There are only a few places in the world where a street’s name can instantly conjure up an image of the houses, the people, or the businesses located along its stretch. Rodeo Drive is luxury shopping, Savile Row is tailored menswear, and Madison Avenue is advertising. In Southampton, Gin Lane is one of those places. It is one of the most sought after streets in the Hamptons for real estate fans seeking summer “cottages.” The street’s many past and present cottage residents are testament to its high powered pedigree.
One such resident was Arthur O. Sulzberger, who passed away in September 2012. Mr. Sulzberger, the former publisher and owner of the New York Times, moved to 283 Gin Lane in 1992, when he purchased this 8 bedroom, 7.5 bathroom estate. Viewing the property provides a glimpse into this storied newsman’s ocean retreat. The property has a truly family home feeling to it. One can imagine the man, his wife, and extended family enjoying summer gatherings around the large patio or by the pool.
After the passing of this newspaper giant, the family decided to list the home with three local real estate heavyweights, the Corcoran Group, Sotheby’s, and Saunders. The property is being marketed at a list price of $13.9 million. The current home has approximately 6,500 square feet with the three floors of living, private bedrooms and baths. There are opportunities to renovate or take advantage of the existing building envelope which could accommodate a 13,000 square foot residence with appropriate accessory structures and a tennis court.
The long driveway approach to 283 Gin Lane provides a private entry to the estate. The house was built in the 1980s and reflects many aspects of that era of construction, although the Sulzbergers did undertake a renovation of the property in 1994. Surrounded by lush mature landscaping, the house sits on 2.2 acres with a large in-ground gunite pool.
All of the rooms on the main floor have an open airy feel and look out onto the private back garden and lawn. This includes the large living, family, and dining rooms. It is easy to imagine the famed newspaper man enjoying his breakfast and reading through the latest issue of the Times, glancing over it from time to time; scanning the lawn for stray grandchildren or enjoying the quiet solitude of the salty summer morning fog.
Over the years, Southampton’s Gin Lane has seen residents come and go. Just as the New York Times persevered, as economies changed, and business models evolved, so too will the spirit of the home at 283 Gin Lane. The next owner will take the best of this estate and transform it into an enclave fit for its new residents. And as the new resident of the Sulzberger home, whether an entertainer, a tech type or a financier, settles into life on Gin Lane, the street itself will remain a faithful historian and will continue to maintain its image of quiet glamor, subtle power, and requisite privacy.
-Kevin Feather
Author
