Stella McCartney's Hamptons Neighbor Sparks Outrage With Ugly Addition at $1.5M Home

A Legal and Environmental Battle Over a Decaying Sandbag Wall in the Hamptons

A decaying wall of giant sandbags, erected illegally on a prized stretch of Hamptons beachfront, is causing a stir among residents, fueling lawsuits, and raising serious environmental concerns. This structure, known as a "geocube revetment," has become a focal point of contention in the exclusive Amagansett enclave of Napeague, located on Long Island’s East End.

At the center of this conflict is Nicholas Grecco, a homeowner on Bay View Avenue whose $1.5 million home sits next to fashion designer Stella McCartney’s $2.5 million summer retreat. The sandbags have been in place since 2018 but were only meant to be a temporary solution to combat coastal erosion. Despite the expiration of their permit and the visible signs of deterioration, Grecco has continued to maintain the barrier.

The structure, which is visible from Google Maps and described by one neighbor as a "carbuncle," blocks a decades-old public beach path in the neighborhood. Both Grecco and McCartney have defied town orders to remove the geocubes for years, but they have also been denied permission to build a permanent coastal wall because it would block beach access.

The geocube wall was initially installed as an emergency measure to protect against shoreline loss. However, it has now evolved into a complex legal and environmental issue involving litigation, code violations, and growing local frustration.

Grecco has sought to replace the sandbags with a larger, more fortified rock retaining wall, but his proposal has faced significant obstacles. The East Hampton Zoning Board of Appeals issued a positive declaration under the State Environmental Quality Review Act, which triggered a lengthy environmental study. Grecco’s attorney, Brian Matthews, argued that the delay was unjustified, but the town won the case. Grecco has since appealed, though the case remains unresolved.

"It took three years and a lawsuit to even get on the zoning board's agenda," Matthews said in frustration. "Three years is an inordinate amount of time… There was no justification for that."

Meanwhile, McCartney faces her own challenges. She is the subject of a separate lawsuit filed by angry residents who want the 230-foot geocube wall removed. Locals accuse her of blocking their only beach access with a 30-foot-wide barrier and a 7-foot drop-off that has obstructed a public pathway for over five years.

Joe Karpinski, a third-generation Amagansett resident, shared his frustration: "Up until the age of 34, I could use my road freely and access that beach without any obstructions." He added, "This isn't your primary residence. You do not own the 30-foot-wide right of way. It is not your property. It is everybody's property."

McCartney and Grecco are both seeking to demolish their current homes and build new ones farther inland, complete with wraparound decks and reinforced revetments. Grecco recently received a new permit from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation to reconfigure and reinstall the geocubes, but he cannot begin the work until the town grants an emergency building permit.

The process is stalled due to new code requirements, including a provision that Grecco strongly opposes: a surety bond to guarantee the geocubes' removal. "The bond is impossible to get," Matthews said. "Nobody is issuing surety bonds for small residential projects… It's putting my clients in a difficult position. They want the geocubes gone, too."

McCartney has her own plans. According to documents obtained by The News Pulse, she and her husband, Alasdhair Willis, intend to replace their current 1,350-square-foot home with a sleek, modern 1,408-square-foot structure featuring a large wraparound deck and a proposed rock revetment. Their application warns that rising sea levels, coastal erosion, and increased storm surges make it likely that their home will eventually be underwater.

The irony of these protective structures denying community access to the beach has not gone unnoticed. Even as the lawsuits continue and the geocubes decay in plain sight, the potential for lasting environmental damage remains a concern.

"Maintaining these temporary structures in place for extended periods can create adverse environmental consequences," warned East Hampton assistant town attorney John Jilnicki. "The geotextile improvements have been in place for well past the time period permitted."

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation has given Grecco five years to complete the work. Given the delays and legal hurdles, he may need every last day.