Realty Check – Latest Hamptons Real Estate News

Pond Front Whimsy
The Georgica Pond home of legendary realtor Tina Fredericks, who died in 2015 at 93, is for rent. Her early career began at Condé Nast, where she was art director for Glamour and Mademoiselle. Not only did she later sell Andy Warhol his Montauk estate, she was also known to have helped him along in the art world. The 4,500-square-foot home on 2.3 acres was designed with architect Kenton van Boer. The five-bedroom, 6.5 bath dwelling with a “whimsical” interior design asks $300,000 for the season.

Domestic Bliss
Neil Patrick Harris and hubby David Burtka have purchased a home on East Hampton’s Hands Creek Road. The $5.5M property boasts 13.5 acres of open meadows and gardens along with tennis court, pool/pool house, renovated barn, and 5,500-square-foot main home. The house, once owned by Grove Street Press publisher Barney Rosset (known for such once risqué titles as D.H. Lawrence’s “Lady Chatterley’s Lover” and Henry Miller’s “Tropic of Cancer”), is more recently known for hosting an elite sex club last summer. We presume the property, dubbed the “orgy estate,” will get a more domestic reputation when the couple takes up residence with their adorable twins, Harper and Gideon.

Spectacular Spec
Andre Kikoski, who designed the exterior of Lenny Kravitz’s Nolita condo, is the architect behind builder Jay Bialsky’s latest project – a modern glass palace in Bridgehampton. While it won’t be completed for a year the oceanfront structure has gone on the market for $45M with only renderings to sell it. Kikoski and landscape whiz Edmund Hollander plan a whopping 12,000 square feet outdoor space including terraces, a planted rooftop and deck with kitchen/bar, fire pit and even a grass pad for sunbathing. Let’s not forget the transparent pool! Bespoke has the listing.

Hybrid Habitat
The antique house that locals affectionately call Congress Hall on East Hampton’s Main Street was gutted and modernized inside a couple of years ago, but its original exterior was restored to adhere to historic district code. In deference to structural elements dating back to the colonial era, the owners incorporated such artifacts as the timber framework, front staircase, fireplaces and paneling throughout the breathtaking minimalist abode. The most dramatic touch is a pool that surrounds the living room like a moat. Listed at $3.895M, the house is in contract. Listers are Yorgos Tsibiridis and Alicia DeFronze of Douglas Elliman Real Estate.

Tyrant Tower
Paul Manafort, former head of the Trump campaign now being investigated for his dealings with a Russian oligarch, owns a house on Jobs Lane in Water Mill, according to Property Shark. A 10 bedroom, 6 bath house sits on 2.37 acres that includes formal gardens, putting green, tennis court, pool, spa, pool house and half court. The Manaforts also own properties in SoHo, Brooklyn, Alexandria, Virginia Palm Beach Gardens, and Trump Tower. Of course.

Rolling in Dough
French pastry chef, Francois Payard, who sold his interest in his eponymous Manhattan bakeries last year, is being sued by his soon to be ex for half their Hamptons abode. After being filed with divorce papers, Fernanda Capobianco, owner of the Vegan Divas bakery on the Upper East Side, wants a portion of what the couple’s prenup says is marital property.

Skip Away
The Lobster Inn, a favorite family joint in which to don bibs and crack claws since 1969, is now on the market . The waterfront property, founded by original owner Skip Tollefesen can be developed into single family homes or townhouses. But we hope it remains a restaurant. Listed at $11.5M by David Donohue and Joe Peraino of Douglas Elliman Real Estate.

“Carnegie Mansion”
The so-called “Carnegie Mansion,” on Coopers Neck Lane in Southampton is back on the market. Though its ask started at $37.95M a couple of years ago, the price has plummeted $8M to $29.5M. The 1890s 11-bedroom cottage, originally occupied by the nephew of Andrew Carnegie, is one of the disappearing estates leftover from the village’s original summer colony. The 4.6-acre property contains a separate two-bedroom apartment, tennis court, and 1,500-square-foot racehorse stable. Listed by Molly Ferrer and Harald Grant of Sotheby’s International Realty.

Crash and Burn
When a 21-year-old student drove his 2006 Mercedes-Benz into a Hayground Road home, the residents who were sleeping inside, said it felt like a bomb had exploded, according to the East Hampton Star. Luckily there were no serious injuries though the crash set off a conflagration that firemen fought for several hours. The driver is the son of Gregg Wasser, owner of commercial developer G&S Investors, while the house (what’s left of it) belongs to model Sasha Pivovarova, a well-known Prada model. In the home at the time were Pivovarova, her husband and four-year-old daughter.