James Lane Farmland Bids

East Hampton Village is soliciting bids from farmers interested in growing crops on the Gardiner home lot at 36 James Lane. The request for proposals, on two acres of the lot reserved for agriculture, stipulates a five-year commitment.

Proposals should be submitted to Robert Hefner, the village’s director of historic services, at Village Hall, 86 Main Street, East Hampton 11937, no later than April 28. Specifications can be obtained there from the village administrator’s office, between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.

The village board will review the proposals and interview the candidates.

Last year, at the board’s request, the Town of East Hampton bought the Gardiner home lot, which Olney Mairs Gardiner had put up for sale. The lot had been in his family since 1648, when Lion Gardiner, the first of the line, acquired it. The property contains the 1804 Gardiner windmill, which was deeded to the village in 1996 and restored, and a mill cottage, which will also be restored.

Last month the village board asked for proposals to relocate or demolish an uncompleted house behind the mill cottage, which is to be removed in order to restore the agricultural land and setting of the mill and mill cottage. Bids will be opened at Village Hall on Monday.