Communities Archives - Page 2 of 3 - Ellis Sotheby's International Realty

Living in…Orange County, New York

by Ellis Sotheby's International Realty on July 11, 2018 0 Comments

Located roughly 50 miles north of Manhattan and along the Hudson River, New York State’s Orange County features bucolic surroundings and countless outdoor recreation activities. The county is dotted with historic villages and hamlets, including Cornwall, Tuxedo Park and Warwick.

Cornwall

6 Sengen Lane, Cornwall-on-Hudson

Affluent with a humble sensibility, the Town of Cornwall sits along the west bank of the Hudson River and offers scenic beauty and a close-knit community. Home to the world-renowned Storm King Art Center, a 500-acre outdoor sculpture garden as well as Strom King State Park and the historic Cromwell Manor Inn. Cornwall is noted for being the epitome of refined country living and for its proximity to West Point Military Academy.

Tuxedo Park

316 West Lake Road, Tuxedo Park

Nestled between Sterling Forest and Harriman State Parks, is the gated enclave of Tuxedo Park. Dating back to the 1800s, Tuxedo Park is known for being a playground for New York’s wealthy seeking a quite respite, outdoor recreation and a tight-knit community.

21 Lookout Road, Tuxedo Park

The centerpiece of the village is Tuxedo Lake, which offers an innumerable amount of outdoor activities including boating, hiking, kayaking and fishing and restricted access to the roughly 300 residents.

Warwick

Known as the “Queen Village,” Warwick is a charming hamlet on the western edge of the county. It boasts a friendly, laid-back atmosphere and a historic downtown that features boutiques, restaurants and bed-and-breakfasts.

212 Bellvale Lakes Road, Warwick

Local activities include boating on Greenwood Lake, skiing on Mt. Peter and a distinct park system that includes over 100 acres of active and passive parkland. The village is also home to five distinct wineries, including Warwick Valley Winery & Distillery and Applewood Winery.

Million Dollar Views: Hudson Valley Homes Offering a Picture Perfect Setting

by Ellis Sotheby's International Realty on February 10, 2017 0 Comments

pôrCH/

noun

A covered shelter projecting in front of the entrance of a building.

Whether you call it a porch, veranda or terrace…the official definition of this signature part of a home certainly seems simplistic, and definitely does not do justice to the many beautiful ones from which several of our residents enjoy postcard-perfect views. For these homes, there needs to be a better word. But until we can come up with a more poetic option, here are two of our market’s finest from which to draw inspiration:

Seven Oaks

“Seven Oaks” is the oldest estate property in Snedens Landing and on the market for the first time in 40 years. It is defined by a steeply pitched cross gable slate roof with large decorative dormers, huge wrap around veranda and three story bay window on its east side. If you are longing to enjoy a warm cup of coffee here on a cool fall morning, it can be yours for $4.8 million.

TightPorch

“Four Gables” in Piermont was built for the Erie Railroad manager in 1840 on a hillside overlooking the Hudson River and Piermont Railroad station. It is a Hudson Valley vernacular Gothic Revival with a four gable roof line and a huge veranda overlooking the garden and river. It currently is on the market for $1.175 million.

Buying Land in Tuxedo Park

by Ellis Sotheby's International Realty on November 21, 2016 0 Comments

Tuxedo Park is a historic village in New York that never seems to go out of style- very much like the tuxedo itself. An exclusive 2,600-acre gated enclave – said to be the country’s first gated community, in fact, and yes, where the tuxedo was first worn- Tuxedo Park is 40 miles and some 45 minutes from Midtown Manhattan, making it an idyllic second home destination as well. I was happy to sit down with our in-house Tuxedo Park expert Barbara du Pont to get her take on the current state of the market and the growing interest in land parcels for sale.

Lookout Stable Road is for sale and was just reduced to $350,000

Richard Ellis: Can you tell us about the current inventory in Tuxedo Park available to prospective buyers?

Barbara du Pont: While we have seen a market recovery this year, which has caused a reduction in inventory, there is still a wide range of great properties for sale. But what I find interesting about the current market is a rise in buyer interest in land and an increase in land coming up for sale.

