Ellis Sotheby's International Realty

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.

Snedens Landing: Home to Your Future Star

by Richard Ellis on November 10, 2015 1 Comment

Old-fashioned Americana is alive and well in one of the country’s best-kept secrets: New York’s Snedens Landing. Walking through the small hamlet, you will find a Norman Rockwell painting come to life, with children riding their bikes and families, friends and their dogs going for walks together down to the Hudson River.

26 Woods Road, Snedens Landing

It is in this bucolic slice of life that celebrities, creative types and business people at the top of their field have gravitated, as they look for a place to raise their families. Offering privilege and privacy, the area has just one road in and out and has bred many of today’s stars including Angelina Jolie, whose childhood home is currently for sale through our firm, and Hayden Panettiere, whose home also is available.

129 Washington Spring Road, Snedens Landing

Many widely known actors of stage and screen also have chosen to raise their children here, including William Hurt, Bill Murray, Lorraine Bracco and many others.

What is so compelling about Snedens Landing? According to a recent article in The New York Times, “…with its outgoing, sometimes eccentric residents, artists and celebrities among them, the quiet would be a welcome change from the busy anonymity of city life.” Many residents live in New York City and utilize their home in Snedens as a respite from the sensory overload of city life.

Indeed, Snedens Landing, part of Palisades, has no mayor nor official legislatives, but it does have its own library and Zip Code and is almost entirely residential. And its residences run the gamut from 18th-century Dutch farmhouses to 19th-century farmhouses, Victorians and estates to 1950s post modern contemporaries and newer style homes.

64 Ludlow Lane, Snedens Landing

For those interested in the geographical specifics, Snedens Landing is located within the eastern portion of Palisades, between U.S. Route 9W and the Hudson River. It also has a registered historic district along Washington Springs Road and another known as the Closter Road – Oak Tree Road adjoining Snedens Landing in Palisades.

40 Lawrence Lane, Snedens Landing

For those looking to raise their future star or just want the quiet respite, we have many fine properties currently available, from the $4.8 million property known as Seven Oaks, the oldest estate property in Snedens Landing, and now on the market for the first time in 38 years, to the “Cliff House,” a romantic mid-century home on 2 private acres overlooking the Hudson River for $2,995,000.

Making a Life and a Career in the Lower Hudson Valley

by Richard Ellis on October 2, 2015 0 Comments

New York’s lower Hudson Valley is a region known for its views, from the Hudson River’s shorelines to the region’s bucolic parklands. It’s nothing short of inspirational. That’s why more than 30 years ago I chose to build my career helping others find their dream homes in Rockland and Orange counties.

I created this blog, “Hudson Valley Views,” to share my love of this market and the insights my team and I have gathered over the course of three decades. Every month, we will share on our thoughts on house and home, from why real estate is a solid foundation for building wealth to how to best showcase your art collection.

By way of introduction, the lower Hudson Valley covers many charming towns and communities including Nyack, Piermont, Grandview, Palisades, Sneden’s Landing, New City, Tuxedo Park, Warwick, Goshen, Cornwall, Greenwood Lake, Pierson Lakes, Suffern, West Nyack, Blauvelt and Tappan – to name a few. I’d like to take you on a tour of just a few of the areas we serve through some of our most special listings.

Nyack: A Town with a View

Nyack is a quaint and charming town, with views so lovely, only an artist could do them justice. In fact, at 641 North Broadway, the views are so striking local artist Edward Hopper painted them. Hook Mountain provides the backdrop to this home, situated on one of the largest privately owned parcels on the west bank of the Hudson north of the George Washington Bridge. History also plays a role in this home’s unique appeal: the British came on shore during the Revolutionary War, as documented in a letter to George Washington.

Sneden’s Landing: History and Beauty

Sneden’s Landing, also known as Palisades, is becoming increasingly popular. Its history dates back to the 1680s, but many modern-day celebrities have called it home, from Bill Murray to Al Pacino and Angelina Jolie. Walking through town, it is easy to understand the appeal. Cliff House, for example, is just 25 minutes to New York City, perched on a hill overlooking the Hudson with a small rocky cove below. The lifestyle here is tranquil. A surrounding park runs 12 miles along the Hudson River.

Tuxedo Park: A Gilded and Gated Community

Tuxedo Park, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, is a refined and private gated community that dates back to the 1880s. Less than an hour from New York City, its residents will tell you it offers respite from daily life. The residence at 4 Ridge Road is perfect example of historic, classic Tuxedo Park architecture, built in 1898 and lovingly preserved and maintained with an air of stately grace. The ballroom, added in the early 1900s, has antique sconces and parquet floors, and echoes back to an elegant time in American history.

My team and I look forward to continuing to share our views of the Hudson Valley in the coming blog articles.

Richard Ellis, Managing Member and Real Estate Broker