Dobbs Ferry architect questioned about workmanship of Hamptons house

A Dobbs Ferry architect has been accused of reneging on a warranty on a $4.2 million house he designed and built in East Hampton.

Ross Marchetta, of Miami, claims that architect Gary Sharp and his Case Development Inc. have disavowed the warranty and failed to fix numerous defects.

In 2020, according to the complaint, Neal and Pamela Epstein of Scarsdale hired Gregory Sharp Architect P.C. to design the house and Case Development Inc. to act as the construction administrator. Both firms are based at the same address in Dobbs Ferry and allegedly operated by Sharp.

The property is a nearly one-acre lot on Montauk Highway near Georgica Beach.

Marketing materials described the house as “thoughtfully conceived and exceptionally built,” according to the complaint, “sparing no cost in design, materials and execution.” Sharp was depicted as treating the house “as his baby.”

The 5,800-square-foot, 7-bedroom, 6-bath structure includes architectural highlights such as skylights and oversized windows, a 22-foot vaulted ceiling, and a sculptural steel floating staircase.

Marchetta wanted it because it was “cool and new,” the complaint states, “and had a great address in a coveted neighborhood.”

In 2020, Marchetta agreed to pay $4.2 million for the property. The sales contract, according to the complaint, included a warranty and designated Case Development as the contractor.

The closing was scheduled for April 2022, but by then the project was allegedly well behind schedule.

To complete the closing, the complaint states, both sides agreed to set up an escrow account with funds to be used as work was completed.

But Marchetta claims that after he took possession of the property he discovered major defects.

Leaky windows and doors had not been repaired or replaced, according to the complaint, the yard was not properly regraded, a retaining wall had not been installed, a damaged foundation wasn’t fixed, and two fireplaces and the HVAC system were not repaired.

This past summer, Marchetta filed a warranty claim with Case Development to fix the defects, but Case, he alleges, denied that it was the contractor and disavowed the warranty.

Marchetta, represented by Manhattan attorney Nicholas R. Caputo, is demanding $400,000 in damages on charges of breach of contract, breach of warranty, negligence, and fraud.

Sharp did not reply to a message asking for his side of the story.

“Suffice it to say,” the Epstein’s attorney, Edward H. Odesser, stated in an email, “the seller’s position (is) that claims against them are bogus and will be dealt with in the course of litigation.”