RE: What do you attribute this increase in interest to?

BdP: There is a rise in appreciation for how unusual the Village of Tuxedo Park is due to the historic preservation of its natural landscape and viewsheds.

This past October, the Race Track was dedicated as our community’s Nature Preserve. With the consent of the Board of Trustees and encouragement of the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), the 21-acre Race Track will be transformed into a Nature Preserve. This will be a multi-year community project funded entirely by private donations and government grants. The Race Track was the site of the Tuxedo Park Horse Show during the Gilded Age. Abandoned since the 1940s, nature has claimed it as a biodiverse sanctuary: more than 300 trees and plants have been identified by naturalist John Yrizarry, environmental consultant J.G. Barbour and Bowman Hill Wildflower Preserve. Some 200 species of bird nest there or use as a flyway, while countless mammals, reptiles, amphibians and butterflies call it home. This level of biodiversity is rare in the Lower Hudson Valley.

This private lakefront lot in Tuxedo Park is available for $800,000

RE: What has the market been for land lately?

BdP: This year we started to see a recovery in home sales which have been sluggish over the last 10 years and we are optimistic that land sales will follow. We are seeing more interest in people looking for building lots. Until this year, the last sale was in 2013, and there were only five sales from 2009 to 2013. However, interest is picking up and there have been two sales in 2016, including one parcel on Tuxedo Lake.

The land at Summit Road in Tuxedo Park is available for $980,000

RE: Why is this a great opportunity for buyers?

BdP: Currently there are eight lots for sale in Tuxedo Park and only two are lakefront. Also keep in mind this is in the context of an inventory of homes that has decreased to the lowest point in a decade. There are very few homes listed that are in move-in condition, so some buyers really are more interested in building to their specifications, rather than doing extensive repairs and remodeling. Buyers appreciate the natural beauty of Tuxedo Park and that choosing the right site, which can afford more privacy, wooded surroundings or sweeping views, is often most important.

South Mountain Road: An Artist’s Playground

by Richard Ellis on November 10, 2016 0 Comments

In the second part of our two-part series on Snedens Landing and South Mountain Road, we look at South Mountain Road and how it has evolved over recent generations. My firm currently has four properties listed for sale there, and it renewed my interest in the area’s historical provenance and its attraction for artists and creatives.

As we discussed in our last blog, for those looking to purchase real estate in this part of the Hudson Valley, many were torn between Snedens Landing and South Mountain Road. My observation is that the South Mountain “Roaders” tend to have an adventurous spirit and a passion for the rural landscape.

Life as a Roader

374 South Mountain Road is just 40 minutes to New York City and listed for $1.299 million.

Like Snedens Landing, South Mountain Road has consistently attracted a distinctive artistic community of writers, actors and artists, from poet Maxwell Anderson- whose home we currently have listed- to composer Kurt Weill and his wife, singer/actress Lotte Lenya. Other members of this informal artists’ colony include director and producer John Houseman and painter Henry Varnum Poor. In the late 1970s Mick Jagger lived on South Mountain Road.

As background, South Mountain Road is a historic road on the northern border of New City. The name is not directional, however, as there is no North Mountain Road- it gets its name from being on the south of the mountain, which by the way, was the name of a Broadway show, written by South Mountain Road resident, Maxwell Anderson. The road itself winds against the mountainside and has historic roots back to the Revolutionary War. Homes are tucked away on the hillside in a country setting.

637 South Mountain Road is a custom-designed all brick home available for $1.425 million.

The road also has ties to the most important art show in American history- “The Armory Show” of 1913 in New York City- which introduced European Avant-garde art to America including Fauvism Cubism and Futurism. Prior to that, Americans were used to Realism, certainly nothing experimental. Two local Rockland residents were responsible for coordinating this show: artist Arthur B. Davies and South Mountain roader and sculptor John Frederick Mowbray-Clarke.

On a personal note, I had the pleasure of working with the Mowbray-Clarke family, representing them in the sale of their family homestead to Ramapo Township as green space.

