General Wayne Inn Headed For Demolition

A rich chapter in the book of Southold history could be closing forever soon.

The Southold Town board held an unsafe building hearing on Tuesday regarding the General Wayne Inn, located at the end of Main Bayview Road at 1275 Cedar Beach Road  -- and the board agreed to deem the dilapidated structure as unsafe.

Southold Chief Building Inspector Mike Verity said he responded to a complaint about the property in April and went to inspect the former Inn, which was glorious in its heyday.

But the passage of time, fierce storms, and abandonment have not been kind to the building, Verity said. "Basically, the property was unsafe. The building is falling down. It's structurally unsound -- and dilapidated,"  he said. "Basically, it's  a collapsed building."

The roof of the Inn has fallen down onto the first floor and sections of the walls are visibly open to the elements.

In addition, knee high, overgrown grasses are filled with ticks and neighbors have complained about the blighted conditions.

The building, which has stood vacant for years, was once last used as a restaurant and catering hall, Verity said.

Currently, Michael Tsandilas of Liquidation Trustee Services is in the midst of foreclosure proceedings against the owner of the property, Ovlasid Realty LLC, who once again holds the lease after the back taxes were paid to Suffolk County. The county had initially seized the property for non-payment of back taxes, but the deed is now held by the property owner.

Verity said he spoke with Tsandilas about a falling down fence around the building; Tsandilas repaired the fence.

The foreclosure process is ongoing, Tsandalis said.

Asked for his determination, Verity said, "The building, according to the code, is unsafe and in complete disrepair."

Tsandalis said the foreclosure process has been "painstakingly long," but announced that a foreclosure sale would be held outside Town Hall on July 16 at 2 p.m.

"I have interested buyers but no one is interested in stepping into the middle of a foreclosure," he said. 

Since he is not the property owner, Tsandalis said he cannot raze the structure but has a broker going once a week to ensure the grounds are safe.

Assistant Town Attorney Lori Hulse said since the town board is poised to pass a resolution designating the Inn as unsafe, any new prospective buyer would have to purchase the property and deal with that designation -- and would have to wait until the foreclosure auction takes place before moving forward to either demolish the property or try to save it.

"We have heard that the prospective buyer wants to demolish the building," she said. "It's not salvageable at this point."

Since the property is now zoned residential, no future restaurant or Inn could be located on the parcel.

"It's a shame -- the building is almost historic," she said. "But the dilapidation is caused just by time wearing on it, and from abandonment."

Hulse said she didn't blame neighbors for complaining. "It's definitely an eyesore," she said. "The fencing secures the premises but it doesn't deal with the fact that the structure is so compromised it has to be demolished as soon as the court case and foreclosure are finalized."

Verity said as it stands, the building poses real danger. "It would be awful if someone were to go in -- there's no roof," he said.

Councilman Chris Talbot suggest "No Trespassing" signs be posted. Tsandalis said he'd take care of that signage immediately. "My purpose is to make sure nothing happens between now and the sale," he said.

Verity asked that the overgrown grasses be attended to; Tsandalis assured the board they would be cared for.

How do you feel about the town's decision -- and about the fact that the General Wayne Inn will likely be razed and gone forever by next month? Share your thoughts in the comments section.