About

Role Statement
SANS Sag Harbor Organization (SANS*) is an independent, unincorporated Not-for-Profit formed to lead the effort to preserve the historically significant cultural section now known as the SANS Historic District™ in the Village of Sag Harbor NY and listed in the Library of Congress.

In 2016, about twenty (20) concerned Sag Harbor residents of about 300, who owned individual properties within three locales (Sag Harbor Hills, Azurest, and Ninevah Beach Association areas), took the initiative and formed the SANS Sag Harbor Organization.
SANS performed the lead preservation role normally assumed by the Village. The Village publicly acknowledged its lack of resources (staff, financial) to perform this responsibility. With Village’s unanimous agreement, SANS worked with State preservation authorities and experts to gain historic listing.

The newly formed SANS organization was and is separate and apart from the specific Sag Harbor Hills, Azurest, and Ninevah Beach Associations chartered with their own elected officers, budget, and operating structure.

Cooperatively, SANS representatives communicated at the three Association membership meetings regarding its progress and accomplishments from 2016. National and State authorities also confirmed all residents’ knowledge and agreement to National and State designation through the mandated approval process including three mailed communications to each owner in 2018-2019.

Working with a 501c3 fiscal sponsor (Sag Harbor Preservation) and local preservationists (Preservation Long Island & ECHS), the SANS organization charged forward raising operating funds from individuals as well as Preserve NY ($5K) and Robert David Lion Gardiner ($5K+) grant monies to secure Survey research and documentation. It also engaged in significant and broad-based communication –
Nationally and locally including Wall St. Journal, Washington Post, New York Times, WCBS, Newsday, Sag Harbor Express, East Hampton News, and several public presentations/events.

In 2019, after several years of ‘hands-on’ efforts, data collection, and meetings, SANS delivered the SANS Historic District™ Listing on the National and State Registries of Historic Places. Later, the SANS Steering Committee was awarded the New York State Historic Preservation Award (12/2/19) and was applauded by the Village of Sag Harbor for its unprecedented efforts.

In Dec. 2022, the Village adopted a local Zoning Law [L.L. No. 19-2022] leveraging the SANS Historic District’s National/State Registry Listing of Historic Places, research data, and Proposed SANS Historic District Design Guidelines/ideas, but submitted to the Village for approval by the three Associations with local Zoning specifics.

Today, the Village of Sag Harbor has two Historic Districts listed on the National and State Registries of Historic Districts – the Sag Harbor Historic District and the SANS Historic District™.

*SANS is a coined acronym used for the Organization’s name and to name the Historic District to encapsulate the area, in aggregate, as “Subdivisions” including the beach area. The three incorporated Associations are not legal “Subdivisions” of the Village of Sag Harbor.