635 South Mountain Road is a modern home perched high against the hillside, available for $1.395 million.

In my Snedens Landing blog, I mentioned that I recently found an article from July 1952 for Park East magazine by Pamela Whittaker, where she details the lifestyles of Snedens Landing and South Mountain Road. It was interesting to see her note that those “qualities which stem from similarities in occupation and age make the South Mountain Road colony similar to that in Snedens. Otherwise the two are quite different and definitely separate, mildly but inactively interested in each other.”

It is also interesting to note that in 1952 she observed that South Mountain Road was capable of considerable expansion, being physically larger than Snedens Landing. It appears that South Mountain Road at the time grew as a sort of bohemian version of Snedens. “There was a more pronounced emphasis on the arts and crafts as such than ever obtained in Snedens, and much time was spent discussing things artistic and philosophical. Many Roaders combined their craft abilities with the rustic life and built their own homes and furniture, wove their own materials, and went in for chickens and gardens and canning.”

430 South Mountain Road is an elegant variation of a Romanesque-style stone home, defined by its stone arches, two towers and a tall hip roof, available for $2.595 million.

While you generally will not find that type of rustic existence anymore, the spirit of bohemian art is still alive and well on South Mountain Road, just as a love for art in all its forms and community is still cultivated in Snedens Landing. It leaves one to wonder how much both areas will change in another 60 years.

Snedens Landing: Then and Now

by Ellis Sotheby's International Realty on October 6, 2016 0 Comments

Once upon a time, for artists and celebrities already maintaining a residence in New York City but looking to purchase an additional property near the hustle and bustle of the city, they chose either Snedens Landing in Palisades or South Mountain Road in New City. The virtues of both enclaves have been extolled as far back as the 1900s. In fact, I recently came across an article on the topic from July 1952 for Park East magazine. In author Pamela Whittaker’s descriptions of both markets it is evident that as much as things change, they also stay the same. In fact, the article and its descriptions of the lifestyles could have been written today.

In this two-part series we will look at Snedens Landing and South Mountain Road and compare the nuances of each area’s lifestyle and how they have changed over the years.

Life in Snedens Landing

Seven Oaks is one of the oldest estate properties in Snedens Landing and on the market for the first time in 38 years for $4.8 million.

Today, Snedens Landing is many things to many different types of people including a retreat for the artistic. As Bloomberg recently noted: “Hollywood and Broadway elites from Laurence Olivier to Ethel Barrymore set up residence here, and celebrities have been coming, and going, ever since….Full of winding roads and dead-end streets, Snedens is the kind of place where the homes have names ….There is little more in the way of commerce than a library and a post office, and much of the area falls within historic districts, with several homes on the National Register of Historic Places. The draw is the seclusion and natural beauty, and the prize is the Hudson and woodsy land around.”

Snedens also offers a community center with farmers market and a great local food market and cafe just outside the residential area on Route 9w. And as we looked at in a recent blog, Snedens Landing also has been the childhood home to many a future star.

In reading Pamela Whittaker’s description from 1952, it is amazing how much has stayed the same. She paints a picture of an area whose beauty and serenity – and its privacy- appealed to artists. “Snedens’ hours are haphazard…What commuting there is generally has no precise schedule, and for that reason is by car rather than by bus or train.” This is very much still the case, as Snedens remains accessible mainly by bus or car, which just adds to its air of privacy and mystique.

Cliff House is a romantic and private Hudson Riverfront home in Snedens Landing, currently on the market for $2.495 million.

An interesting change Ms. Whittaker noted at the time was that Snedens began as a more communal area, “young families pooled food and money to get by, and gave each other frequent and lavish parties…” By the time she wrote the article in 1952, she noted many residents were more involved in their careers and parties were less frequent. I think she would be interested to see that in present day Snedens has come almost full circle, with that spirit of community distinctly in the air.

In part two of our blog series on Snedens Landing and South Mountain Road we will look at how life on South Mountain Road has evolved over the years.

History and the Hudson Valley

by Richard Ellis on September 7, 2016 0 Comments

It was more than 400 years ago that Henry Hudson first explored the Hudson Valley. I’m sure if he were to return now he would be pleasantly surprised at how much has changed- and also how much has stayed the same. The beauty of our landscape- for one- is just as inspiring and breathtaking as it likely was then.

