Plinth-Labs, a nonprofit founded by East End natives Jack Lyons and Kai Latham, has presented a plan to bring Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) to Sag Harbor as a solution to the village’s urgent housing crisis.

The initiative, which received enthusiastic support from the Sag Harbor Village Board in September, addresses soaring home prices and the shortage of rental options that have forced young residents, teachers, and local workers to live farther away. With the median Long Island home price now over $755,000, ADUs offer a smaller, prefabricated, and cost-efficient alternative to traditional housing.

Drawing inspiration from European models of affordable housing, Lyons and Latham propose one-bedroom, 270-square-foot units with kitchens and bathrooms, estimated at around $100,000 per build. Units would rent for approximately $2,200–$2,500 per month and comply fully with Sag Harbor’s zoning and building codes. Known as “granny flats” or “in-law apartments,” the units would be located on existing homeowners’ properties while remaining independent of the main house.

Plinth-Labs plans to collaborate with local business owners—particularly restaurants and employers who struggle to house seasonal staff—as well as investors and New York State’s Plus One ADU program, which has earmarked $85 million for such projects.

Mayor Thomas Gardella praised the proposal, calling it “excellent” and recognizing the effort as a generational response to the housing crisis. Next steps include building a demonstration unit in Sag Harbor, engaging with the Suffolk County Health Department on septic requirements, and eventually scaling to 100 units over the coming years.