Reno...Don't Demo

One of our Build.In.Kind goals is to instill a preference in our town for thoughtful renovations whenever possible when properties are redeveloped, rather than just going to the default preference we see these days for full-on demolitions, entirely new builds, and significant upsizing.

As part of that, on this page, we'll highlight renovation "success stories" -- meaning situations where homeowner needs and wants can be achieved while still rebuilding "in kind" with current footprint, neighborhood character, landscapes, natural resources AND realizing meaningful value creation...and without much added GFA, density, bulk, coverage or clearing.

We'd love to hear your renovation or preservation success stories or one's you've seen in your neighborhoods.

#renodontdemo

Success Stories #renodontdemo

11 Ocean Lane

This 1970's built beach house on Ocean Lane in the Beach Hampton area of Amagansett sold in Nov 2021 for $4.9 million. It is an 1800 sq ft residence on a 0.28 acre parcel. The house has no pool or other additional structures. Its three bedrooms and two bathrooms are small/modest in size. The property is also "encumbered" by wetlands. Though it sits just three lots off the Atlantic Ocean beach, the house has no views.

Having been in one owners hands for decades and rented out most summers, the property changed hands in May 2020 for $2.3 million.

Rather than doing what so many others are doing in this and other Amagansett neighborhoods south of the highway -- demolishing sub 2000 sq ft houses and redeveloping at a vastly expanded scale-- the new owners decided instead to redesign and renovate it totally "in kind."

Though the updates and internal high quality finishes and materials make this house fresh, modern and "hip," this beach cottage retains its original mid-century vernacular so important to this neighborhood -- it is totally in keeping with the unique historical and scenic character of this community and did not challenge the surrounding wetlands and dunelands or create additional clearing and density.

Just 18 months after purchase, it sold within weeks of listing and within 2% of an asking price that most onlookers thought would not be achievable. The price tag was a record for houses of this modest scale and simplicity in this neighborhood.

See this recent article about this renovation published in Dwell magazine.