According to Travel Hudson Valley, we are “famous for being the first wine producing region in the country, while the bountiful farms have been here for centuries.” It was the Hudson Valley landscape that inspired “the first arts movement in the U.S, the Hudson River School,” the site notes. “These 1800s artists/naturalists-on-canvas would not be surprised to learn that 20^th century residents were crusaders in saving the Hudson Valley landscape at Storm King Mountain where the country’s environmental movement was born.”

History is important to our region, where you can still see where George and Martha Washington lived. “Touring homes of the Vanderbilts, Roosevelts and Rockefellers offers visitors an inside view of how the wealthy lived in style,” Travel Hudson Valley notes. Today, my firm is lucky enough to represent some of the finest historic homes that have come to market in recent times. They seem to tell a story of their own as soon as you set foot in the door.

Living in a historic home requires an appreciation for the past. It is an art to maintain a home’s past while updating it for modern living. Two homes we currently have listed manage to do just that: the Freneau House in Piermont and Almost Brook in Tuxedo Park.

211 Tweed Blvd, Piermont, New York

The Freneau House is one of Rockland County’s early Greek Revivals, overlooking the Hudson River at 4,000 square feet. Circa 1810, it was renovated in 1999 and still features the original period staircase. The property resides in the historic village of Piermont, which was developed as we today know it in the 1830s. The Freneau House has been a witness to Piermont’s own inception and development.

Almost Brook in Tuxedo Park, also known as the John Foster Cottage, was built circa 1890, when the property was purchased by insurance executive John H. Foster. The second owners were Mr. and Mrs. Ernest Adee. Ernest was the vice president of the Mercantile Trust Company, while Geraldine- his wife- was active in several women’s organizations. They held their daughter’s wedding reception at the property in 1920.

The home originally was built as a summer cottage for Mr. Foster in the historic Village of Tuxedo Park. Sited on 2.2 acres, there were two major renovations, one in 2003 and another in 2013. There are hand-painted murals, reminiscent of the Hudson Valley School, and a 17^th century English fireplace.

122 Circuit Road, Tuxedo Park, New York

Nestled in the Ramapo Mountains, Tuxedo Park features 100 year-old trees, three pristine lakes, an 18-hole golf championship course designed by Robert Trent Jones, Sr., and is considered one of the finest examples of pre-World War I architecture in the United States. While the Hudson Valley and tristate area offer a number of communities with beautiful historic homes and affluent owners, what makes Tuxedo Park stand alone is the designation of the entire village as a historic site, securing its listing on the National Register of Historic Places. There are roughly 350 homes in the Park, 250 or so built before 1930, with lake and mountain views and minimal disturbance to the natural terrain.

187 County Highway 105, Highland Mills, New York

Head to Highland Mills, and you will find a beautiful vintage masterpiece at 187 Country Highway 105. Once a retreat for actors and artists, it was the former home of Gypsy Rose Lee. The circa 1901 Colonial Revival style home is set on a private 6.8 acres with a long tree lined driveway. It was completely rebuilt in 2011 with the finest materials. There are restored period moldings, hardwood floors, period paneling and exposed brick walls and archways.

The natural beauty of the Hudson Valley has not changed dramatically over the generations, having been preserved and enhanced over the course of 400 years. In fact, its beauty has been fodder and inspiration for poets, artists and ordinary people who just want to enjoy the area’s signature peace and quiet, going from everyday life to one that is rich and extraordinary.

A View of Rockland County’s Luxury Real Estate Market

by Ellis Sotheby's International Realty on January 20, 2016 0 Comments

With 30 years’ experience in residential and commercial real estate, Hamid Moghadam has witnessed first-hand how the Rockland and Orange county markets have changed. He earned his masters’ degree in mechanical engineering from the City College of New York and worked for the Metropolitan Transit Authority as a project manager for 12 years before becoming a full-time associate broker with Ellis Sotheby’s International Realty. Hamid is ranked fifth among Rockland county’s top 25 agents in 2015 with sales over $25 million. In today’s blog, we sit down with Hamid to get his unique perspective on the market.

