or other variable happen in the fabric of the historic district,” Mead added.

Construction began on the iconic Cinema in early June and is anticipated to be completed by summer 2019.

Fundraising efforts for the Sag Harbor Cinema Art Center – in support of construction, staffing and operational costs – remain a focus for the Partnership.

Upcoming Center benefits include a screening of the documentary Peter, Paul & Mary at Newport, 1963-65 on Saturday, November 3 and A Conversation About the Rise of the Sag Harbor Cultural District on Friday, November 16.

For more information, visit www.sagharborcinema.org.