Yorktown Rejects Landmarking Proposal for Underhill Farm Property

February 9, 2024 – The Town Board rejected a proposal to landmark Underhill Farm, citing provisions in the developer’s approved site plan that will preserve many of the property’s historic elements.

Deputy Supervisor Ed Lachterman said on Tuesday that the Town Board’s rejection of the landmarking proposal for the 13.8-acre property was based on preservation provisions already agreed to by the developer, including rehabilitating the Italianate-style main building and other structures. He also cited a new agreement in the works with Unicorn Contracting, the developer.

“We will offer a protection for the building that will be in perpetuity,” said Supervisor Lachterman, who expressed confidence in Unicorn Contracting’s commitment to preserving the main building and other elements. “He's followed this path for four years without any change of the path.”

Unicorn Contracting is preparing to build a mixed-use development at 370 Underhill Avenue consisting of 80 condominium units including: 48 townhouses; a 32-unit 55+ senior restricted condominium building; and a mixed-use building consisting of 68 apartments and 15,600 square feet of retail/office space that includes 8,100 square feet of new retail space in addition to the reuse and preservation of the existing Main Building.

The Underhill Farm property was the subject of a landmark proposal by the Yorktown Heritage Preservation Commission. Yorktown’s building inspector has recommended that several of the structures on the property are unsafe and should be demolished as soon as possible.

Board member Sergio Esposito said nothing on the property was preserved or maintained by the previous owners, including the Soundview School.

“Soundview did this property no favors because all of the buildings have rotted away right before our very eyes,” said Esposito. “Now we have a developer that wants to preserve the main house.”

Board member Luciana Haughwout questioned the fairness of insisting on historic preservation at the expense of a private business.

“I encourage people if you find a house that you want to preserve, to go out and invest in it and preserve it,” said Haughwout. “I have a big issue when people force other people to landmark their property after they bought it.”