Ronald Perelman’s former staff to blame for over-building at East Hampton estate, his lawyer claims
Code violations at the Creeks, Ronald Perelman’s 58-acre estate, were the fault of staff’s “their exuberance to satisfy the owner,” the billionaire’s attorney told the East Hampton Village Zoning Board of Appeals. The violations, which were discovered in 2012, stem from new construction and alterations to the historic property that were done without permits. A proposal to rezone the property has already been rejected, and Perelman’s team now seeks other variances to the code to legalize the construction at 291 Montauk Highway. [East Hampton Star]
Nest Seekers acquires “missing piece” of business between NYC and the Hamptons
Nest Seekers International, the retail brokerage that has dozens of brokers in New York City and the Hamptons, has bought Shawn Elliott Luxury Homes and Estates, which specializes in Long Island’s Gold Coast. Founded in 2002 by Shawn Elliott, the firm’s agents serve Old Westbury, Brookville, Oyster Bay Cove, Roslyn and Woodbury among other towns. The area is a “critical point between New York City and the Hamptons,” said Nest Seekers CEO Eddie Shapiro. [TRD]
Southampton breaks ground on Tuckahoe affordable homes
Construction has begun construction on two three-bedroom affordable homes in Southampton Town, which will be sold for $350,000 to winners of the town’s housing lottery. The owners of the “Tuckahoe Woods” houses will be restricted from flipping the properties, which could be worth an estimated $1 million on the open market. There are already 500 people on the Southampton Town Housing Department’s affordable housing waiting list. Both lots were donated by the town. [27 East]
Nonprofit raises money to buy fire-ravaged Sag Harbor Cinema
One year after a fire destroyed the Sag Harbor Cinema, the nonprofit struggling to reinvent the art house movie theater as an arts center has raised enough money to buy the property. With a $1.4 million Empire State Economic Development grant, the Sag Harbor Partnership has the $8 million it needs to purchase the remains of the iconic building from real estate developer Gerald Mallow, who has owned it since the 1970s. The group renovation plans call for the addition of a second floor art gallery and a refurbishment of the theater’s iconic neon sign. [NYT]
Waterfront Westhampton Beach mansion relisted with another price chop
The pricing of the 10-bedroom, 11.5-bathroom manse at 285 Oneck Lane in Westhampton Beach is a lesson in lowered expectations. The current owners purchased the property for $2 million in 1999. It was first listed for sale again in 2013, with an asking price of $17.5 million. After several price cuts and relistings, the home that has 348 feet of bulkheaded waterfront, two guest houses and a heated gunite pool will now only set you back $9.5 million. Daniel Sullivan of Brown Harris Stevens has the new listing. [Curbed]