What major changes have you seen in the market over your 30 years in real estate?

Buyers from New York City looking in the $1 million- and-up range are attracted to the river towns like Nyack and Piermont. They are looking for privacy and a more secluded area like those found in the western part of Rockland County.

6 Tompkins Court, Upper Nyack

Our school system also has improved a lot over the years, and today Rockland has some of the top schools in the United States. Public transportation has grown and developed, and you can be sure the new Tappan Zee Bridge will serve to further solidify Rockland as one of best places to live near New York City.

What sale have you been most proud of over the course of your career?

Pretty Penny Estate

I am proud to have sold the former estate of legendary actress Helen Hayes, known as Pretty Penny, twice. It last sold in 2006 for $5.8 million. The six-bedroom home is one of the best-known properties in the lower Hudson valley, hosting the likes of President Ronald Reagan, actresses Marilyn Monroe and Rosalind Russell, Hollywood power couple Vivien Leigh and Laurence Olivier and composer Cole Porter. Edward Hopper even painted it in 1939.

Lord’s Castle

I also sold the most expensive home in Piermont, known as Lord’s Castle, this September for $5.025 million. At 18 acres and 15,000 square feet, the home was built in 1845 for Eleazar Lord, the first president of the Erie Railroad. It has 30 rooms and 15 fireplaces as well as massive stone archways and Beaux-Arts columns.

Your wife, Flora, also is a real estate agent. How do you balance two industry professionals in one house?

Flora joined me in the business 15 years ago and is a certified Eco Broker. She is very successful at what she does. I find that we help each other in different ways in the course of day-to-day business. She truly is my right-hand lady and provides tremendous support for my everyday business in addition to handling her own work.

Rumor has it you are an outstanding cook. What are some of the top kitchen amenities out there today?

4 Chipman Road, Palisades

For starters, any cook needs to have a kitchen stocked with the proper accessories: Good pots and pans, spices and quality products. You also need space and storage, and top-of-the-line appliances certainly don’t hurt! One of my favorite listings, 4 Chipman Road in Palisades, features the perfect gourmet kitchen for both the professional and at-home chef. The kitchen’s state-of-art design features a farm sink and soapstone counters, which offer a smooth matte feel, are resistant to acid etching and are great for baking.

As any chef will tell you, a proper dining place is essential to presenting the final product. For me, no meal is complete without a nice glass of wine to enjoy with my lovely wife and close friends.

Tuxedo Park: Life Behind the Gilded Gates

by Ellis Sotheby's International Realty on December 10, 2015 1 Comment

Barbara-du-Pont Tuxedo Park, New York, a refined and private community less than an hour from New York City, dates back to the 1880s and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. In this blog, we will go on a virtual tour of the market with Barbara du Pont, a veritable expert on the gated enclave’s real estate sales, trends and historic homes. She is responsible for the two highest sales in Tuxedo Park since 2006.

What is so compelling about Tuxedo Park that residents often enter the market as secondary residents and then transition to full-time?

Tuxedo Park is simply a magical place. Descriptions and even pictures cannot do it justice. People who come to look at houses are captivated by the beauty of the scenery: the serenity of the three lakes, hills and winding roads, vistas of private gardens and untamed natural surroundings. “The Park” has a rich history and surprisingly diverse inventory of houses, many of them designed by famous architects from the Gilded Age, but also converted stables and carriage houses as well as a sampling of contemporary homes.

4 Ridge Road, Tuxedo Park, New York

But it is not just about the landscape and homes. Tuxedo Park is a wonderful community to live in. It is small enough that you feel part of a community. You can, as many residents do, get involved in local government and institutions. While the residents are welcoming, they also respect one another’s privacy. Some start out with Tuxedo Park as a weekend and summer retreat and then decide that The Park is really their primary residence, possibly keeping a pied-à-terre in the city or just moving here full time. It is no accident that many residents have moved two, three and even four times within The Park, choosing to upsize, downsize, move for lake views or lake front. But they stay in the community throughout lifecycle changes.

How long have you been serving the market, and how have you seen it change over the years?

