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Cohu Estate, “Gisa Bu”
Southampton, Suffolk County.
threatened
landmark status: Eligible for listing on the National Register
threat: Demolition for development.
“Gissa Bu” was built c.1930 in a “Nordic”/Arts and Crafts style for Lamotte Cohu, an airline executive. A remarkable building designed by Norwegian architect Thorbjorn Bassoe, it now sits vacant. In addition to the house, the property is also valuable for its resources related to maritime industry and the Shinnecock Nation. While the town has purchased portions of the 13-acre property with Community Preservation Funds, it is reluctant to purchase the site containing the house. In many cases, open space preservation funds cannot be used to purchase buildings, while many groups willing to preserve open space are reluctant to take responsibility for historic structures located on that land. In this instance, the developer had planned to demolish the house but is amenable to finding a suitable new buyer. The nomination was sponsored by the Society for the Preservation of Long Island Antiquities working with Hope Sandrow, an artist who lives nearby.
objectives: Advocates are working to convince the Town to purchase the house parcel in addition to the lots they are already buying. They are also working to locate a new use for the site which would involve developing an agreement with a new owner who will lease the building from the Town and be responsible for its preservation.
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