East Hampton Town Throws Legal Brick At Glass House

The Town of East Hampton has obtained a court order halting the use of a Springs mansion residence “for hotel-like rentals, promoters’ parties, product launches, photo shoots, and the like,” the Town Supervisor’s office announced Thursday, August 1. The temporary restraining order, signed by Supreme Court Justice Vincent Martorana, prevents the owner, onsite manager, and other individuals from using the property for commercial purposes.

According to the director of the town’s code enforcement division, Donald Kauth, both the police and his department had received multiple complaints concerning overcrowding and noise at 145 Neck Path, sparking an investigation.

The residence, called the Glass House, “has been listed on real-estate rental sites with individual bedrooms for rent for any period of time, and, most recently with the entire house offered for $2700 per night,” Supervisor Peter Van Scoyoc said in a press release.

The house, according to its certificate of occupancy on file at the East Hampton Town building department, has a 4787-square-foot first floor, 4138-square-foot second floor, with six bedrooms, six full bathrooms, a 2340-square-foot underneath garage, as well as a 776-square-foot lower level recreation room, a 1438-square-foot swimming pool, and a 2500-square-foot patio.

The town supervisor also said the property was described in advertisements as “being able to accommodate 20 overnight guests and, at one point, as containing common areas shared by guests and being run as a ‘small boutique hotel,’ with a house manager and butlers on premises.” The release continues, saying about 145 Neck Path, “It has also been identified as the ‘secret location’ of parties being advertised by promoters who would charge an admission fee and additional fees of up to $5000 for reserved spots poolside and bottle service.”

Those promoting these events provided chartered buses for clients to and from the residence from across the New York Metropolitan area, the supervisor said.

While Kauth said code enforcement has not gained access to the interior of the house, it has gathered evidence from both visiting the property, as well as from online websites like Airbnb, where the house is advertised as a rental. On August 2, an advertisement on Airbnb still promised the entire site for a one-night rental fee of $2700.

Code enforcement officers are currently preparing charges to be brought against the noted architect and owner of the house, Juan Figueroa.

The property is currently being offered for sale for $3.99 million, according to online real estate sites.

Town Attorney NancyLynn Thiele says that, among possible charges Figueroa is facing are multiple violations of the town’s rental registry laws, which is considered a misdemeanor crime.

t.e@indyeastend.com