I have been a resident for almost 20 years and have been in the real estate business for the last decade. In that time there have been three significant changes, all for the better. First, while the residents span all ages, younger couples have moved here, adding to the vitality of the community. Second, some of the most beautiful historic houses saw a time of neglect over the years, and under new ownership there has been a resurgence of thoughtful, high-quality restorations, which is thrilling to see. Finally – and here is the best news for prospective buyers – prices have come down significantly in the last eight to 10 years, making Tuxedo Park not only affordable, but an outstanding value compared with other markets.

Why is now a good time to invest in Tuxedo Park real estate?

The timing now is really in favor of buyers. While prices in other markets around the New York metro area have already ratcheted up, Tuxedo Park is still a bargain. While sales fell off dramatically during the recession, prices were slower to come down and inventory surged. Now we see sellers cutting prices to record lows in order to move their houses, creating some amazing values for buyers, with a wide range of prices and styles, from small converted stables and carriage houses to large mansions and everything in between.

Take us on a tour of the market through your favorite listings.

In a tour of Tuxedo Park, 18 Summit Road is our first stop. Perched on a hill, it offers breathtaking views of Tuxedo Lake. The home itself is exquisitely constructed, with an easy flow and spacious rooms for gracious entertaining.

Our next stop is 57 Lookout Road, a striking contemporary built atop the stone foundation of Pierre Lorillard’s 1890 massive stable on a seven-acre, gently sloping hillside. Its winding drive ends at nine-foot stone walls, which are interspersed with graceful arches that enclose the courtyard, affording the ultimate in privacy.

Next is 21 Lookout Road, a beautifully renovated home on two acres, with a tennis court and room to play among majestic trees and gently sloping lawns. The home offers open space and an easy flow.

Perhaps the best example of historic, classic Tuxedo Park architecture is the next stop on our tour: 4 Ridge Road. Built in 1898 and lovingly preserved and maintained, it offers an air of elegance, from the marble foyer to the original hardwood floors. The ballroom was added in the early 1900s.

The last stop on our tour is another great example of historic Tuxedo Park. The Ice House on 2.6 acres at 62 Circuit Road was once part of the legendary Henry S. Poor estate. It is anchored by the original stone ice house, built in 1899 and now a spacious living room.

Life and Art in Rockland County

by Richard Ellis on November 24, 2015 0 Comments

Rockland County might be the smallest county by area in New York State outside of the five counties that comprise New York City, but when it comes to art, we are home to some of the finest talent anywhere in the country.

Sean-Scully_Front-Small2 I recently was made aware of just how gifted this area is when I had the pleasure of attending an event featuring the renowned artist and Palisades, New York, resident Sean Scully. “Sean Scully in Conversation with Ken Carbone” was held on Oct. 11 as part of the award-winning Palisades People Sunday Symposia series, presented by the Palisades Free Library.

The event was the library’s 27th, and our very own Marjorie Galen helped organize it. Past honorees include author Toni Morrison and ballet dancer Mikhail Baryshnikov, both Rockland County residents.

It was an honor to see Mr. Scully, one of the world’s leading abstract painters, who I first met when I sold him his home in the area almost three years ago. He is the recipient of the Guggenheim fellowship and a National Endowment for the Arts fellowship and twice was nominated for the Turner Prize. His work has been exhibited in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Museum of Modern Art, the Guggenheim Museum, the National Gallery of Art and the Tate Modern.

Sean Scully

For those who live here, it is no surprise that Mr. Scully and many other notable artists– including Edward Hopper, Jasper Johns, Henry Varnum Poor and Jasper Cropsey– chose to make a home in Rockland County. Peaceful and bucolic, the county undoubtedly is an inspiration for their work. Thanks to my affiliation with the Sotheby’s International Realty^® brand, art is part of the air my agents and I breathe. While that relationship keeps us connected with the art world on a global basis, we enjoy deepening our connections with our local art community. Here are some of my favorite local organizations dedicated to Rockland County art:

