Realty Check

Hot sales and listings…along with the latest real estate news in the Hamptons.

Welcome to the silly season! While it’s hot and steamy outside, it’s cool and dry inside. Inventories remain low but are gradually increasing. We’re excited to share some stunning and historic new listings. Let’s take a tour!

GOLDEN AGE JEWEL
A newly listed oceanfront property in East Hampton offers bragging rights in two directions: cost — asking $95 million, the estate is currently one of the priciest on the market in the Hamptons — as well as vintage Golden Age heritage

The 3.6-acre Dune Cottage property is located off Highway Behind the Pond, between the ocean, Hook Pond and the Maidstone Club. Built in 1910, the stucco cottage was originally part of the 80-acres belonging to Frank Wiborg, for whom, of course, Wiborg Beach is named. The main house, designed by Grosvenor Atterbury, was one of the storied old mansions of East Hampton. But by the 1930s, when the Wiborgs’ daughter Sara Murphy inherited, no one wanted the gracious old dinosaur. (And yes, you remember correctly: Sara and husband Gerald were the inspiration for the characters Nicole and Dick Diver in F. Scott Fitzgerald’s Tender Is the Night.) Unable to sell or rent the mansion and being too expensive to maintain, Sara had the East Hampton Fire Department burn down the structure.

The current dwelling, a mere 11,000 square feet, remained. Lee Radziwill, Jackie Kennedy’s sister, and her husband Herbert Ross eventually bought the house in the late 1980s for $6.2 million. Eventually, Wall Streeters Thomas H. Lee and Ann Tenenbaum bought the property in 2001, paying $16.2 million. The home was completely rebuilt down to and including the studs by Ben Krupinski in 2016 — so it’s basically a new home in a classics skin.

With 225 feet of oceanfront, the cottage offers 10 bedrooms, 12 full bathrooms and two half-baths. Just too skimpy? There is also a 1,500-square-foot guest studio. A recent renovation of the lower level means the cottage now offers 21st century amenities such as a screening room, gym and wellness center. Of course, there is a tennis court, while a “private grotto” (don’t you hate public grottoes) leads to a 24-by-58-foot pool and spa nestled in the dunes.

Listed co-exclusively with Chris Covert of the Modlin Group Hamptons and Terry Cohen of Hedgerow Exclusive Properties.

FURTHER LANE COMPOUND
Another huge oceanfront listing in East Hamptons has come to the market for $89 million. On East Hampton’s storied Further Lane this 10,000 square foot residence is set on a breathtaking seven acres with dunes all the way down to the sea. 

There is 220 feet of oceanfront to enjoy from the architect-created vernacular style main house set high on a dune. Designer John Saladino says of the house: “Taking inspiration from the vernacular architecture of early 18th-century farmers, I conceived a rambling dwelling to suggest that several generations had lived here and, as they prospered, had added on to the original structure.” 

Amenities include a triple-height entryway, a living room with an 18-foot-high beamed ceiling and, of course, stunning views of the ocean. Saladino says, “Emphasized by exposing the timber post-and-beam construction, the scale of the interior public spaces is more agricultural than domestic. The impression of a venerable old barn is increased in the living room by the stone floors, scratch-coat plaster walls, and hand-hewn beams.”

Five bedrooms form a U-shape around an oceanview terrace. The grounds also include a dining pergola with mature wisteria, an outdoor fireplace, and a huge pool. An original barn, now a guest house, overlooks farmland. This building includes a rec room, kitchen and dining area, two more bedroom suites and a three-car garage. Rus in urbe, indeed.

Exclusively listed with Frank E. Newbold of Sotheby’s International Realty.

In Bridgehampton, an Artistic Potato Barn
You can’t get any more OG architecturally than an original potato barn. This one happens to be located on Ocean Road in Bridgehampton, and for even more bragging rights, this one is the longtime home of two artists, now in their 90s, who have lived and worked there together for many years. Asking $4.45 million, the unique offering is listed by Kyle Rosko and Marcy Braun at Douglas Elliman Real Estate.

When collage artist Karl Mann and painter Hector Leonardi purchased the property, it was a working potato barn with a dirt floor. Then the conversion commenced. To quote owner Mann, “The secret to renovation is deciding how you want to live.” The result is a home along with twin art studios full of charm and character. Eclectic interiors include a wall filled with decorative plates collected from Europe, a spiral wooden staircase dating from 18th century Paris, and more. The studios are still full of paintings, brushes and canvases, very much the center of working artists. No wonder Kyle Rosko calls this property “one of the most unique assets you’re ever going to find.” 

The entry courtyard leads to a wall of glass, which branches into the twin sun-filled art studios. These vaulted ceiling chambers, ready for a new generation, are a special highlight of the property. The second studio offers 14’ walls of glass, exposed beams and an elevator providing easy access to the second level. The antique spiral wooden staircase leads to a loft that overlooks the studios. 

The living quarters boast thoughtful design, comfort and elegance. The first level, with three bedrooms and three baths, offers a large primary bedroom with ensuite bathroom. A beautiful private courtyard, multiple terraces and lush rose gardens await. Two additional bedrooms share a full bath, a three-tiered cedar closet and a laundry room. On the second level is a spacious living/dining area, open kitchen and powder room. A balcony overlooking the terrace and more French doors lead to a backyard patio offering incredible evening sunset light. Charm plus modern amenities make this converted barn a haven for both art and luxury living.

Thumbs Up for Baron’s Cove
Blue Flag Capital, a real estate private equity and development firm that says it’s “on a mission to rediscover the soul in hospitality,” has added historic Sag Harbor hostelry Baron’s Cove to its stable of East End offerings. One of Sag Harbor’s first resorts and a hangout for John Steinbeck, Baron’s Cove on West Water Street offers 67 rooms, a restaurant and lounge, not to mention lush water views. 

“We are honored to be the next stewards of Barons Cove, which is truly an iconic fixture of Sag Harbor,” says Jason Brown, the CEO of Blue Flag Capital, in a statement. “We’re excited to leverage our deep hospitality experience to invest in the hotel’s future with the goal of offering exceptional hospitality and positively impacting the community and its residents for decades to come.”

The sellers were hoteliers Cape Resorts, which has owned Baron’s Cove since 2013. Cape Resorts will continue to manage Baron’s Cove.

The iconic Sag Harbor property is just the latest in a long line of East End resorts purchased by Blue Flag; it has also acquired Sunset Montauk, Haven Montauk and the Greenporter. The firm also owns Faraway Hotels on Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket.

Historic on Shelter Island
A storied waterfront home, located at 20 Prospect Avenue in Shelter Island’s national historic district has come to market at $5,450,000. Built in 1883 during the era when Prospect Avenue was known as Divinity Hill; a community of Methodist ministers. Originally, homes here lacked kitchens as meals were communal or delivered by donkey cart from the nearby Chequit Inn. Thoughtfully renovated while preserving its original elements, this property awaits a buyer with a passion for historical design. Its proximity, less than a five-minute drive to The Pridwin Hotel and Sunset Beach enhances its appeal.

Barry McGovern, the listing agent from Hedgerow Exclusive Properties says, “Waterfront properties in Shelter Island Heights are rare. Typically, they are inherited and held by families for generations. The late Olive Reich, a renowned watercolor artist, left her estate to her three children. They already have homes on Shelter Island and are now ready to sell their mother’s beloved home. This is a true once in a lifetime opportunity for the discerning buyer.”