Setauket man says town is evicting him from home despite agreement tied to historic Roe Tavern
Art Billadello says he recently received a letter from the town's law department notifying him that he must vacate the town-owned house on Dyke Road where he has been living.
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A Setauket man says he is being forced out of the home where he has lived for the past three years, claiming the Town of Brookhaven is breaking a promise connected to the sale of one of Long Island's oldest historic buildings.
Art Billadello says he recently received a letter from the town's law department notifying him that he must vacate the town-owned house on Dyke Road where he has been living.
"I get a letter from the town's law department which says I'm going to be evicted," Billadello said.
Billadello sold the more than 300-year-old Roe Tavern in Setauket to the Town of Brookhaven in 2023. As part of that agreement, he said he was allowed to live in the town-owned home while plans moved forward to restore and relocate the historic structure.
Now, he says those plans remain unfinished and he is being told to leave.
"In two weeks, I'll be out on the street," Billadello said.
When asked where he would go, Billadello said he plans to stay with one of his daughters while he figures out his next steps.
The Roe Tavern has a long history in Setauket. Nearly a century ago, a previous owner moved the building from its original location along Route 25A to a less-trafficked area. As part of the 2023 sale, Billadello said the town planned to restore the tavern and move it back near its original location.
"The reason I bought it was to save the property and to preserve it, and it was in a bad state of disrepair," he said.
According to Billadello, the agreement called for him to return to the tavern and serve as its curator once the relocation and restoration work was completed.
Billadello said he is unsure why the town is requiring him to leave now and believes his agreement allows him to remain in the home longer.
"I can't afford to live on Long Island with the taxes and everything and the rents on Social Security," he said.
The Town of Brookhaven sent the following statement:
“The Town of Brookhaven must follow the law and cannot gift this gentleman a residence. He received the full purchase price of $800,000 for the Roe Tavern, which required significant restoration at the time of sale and still does today. Handshake agreements or conversations with former elected officials do not relieve anyone of their legal obligations. We remain open to discussion, but the fact remains: he was paid full value for the property."
