Developer halts auction of 236 Suffolk properties due to low bidder turnout
Robert Toussie, one of the owners of the largest amount of private land on Long Island, abruptly halted the second day of auctioning off 236 of his parcels in Babylon, Brookhaven, East Hampton, Huntington, Islip and Southampton, Newsday reported. About 360 people registered to attend the two-day event at the Hyatt Regency Long Island in Hauppauge. About 50 people showed up to the first day and Toussie called the whole thing off the next day when, after a couple hours, only about 30 people showed. The starting bids on his portfolio ranged from $6.5 million down to $7,000 and Toussie expected to rake in $33 million. His attorney, Larry Davis, declined to say how much the developer ultimately earned from the auction. About 75 percent of the parcels are zoned for residential use, with the rest designated for commercial purposes, said Toussie, who’d amassed the portfolio by often being the highest bidder at Suffolk County surplus land auctions for the past 50 years. The developer said his aim in the auction is to spur development across Long Island. Toussie said would-be bidders were reluctant to raise their numbers because the properties were a bit risky. “We’re not selling ‘subject to permits,'” he said. “People are afraid they might not be able to get permits to build on the land. So, going forward, this is something to consider.” He may try to again offload the properties in an online auction, he said. [Newsday]
Chris Cuomo’s Southampton home finds buyer with last ask near $3M
CNN anchor Chris Cuomo and his wife, journalist Cristina Cuomo, have found a buyer for their Southampton home that was last listed for $2.9 million, according to Behind the Hedges. The final sale price wasn’t immediately available. Cuomo and his wife, who founded the Hamptons wellness publication Purist, listed the home at 74 Corrigan Street back in February with Harald Grant of Sotheby’s International Realty. The couple bought the 0.6-acre estate in 2005 for $1.3 million, according to property records. In 2008, they built a 3,000-square-foot, shingle-style home with five bedrooms, four bathrooms, a covered front deck and a living room with a fireplace. Outside, the property has a vegetable and cutting garden along with a shower, pool and hedges. [Behind the Hedges]
Manhattan Skyline signs two businesses to Sag Harbor shopfronts
Two businesses have signed long-term leases Manhattan Skyline Management Corp. signed to occupy storefronts at 83-85 Main St. in Sag Harbor, citybizlist reported. One of the businesses is Sunny, a lifestyle shop run by East Ender Megan Chiarello, while the other is WildSide, a luxury resort wear boutique. Joshua Roth of Manhattan Skyline represented the landlord in both transactions. Sunny will take up about 700 square feet of ground space with about 15 feet of frontage along Main Street. WildSide will take up about 550 square feet of ground floor space and 20 feet of frontage split between Main and Washington streets. Chiarello founded and owns Gloria Jewel, a clothing and accessories shop to which Sunny will act as a sister store. WildSide is owned by Thierry de Badereau, whose first foray into the East End was the men’s luxury beachwear store SunBarth. His WildSide brand has outlets in Puerto Rico, Tulum and St. Barth, where he lives when he isn’t summering in Sag Harbor. [citybizlist]
Douglas Elliman’s Todd Bourgard and Melody Newberry promoted
Todd Bourgard and Melody Newberry were both promoted at Douglas Elliman Real Estate, with the former stepping into the role of regional executive manager of sales and the latter becoming the regional vice president of marketing and operations, according to Behind the Hedges. Bourgard, who is a licensed broker, will oversee sales strategy along with agent-directed support and mentorship. He’ll also keep handling the day-to-day management of the offices in Hampton Bays, Westhampton Beach and Quogue. Newberry will continue to oversee all the East End agent and corporate marketing initiatives while also directing administrative support for Elliman’s nine offices in the area, community initiatives, regional events, talent recruitment and agent budgets. [Behind the Hedges]