Realty Check

Ch-Ch-Changes
Michael Braverman, an iconic name in Hamptons real estate—a former partner in Braverman Newbold Brennan, the prestigious brokerage firm purchased by Sotheby’s in 1997—is now associated with Douglas Elliman where his former crony Paul Brennan holds court in the Bridgehampton office. Braverman, who retired several years ago, will be working with his pal Carol Nobbs. Though he says Nobbs will be doing most of the legwork, Braverman—an oenophile and bibliophile—will focus on “bringing in important high-priced listings.” He has no plans to stop his prodigious reading or entertaining from his well-stocked wine cellar.

Jane Babcock has moved from Corcoran to join the Bridgehampton office of Brown Harris Stevens. The 26-year resident of Sag Harbor and member of North Haven’s Architectural Review Board is “fluent in the complexities of land acquisitions, including waterfront properties, equestrian properties and new construction/renovation of both historic and modern homes,” according to a press release.

Michaela Keszler, a broker with Douglas Elliman’s Southampton office, has joined the Haute Living Real Estate Network of Hauteresidence.com. “HLRN unites a distinguished collective of leading real estate agents and brokers, highlighting the most extravagant properties in leading markets around the globe for affluent buyers, sellers and real estate enthusiasts,” read a release.

Bibliophiles Rejoice
While the building housing Canio’s Books, Sag Harbor’s iconic emporium of the written word, is on the market for $2.9 million, the shop’s website has proclaimed that the store is here to stay “in the spirit of the great white whale, Moby Dick, still swimming in the vast ocean.” While “landlords come and go,” Canio’s is celebrating its 35th year in business with its usual roster of heady events.

Pricey Rentals Going Fast
“Pity the one percent whose lavish summer dreams could be in peril if they don’t hustle out to the Hamptons to secure their rentals soon,” read the lead in a piece in Newsday that claims that seven-figure Hamptons rentals are “sadly, in short supply.”  However, the article reports that builder Joe Farrell’s Sandcastle is still available for a million a month. Phew!

West Meets East
Two Hamptons’ restaurants have launched outposts in Manhattan. The trio behind Bridgehampton’s Almond—Eric Lemonides, Jason Weiner and Antonio Rappazzo—has opened Almond TriBeCa, making it their second city eatery. Their other is in the Flatiron District. Chef Eric Miller and his son Adam, proprietors of Springs’ Bay Kitchen Bar—with the best restaurant views in the Hamptons—have opened BKB in the Bohemian National Hall on East 73rd Street where they will continue their winning formula of “sea-to-table” cuisine.

Out with the Old…In with the New
In order to renovate his Amagansett home, the historic Nathaniel Baker House on Stony Hill Farm, Alec Baldwin has torn down much of the original edifice. The 18th-century structure was moved to its current location from the village’s Main Street in 1913.

Legal Matters
After purchasing the most expensive property in the country for $147 million, financier Barry Rosenstein is suing the Further Lane estate’s sellers for allegedly lying when they promised him that no real estate agency was involved in the sale. When Corcoran sued for their $8.82 million commission on the sale, Rosenstein had to pay $253,000 “to get his name tossed from the claim,” according to the New York Post.

Hotel California
Southampton’s 30-room Capri Hotel was purchased for $4.7 million by Los Angeles lawyer Mark Geragos, whose clients have included Michael Jackson, Sean “Diddy” Combs, Winona Ryder, Nicole Richie and Mike Tyson. The former owners of the boutique property, whose restaurant has hosted such pop-ups as Nobu, were Steven Kamali, former owner of Montauk’s Surf Lodge, and David Edelstein and Jackie Mansfield, owners of W South Beach.

Preserving our Past
After a publicity backlash, architect Francois de Menil the owner of an historic house on Bridgehampton’s Quimby Lane who had threatened to demolish the property, is now “considering several offers to have it relocated and preserved instead,” according to 27East. Peter and Lisa Zippelius are one of four parties who are interested in relocating the house. If all goes well, they would move it circa two miles north to Hildreth Avenue, near its original location.

Green Scene
Local green builders now have a place to meet and greet. The Long Island Chapter of the U.S. Green Building Council announced the launching of “Green Scene East,” monthly networking sessions with talks by experts held by the organization’s East End Committee. The first meeting took place in February at Southampton Publick House. The $15 attendance fee includes dinner.

Trailblazer
After generating a ton of buzz, the owner of an Amagansett trailer that went on the market this winter for $1.1 million decided not to sell. Once a bevy of builders swarmed about the listing poised to tear it down, bayman Richard Lester, changed his mind. Lester paid $300 for the .36-acre property in 1956, adding the 700-square-foot trailer a few years later at a cost of $15,000.