Huntington Town, Suffolk County finalize deal to preserve Stanhope Stables property

The development rights for Stanhope Stables in West Hills now belong to Suffolk County and the Town of Huntington, so the property will forever remain open space, county and town officials said.

The two municipalities joined in a partnership last year to purchase the rights for almost $3 million and closed on the deal last week, county and town officials said.

Operation of the stables on 13.72 acres at 5 Downs Rd., just south of Walt Whitman High School, remain in owner Nancy Henderson’s hands. The facility, which also has frontage on West Hills Road, offers boarding, horseback riding lessons and training, Newsday previously reported. Henderson will be responsible for maintenance of the site, a town memo dated March 31 said.

Henderson declined to comment on the end of a 2-year ordeal that started with a proposed zoning change to make way for housing, which upset residents and members of the equestrian community. Those opposed to the zoning change said the proposed 59 units of housing were inappropriate for the area, with its narrow streets and historic significance. The stables are located beside the Whitman Historic District and near the birthplace of Walt Whitman.

Those opposed to development at the site also argued it was one of the last remaining equestrian facilities in the area.

Suffolk County and the Town of Huntington stepped in to purchase the land's farmland development rights together to preserve its agricultural and equestrian history, according to county and town officials. The property must always be used for agricultural purposes even if it were to be sold, the town memo said. The land will remain open space in perpetuity.

According to the town memo, the county paid $1,966,631.66, with the town contributing $983,168.34 for the purchase.

“It was a great public-private partnership to preserve an historic site in the middle of a residential neighborhood,” Town Supervisor Ed Smyth said.

Suffolk County Legis. Rebecca Sanin (D-Huntington Station), whose district includes Stanhope Stables, said she was proud to join with members of the community in preserving part of the county’s equestrian heritage.

“Protecting this land is protecting the future and it is a preservation victory that will be celebrated for decades to come,” she said.

Suffolk County Legis. Stephanie Bontempi (R-Centerport), who sponsored a resolution for the county to appraise the Stanhope property to consider purchasing the development rights, said the purchase is “exciting” because it preserves open space, which protects the environment. She added that it’s “especially significant, as the much beloved Stanhope Stables will be able to continue operating as an equestrian center in an area of Suffolk County where there are few horseback riding opportunities.”