The Arts Council of Rockland: This nonprofit institution provides grant opportunities, technical assistance and information to artists and arts organizations.
The Edward Hopper House Art Center: Located in Nyack (next door to my office), this is the birthplace of renowned American artist Edward Hopper. Since 1971, the Edward Hopper House has been a nonprofit art center. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
ARTSROCK: This nonprofit organization’s mission is to provide increased access to professional arts and multicultural programs for an underserved, diverse audience, in and around Rockland County.
The Art Students League of New York- League Residency at Vyt: Founded in 1875 by artists, the Art Students League of New York has been instrumental in shaping America’s legacy in the fine arts. Many renowned artists have honed their skills at this institution, which is dedicated to sustaining the great tradition of training artists. Today, more than 2,500 students of all ages, backgrounds and skill levels, study at the League each month.
Rockland Center for the Arts: This multiarts center is dedicated to creating and promoting art through its School for The Arts, exhibitions, workshops, literary and performing-arts events, Summer Arts Day Camp and outreach programs.

I encourage you to learn more about these fine organizations, and if you are able, offer your support. To learn more about the arts in Rockland County, click here.

Ellis Sotheby’s International Realty Event Supports Nyack’s Homeless

by Ellis Sotheby's International Realty on November 19, 2015 0 Comments

Ellis Sotheby’s International Realty today announced it raised nearly $5,000 for the Nyack Homeless Project at a recent open house held for the organization.

A main attraction for the Nov. 14 event was the venue itself, The Whitney House in the Snedens Landing community of Palisades, New York, where actress Angelina Jolie spent part of her childhood.

Eugene Kohn, center, owner of The Whitney House in the Snedens Landing community of Palisades, New York, gives a tour to Jane Pauley and her husband , Garry Trudeau, during a Nov. 14 open house sponsored by Ellis Sotheby’s International Realty that served as a fundraiser for the Nyack Homeless Project.

“We are so proud to be able to make a meaningful donation to such a well-deserving organization that does so much to help our community, especially at this time of year,” said Richard Ellis, the property’s co-listing agent and owner of Ellis Sotheby’s International Realty. “We believe it is so important to give back to our beautiful community, which gives so much to us.”

More than 40 guests enjoyed a menu prepared by Chef Peter Kelly of Xavier’s at Piermont, New York, and a presentation on mid-century architecture by Nicolai Ouroussoff, former architecture critic for The New York Times.

The evening concluded with a performance by Maestro Eugene Kohn, the home’s owner and renowned conductor, who accompanied acclaimed tenor Nelson Ebo.

Nelson Ebo, right, sang operatic tributes in Italian, Russian and English, accompanied by Kohn on the piano. The event raised nearly $5,000 for the Nyack Homeless Project.

Donations for the Nyack Homeless Project were collected throughout the evening, and a silent auction contributed to the total raised.

“The Nyack Homeless Project, a grassroots, nonsectarian, nonprofit volunteer organization, this year will directly donate to over 30 organizations, shelters and pantries in Rockland County that will benefit men, women, teens, families, children and infants,” said Litany Burns, the organization’s cofounder and director.

“We thank Rich Ellis and Brandon Wagner of Ellis Sotheby’s International Realty as well as everyone who attended the open house last weekend for their generous donations on behalf of so many adults lacking winter coats and toiletries, parents in need of food for families, pre-school children and teens without warm hats and gloves, and soup kitchens in short supply,” she said.

26 Woods Road, Snedens Landing

The four-bedroom, three-and-a-half bath Whitney House currently is listed for $2.049 million through Ellis and co-listing agent Brandon Wagner. For more information on the Nyack Homeless Project, visit www.nyackhp.org.

Category Archives

Cornwall

Tuxedo Park

Warwick

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Life in Snedens Landing

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What major changes have you seen in the market over your 30 years in real estate?

What sale have you been most proud of over the course of your career?

Your wife, Flora, also is a real estate agent. How do you balance two industry professionals in one house?

Rumor has it you are an outstanding cook. What are some of the top kitchen amenities out there today?

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What is so compelling about Tuxedo Park that residents often enter the market as secondary residents and then transition to full-time?

How long have you been serving the market, and how have you seen it change over the years?

Why is now a good time to invest in Tuxedo Park real estate?

Take us on a tour of the market through your favorite listings.

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