Realty Check – Latest Hamptons Real Estate Nwes

$25M Bargain
Is Christie Brinkley leaving the Hamptons? On the heels of the June listing of her Tower Hill property in Bridgehampton for $29.5M, the supermodel has placed her 4.5-acre North Haven property on the market for $25M. The grand three-story plantation-style abode built in 1843, which she bought in 2004 for $7.45M, fronts 327 feet of beach. The 5,500-square-foot abode maintains much of its original character from the imposing two-story porch columns to the wide-plank pine floors. The second-floor master bedroom features a sitting room and panoramic suite with its own sitting room and secluded terrace for the panoramic harbor views. Christie listed it for $15.75 million in 2010, but took it off the market to renovate. Alas, it still needs more work, listing broker Enzo Morabito told Town & Country. “If it didn’t, I would list it for around $40 million.”

Local Specialty
Much loved chef Colin Ambrose, owner of Estia’s Little Kitchen in Sag Harbor, has put his 2.53-acre Egypt Lane estate on the market. Built in 2014, the chic 5,600-square-foot traditional fronts onto Hook Pond and boasts a professional chef’s kitchen (no surprise) with a fireplace and custom rotisserie. Listed by Tyler Mattson and Brian Buckhout of Compass. $16M

A Sporting Life
Sportscaster and broadcast personality, Jill Martin, has purchased a new house on Corrigan Street in Southampton Village. The 5,300 square foot home on three levels with an open-floor concept, great room, formal living room, chef’s kitchen, and 6 bedrooms/5.5 baths went for $3.7M. Built by Cavallo Builders of Southampton, it was repped by Douglas Elliman agent Thomas Cavallo. Word is that Martin, who contributes to the Today Show, is developing a TV show called “I Have Nothing to Wear.” Somehow we think that is probably an exaggeration.

Preservation Coup
In a coup for preservationists, Southampton Town has purchased approximately 86 acres of sensitive East Quogue woodlands in the town’s Aquifer Protection Overlay District and Suffolk Special Groundwater Protection Area. The East End’s largest land transaction in more than a decade was facilitated by Compass agents Scott Strough and Christian Lipp and was funded through the Community Preservation Fund. “Groundwater protection is priceless,” says Scott Strough, who made the deal with Christian Lipp, both of Compass.

Warranted Watering Hole
One of the few remaining legally zoned South Fork nightclubs is up for sale. The property at 44 Three Mile Harbor Road in East Hampton has played host to numerous hotspots since the 1960s. The 5,000-square-foot space can seat 100 patrons for a sit-down meal and 300 tipplers in the lounge. There’s also the potential for expanding the structure to 10,000 square feet. The current tenants are Leo nightclub (formerly known as Philippe) and Cafe de La Musique restaurant. Listed by Robert Kohr and Lori Macgarva of Douglas Elliman. $3.5M

End of an Era
Two beloved East Hampton institutions have closed their doors due to rental disputes. Wolfie’s, a tavern that has served the local Bonackers for generations (under various owners) has stopped pouring for good. Max Krasniqi, the current proprietor of Café Max, a 25-year-old fish house serving estate section regulars, also could not come to terms with his landlord. After owning several eateries here, the restaurateur has no intention of setting up shop in these parts again. “If I try it again, it would definitely be on the North Fork,” he told 27east.

Hail to the Chief
Douglas Elliman has a new Chief Operating Officer. Real estate expert Scott Durkin joined the firm early last year as Executive Vice President of Acquisitions and Growth, before Chairman Howard Lorber and President/CEO Dottie Herman, appointed him to the new position. “Scott’s experience bridges real estate, management and business,” says Herman. Durkin began his career as a sales agent with the Corcoran Group in 1991, becoming a protégé of Barbara Corcoran. He is an amateur dressage rider with three horses that keep him busy between Stone Ridge, New York and Wellington, Florida.

Happy Ending
Once upon a time, when Jonathan Pearlroth inherited a tiny dilapidated house from his father, his first thought was to replace it with a larger one to accommodate his family. After all, the oceanfront Westhampton Beach lot could accommodate a much larger structure. After his offer to gift the house, which was designed by acclaimed midcentury modernist architect Andrew Geller in 1959, to Southampton Town fell through, he hired architect Rick Cook to restore the box-kite-like beach house known as Double Diamond. Cook moved it 40 feet inland, then built a bigger house on its footprint with a pool separating the two edifices. The salvaged icon has been reborn as a pool house. A happy ending to be sure.

New and Improved
Saunders & Associates has a new website. HamptonsRealEstate.com was “designed to provide an immersive experience for luxury buyers and renters” by offering “cinemmatic video and compelling property photography to engage viewers.” With 60% of their customers accessing the site on mobile devices, the company decided to make its small screen version as impactful as its desktop. That’s not to say that the agency is ignoring old world marketing. It was given the 2016 Best Print Campaign award from Who’s Who In Luxury Real Estate.