Nicole LaFountaine was in Sayville on Nov. 14 when she first received word that a fast-moving fire had engulfed the Fire Island Pines building that her family has owned since her grandparents bought it in 1952. She first saw the flames shooting from the roof of the Danikki Building and the neighboring Pavilion complex from across the bay.

LaFountaine called a firefighter who was on his way to the Pines on a boat to confirm if he could see the fire.

"I said I just need to know if you can see it because if you can see it, then it's gone," said LaFountaine. "He said, 'I'm really sorry, but I see it.' And I said okay, now I know what I'm dealing with."

The devastating fire destroyed not only the Danikki Building—which included Sip n Twirl, the Pines Bistro and Martini Bar, Pines Pizza, Bob Howard Real Estate, Jalston, Pines Harbor Real Estate and C.F. LaFountaine, but the adjacent Pavilion complex—which housed its namesake nightclub, Island Properties, the Rack Gym and other retail space and a house along the harbor.

Three hundred firefighters from the Pines, Ocean Bay Park, Davis Park, Point O' Woods, Cherry Grove, Ocean Beach, Fair Harbor, Saltaire, Kismet, East Islip, West Islip, Hagerman, Sayville, Bellport, Great River, Bay Shore and more than a dozen other departments fought the fast-moving November blaze. This response was the largest to a fire on Long Island since the Sunrise Fire scorched thousands of acres of pine barrens near the Hamptons in 1995.

Canteen, Hotel Ciel, the Pines Pantry, the Pines Liquor Store, Summer Solstice and other businesses north of the Pavilion escaped the fire unscathed. Island Properties and Pines Harbor Real Estate have both relocated to temporary locations.

"Fully Committed" to Rebuilding the Commercial District

Demolition of the Danikki Building began on Jan. 4, and LaFountaine expects it will be completed by the end of the month if weather permits.

The Brookhaven Division of Buildings denied a building permit application, but LaFountaine hopes to obtain the necessary variances that would allow her family to rebuild the complex on the lot beyond what the current allows at a hearing before the Zoning Board of Appeals on Jan. 11.

The Affiliated Brookhaven Civic Organization claims in a post opposing the permit application on its website that the project seeks an "increase to 100 percent lot occupancy." According to LaFountaine's proposal, the proposed structure would include the prior structure's footprint, floor sizes and lot coverage, and, in addition, within those constraints, plans to include updates to contemporary building structural codes, including ADA compliance.

"The LaFountaine's request is very simple, rebuild what they lost to fire, which was a legal commercial building that had its Town of Brookhaven Certificate of Occupancy," said Doreen Katen of d.katen real estate in a letter addressed to the Brookhaven Board of Zoning Appeals.

"We have full intentions of building the building that was there, as closely as we possibly can," said LaFountaine, noting her goal is to have the reconstruction completed by Memorial Day or early June if she secures the appropriate permits and the weather is favorable. "We have every intention and so far everything has shown that we will be able to do it. I have everybody in place, as soon as I get all the needed things in line."

Folks are being urged through online appeals to write to Daniel Belano, assistant town attorney of the Brookhaven Board of Zoning Appeals regarding the case (case #11) to support the process for expediting the permit for the requested LaFountaine building at 36 Fire Island Blvd.

Bromley Calderi Architects will design the rebuilt structure, while Bill Santangelo of Crellory Property Management will oversee the reconstruction. Kevin Connolly of Connolly Construction and LaFountaine herself will be on site project managers. Bromley Calderi also designed the new Whyte Hall Community House in the hamlet with long-time Pines resident Scott Bromley.

FIP Ventures Announces Architect

FIP Ventures co-owners Andrew Kirtzman, Seth Weissman and Matthew Blesso announced on Jan. 5 the selection of the architects Diller Scofidio + Renfro and the architectural firm HWKN (HollwichKushner). Diller Scofidio + Renfro have recent high-profile commissions that include the High Line and the redesign of Lincoln Center.

"The fire handed us an unexpected opportunity to create something far better than what was destroyed," said Weissman in a news release. "We're intent upon building something that will reflect the Pines' reputation as a mecca of style."

The redesign is to begin with a temporary entertainment complex for the 2012 summer season, with a new Pavilion complex in place for the following season.

"We'll do everything in our power to ensure that the commercial district in the summer of 2012 will have entertainment venues that will be as exciting and stylish as the community expects from the Pines," wrote FIP Ventures in a letter to FIPPOA, noting their timeline remains uncertain.

According to an article on in the New York Times' arts beat blog on Jan. 6, Charles Renfro, a partner in Diller Scofidio + Renfro (who has spent several summers on Fire Island), said the designers are thinking in "broad strokes" about "heightening" the entire commercial district into something more theatrical.

"We're rethinking it as the Theater of the Pines, a proper name," he said. "It's about the comings and goings, the glances, the meetings: all of those things that are particular to the Pines."

Renfro said his own collective memories of the Pavilion will come into play as the design evolves. Much as the firm did in its design of the High Line, seeing and being seen will be crucial elements.

The group continues to meet with Brookhaven officials and consult with both the Fire Island Pines Property Owners Association and LaFountaine about the reconstruction.

Optimism Above All Else

Both LaFountaine and Pagano remain characteristically optimistic about this summer's prospects.

"Our community is nothing if not resilient," wrote Pagano in a letter to FIPPOA members. "Hopefully the Sip n' Twirl will be back in all its glory this summer and we will be dancing again at the Lina Tea and marveling at what Seth and Andrew have come up with for a temporary Pavilion."

Sip n' Twirl owner P.J. McAteer has repeatedly exuded this same optimism on a blog that was set up just days after the fire destroyed his popular bar and adjacent businesses. "Your Sip n' Twirl, Pines Bistro and Pines Pizza family and friends have been truly amazed and inspired by the outpouring of support, following last Monday's devastating fire, from the Pines community, and from around the world," he wrote on Nov. 18. "Such a truly heartwarming response strengthens our resolve to move forward aggressively, together with Nicole LaFountaine, to rebuild, and, as quickly as humanly possible, be back to serve you!"

In spite of this optimism, the road ahead will certainly prove challenging for a heartbroken community.

"My community needs these businesses and my tenants need their livelihoods back," said an adamant LaFountaine. "These are services that the community needs. I want them back."