Hamptons Cheat Sheet: Beware of shrinkage at new Amagansett listing, East Hampton deals with weeds … & more

“Shrinkage” Hamptons beach house on the market for $8.75M

There is a pool, but get in at your own risk. The Amagansett home that just hit the market for $8.75 million was featured in the classic Seinfeld episode, “The Hamptons,” which immortalized the concept of “shrinkage.”

The 4,000-square-foot home has four bedrooms, 4.5 bathrooms, and a chef’s kitchen. A former Army bunker during World War II, the beachfront residence still retains a partial bunker in the basement. Corcoran’s Jackie Dunphy, Greg Schmidt, and Tom Griffith have the listing, according to the New York Post. [NYP]

B. Smith’s Sag Harbor Hills dome house listed for $8.5M

If supermodel-cum-restaurateur B. Smith succeeds in selling her home at the asking price, it would be the most expensive residence ever sold in Sag Harbor Hills, according to Curbed. The home was featured on Smith’s lifestyle TV show, and guests such as Aretha Franklin, Danny Glover, and Eartha Kitt have partied there. Aside from its igloo-like exterior, the 4,000-square-foot, four-bedroom home features an open-floor-plan living area, dining room with water views, and 100 feet of private beach frontage, 27 East reported. Smith’s successful lifestyle and restaurant chain has faltered in the wake of her Alzheimer’s disease diagnosis. Her eponymous Hell’s Kitchen restaurant closed in early 2015. [27East]

Southampton considers new demolition rules for historic landmarks

Southampton planning staff recently proposed two changes regarding the demolition and construction of historic structures, 27East reported. One would draw a distinction between demolition permits for interiors and exteriors. Notably, it would mean homeowners making changes to the interiors wouldn’t require a full demolition permit.  The second change would set 1941 as the date on or before which structures are built that would necessitate review from the Landmarks and Historic Districts Board. Under current law, any structure that’s “75 years old or older” requires review. No date has been set for the public hearing on the changes. [27East]

East Hampton grapples with leafy epidemic

Call it the wrath of the weeds. A particularly nasty plant called phragmites dominated the conversation at last Friday’s East Hampton Village Zoning Board of Appeals meeting, having invaded at least two properties on Georgica Pond. Homeowners need a special permit from the board, as well as Town Trustees and the State Department of Environmental Conservation, in order to remove the invasive weeds. Experts said removing the phragmites could take up to two years and may require cutting each strand by hand in order to protect the native wetland wildlife. The Board will resume the discussion Feb. 10. [EHS]

The real Grey Gardens house hit the market for $20M

For the first time in nearly 40 years, the formerly dilapidated home of zany Kennedy clan members Big Edie and Little Edie Beale is up for sale. Known as the “Grey Gardens” estate, the 6,000-square-foot home at 3 West End Road is on the market for $19.995 million. Journalist Sally Quinn paid $220,000 for the home in 1979 and dropped $600,000 renovating it. She listed the home on the rental market in 2015 for $175,000. [LLNYC]