Realty Check

Realty Check
Hot Sales & Listings With A Dollop Of Gossip By Zoe Langstrom

Moving Out

After 18 years at her 20-plus-acre Tower Hill estate in Bridgehampton, Christie Brinkley has put it on the market for $29.5M. Built in 1891, the main house has a 50-foot observation tower with views from the Atlantic Ocean to the Connecticut shore. There’s also a four bedroom guesthouse, greenhouse conservatory, and separate barn/artist studio. The supermodel’s personal touches can be found throughout, notably in the large country kitchen where she installed a fireplace made out of stones collected from a local beach. Enzo Morabito of Douglas Elliman has the listing.

Cook’s New Digs

Meanwhile, Christie’s ex, architect Peter Cook, has just purchased a three bedroom waterfront ranch house three properties away from his previous home in Sag Harbor for $2.175 million. The structure, which boasts a dock and views of Sag Harbor Bay, will make a nifty renovation project for Cook, who is known for stunning redesigns of homes with potential. It was the listing of Corcoran’s Mala Sander.

Lauer Buys & Sells

Matt Lauer has had a busy summer in real estate. First the Today Show anchor purchased Strongheart Manor, the North Haven compound of Richard Gere, for a reported $33M. We noted in a recent column that now that the property had been reduced to a salable figure it would go fast, and it did. Within a Hamptons minute of the price being lowered to $36.5M, Lauer scooped it up. The 6.2 acre waterfront property was listed originally in 2013 at $65M, nearly double the final ask. Lauer then proceeded to put a waterfront Southampton house on the market for $3.95 million, which he’d bought for $2.15M in 2009. The Cape Cod-style 1,800 sf abode is set down a nearly mile-long drive and overlooks a cove with bulkhead and private dock. Heavens to Betsy! Perhaps because of all the publicity, that sold within two weeks! As if that weren’t enough activity, Susan Breitenbach of The Corcoran Group has listed the Lauer’s 25 acre Deerfield Road estate where they hold court in the Hamptons for $18M. We hear that Lauer and his equestrian wife, Annette, will be holding onto Bright Side Farm, their 40 acre Water Mill horse farm.

A Moment’s Notice

Compass has announced the launch of an international sports and entertainment division, which will focus on the “specialized needs of professional athletes and entertainers.” The brainchild of the firm’s Founder and Executive Chairman Ori Allon, who co-owns Israel’s Hapoel Jerusalem basketball team, the venture combines real estate with concierge services. Former Managing Director of the Sports & Entertainment division at The Agency, Kofi Nartey, has been tapped to create a national network of offices and agents to assist this clientele. Having worked with such high-profile clients as Kevin Durant, Greg Norman, Candace Parker, and Michael Jordan, Kofi plans to expand the model he built at his previous firm in order to help celebrity clients with their housing and lifestyle needs. “Sports stars and entertainers often find themselves having to shift life and career plans in a moment’s notice, and with Kofi’s expertise, Compass is prepared to seamlessly guide them through any stage in their journeys,” says Allon.

Farrell Heads West

Hot shot builder Joe Farrell and his wife, Kristen, have stepped into the NYC spec market with their first NYC gut renovation. The power couple only purchased the Penthouse duplex with wraparound terraces at 510 Park Avenue in January when they paid $4.4M for it. Completion date is November 2016 enacting the same “build it like you mean it” motto in time and quality. Let’s hope that design diva Kristen has put her stylish stamp on the abode. Their listing price? $8.995M. The Farrells will continue to partake in the Gotham lifestyle, however. They still own a three bedroom pied-à-terre in the building, which they bought in 2013.

Open House

Kean Development Company has announced the opening of Tower House, their second residence in Olde Towne, the builder’s uber luxurious Southampton development. Like its sister property, Twin Peaks, the new fully furnished house is set on four lush south-of-the-highway acres with pool, pool house and sports courts. The interiors were designed by the top-drawer firm, Ingrao, with state-of-the-art amenities and elaborate smart house capabilities. A third house is on its way.

Stoned

Just when you thought you could put a lovely cobblestone apron connecting your drive to the street, the Town of Southampton has changed their standards. Belgian blocks, cobblestones or other ornamental driveway aprons are no longer permitted. Now only cement and asphalt aprons are allowed in the easement area between your property line and the street servicing your home/property.