$24M In Funding Allocated To Shore Up Montauk Lighthouse

MONTAUK, NY — A beloved East End icon has received an infusion of funding to shore it up and keep it secure for visitors for generations to come.

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Tuesday that $24 million in state and federal funding has been secured to begin construction on protection measures for the historic Montauk Point Lighthouse; work is expected to begin in December.

Through final agreements between New York and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and the state and the Montauk Historical Society, the funding will be used to reconstruct the area's ocean banks to help ensure the Montauk Point Lighthouse remains intact, a release from Cuomo's office said.

"Generations of visitors have experienced the culture and beauty of Montauk Point, and New York is committed to ensuring this historic landmark remains a sought after attraction on Long Island for decades to come," Cuomo said. "This investment provides the resources needed to secure the ocean bank, protect the historic structures at the Montauk Point Lighthouse site, and preserve New York history for future generations of visitors."

Montauk Point Lighthouse, the first lighthouse ever built in New York, is a National Historic Landmark on the federal and state registers of historic places, the governor said. And it has a rich history: The lighthouse was commissioned by George Washington and constructed in 1796, roughly 300 feet from the receding edge of the bluff.

Over the ensuing years, the site has become increasingly dangerous and less stable for visitors and the structures at the site, Cuomo said.

Today, the lighthouse sits less than 100 feet from the receding edge; the deteriorating stonework revetment is the only thing left protecting the lighthouse from being lost to the ocean due to erosion, officials said.

The State Department of Environmental Conservation has been working with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to find answers and protect the Lighthouse for years, the release said.

In 2016, Cuomo signed Chapter 310 of the New York Laws of 2016, which simplified DEC's ability to undertake projects to protect national historic landmarks from shore erosion, and make it possible to move forward with the construction of the Montauk Lighthouse project, Cuomo said.

The study was approved in April, 2017, by U.S. Army Corps of Engineers assistant secretary of the Army, the release said.

The engineering design phase of the revetment project is nearing completion. Construction is planned to begin later in 2018 and expected to take up to 18 months, Cuomo said.

The project cost is an estimated $24 million, with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation funding 35 percent and the federal government funding the remaining 65 percent; state funding for the project was secured through NY Works, Cuomo said.

The funding will provide invaluable protection for the various cultural resources associated with the lighthouse complex and will stabilize the natural environment to support the continued use of the area as a renowned tourism attraction, Cuomo said.

The lighthouse complex consists of the lighthouse tower and keeper's house, the fire control tower, and the garage, which was an earlier keeper's house; the archaeological sites associated with the lighthouse and bluff are also part of the complex, the release said.

In 1996, the U.S. Coast Guard transferred ownership of the historic site to the Montauk Historical Society, which now operates and owns the property.

U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer was one of many who applauded the funding allocation: "The iconic image of Montauk Point Lighthouse, authorized for construction by founding father George Washington in 1792, is a historic touchstone for generations of Long Islanders and the countless visitors who come to the east end to sun, walk, sail, surf fish and frolic. This federal-and-state funding will preserve this jewel on Long Island's coastal crown and ensure the continued enjoyment of its beauty and cultural significance for future generations."

Montauk Historical Society Board of Directors Member Greg Donohue added that the Montauk Historical Society is honored to be a part of the civilian/government alliance that has been protecting the Montauk Lighthouse since 1970.

Patch file photo.