Upscale Southampton offers a buzzy beach and cultural scene
Shops and restaurants on Southampton's Main Street are a big draw for residents and vacationers. Credit: Gordon M. Grant
THE SCOOP Pristine beaches, museums, quaint shops and eateries, and celebrity sightings are all hallmarks of the Village of Southampton.
The downtown boasts a vibrant cultural scene with the Southampton Arts Center, which holds outdoor movie screenings, and the recently opened Southampton African American Museum and the Peter Marino Art Foundation.
Perennially popular spots are Coopers and Little Plains beaches, and Agawam Park, which hosts summer concerts. Adding to village quality of life will be new bike lanes expected this fall, says Southampton Mayor Jesse Warren.
Coopers Beach has the Atlantic Ocean in front and mansions over the dunes in back. Credit: Gordon M. Grant
The area is home to the Shinnecock Indian Nation, who host an annual powwow, one of the largest Native American gatherings on the East Coast. Last summer, the Peconic Land Trust purchased Sugar Loaf Hill, sacred Shinnecock burial ground, to restore it to its natural state.
Southampton might be the state’s first English settlement — some say that honorific goes to Southold — but it was unquestionably founded in 1640 and served as a center for farming, fishing and whaling for the next two centuries.
Participants in the 2019 Shinnecock Nation Powwow. Credit: Neswsday/John Paraskevas
In 1870, the Long Island Rail Road began offering daily stops to Bridgehampton, which led to the first wave of tourism to the Hamptons. Nine years later, Dr. Gaillard Thomas built the first summer home in Southampton, and before long, estates went up in the Agawam Lake-Gin Lane area. The Meadow Club and Shinnecock Hills golf clubs followed shortly thereafter and by the end of World War II, motels, condominiums and estates dotted the landscape.
The Southampton Arts Center on Jobs Lane. Credit: Gordon M. Grant
Since COVID, many people from New York City moved to the village for year-round living, says Vincent Pescatore, an agent with Saunders West. “This has really created a vibrant community during the off season months,” Pescatore says.
Real estate gets steep quickly in Southampton. Housing stock consists of mostly traditional homes, ranging from about $750,00 for a modest home that might need work to the tens of millions for an oceanfront spread.
Due to the lack of sewers, there’s a dearth of affordable housing in the village, but a task force is working to acquire land that would house a sewer plant, notes Warren: “This is a long-term project, but once we do have the wastewater infrastructure, then we can actually start building affordable or workforce housing or zoning for it.”
Houses along Halsey Street. Credit: Gordon M. Grant
CONDOS AND CO-OPS There is one condo on the market, listed for $2.895 million.
SALE PRICES Between July 1, 2021, and July 31, 2022, there were 119 home sales with a median sale price of $1.875 million, according to OneKey MLS. The low price for that period was $550,000 and the high was $19.25 million. During that period a year earlier there were 172 home sales with a median sale price of $1.4 million. The price range was $287,500 to $21 million.
OTHER STATS
Town Southampton
Area 6.4 square miles
ZIP code 11968
Population 4,550
Median age 55.2
Median household income $125,054
Median home value $1.96 million
Monthly LIRR ticket from Southampton $450
School districts, graduation rates Southampton, 86%, Tuckahoe (K-8)
Parks Coopers Beach, Agawam Park, Downs Family Park
Library Rogers Memorial
Hospital Stony Brook Southampton Hospital
Transit Suffolk County Transit Route 92
SOURCES: 2020 Census; 2020 American Community Survey; OneKey MLS; LIRR, data.nysed.gov
NOW ON THE MARKET
Priced at $7.995 million, this estate on Parkside Avenue has a double-sided fireplace and a gym. Credit: Douglas Elliman Realty
$7.995 million
This traditional 7,500-square-foot estate built in 2017 features six bedrooms, six full and two half-baths, coffered ceilings and moldings, a double-sided fireplace, second-floor balcony and gym. Close to ocean and bay beaches, the 2.56-acre property has a large deck, pool, and generator. Taxes are $14,881. Thomas Cavallo and Erika Gordon, Douglas Elliman Real Estate, 631-725-0200.
Priced at $3.499 million, this postmodern on St. Andrews Road West features a basement with media room and gym. Credit: Corcoran Group
$3.499 million
Newly renovated, this 3,620-square-foot postmodern built in 2004 has five bedrooms, five bathrooms, an open floor plan, great room with cathedral ceiling, billiard room and 2,500-square-foot basement with gym, media room, and full bath. The 0.93-acre fenced-in property includes a heated pool, new spa tub, and covered porch with gas fireplace and firepit. Taxes are $10,190. Ashley Farrell and Alexandra Schrage, Corcoran Group, 631-288-6900.
Priced at $1.375 million, this home on 1 acre on Longview Road is undergoing renovation. Credit: Saunders West
$1.375 million
Built in 2014, this 2,500-square-foot four-bedroom, three-bath traditional home is being renovated with wood floors, open living area and eat-in kitchen with peninsula seating, stone counters and stainless steel appliances. The 1.1-acre property has a large rear deck and a shed. Taxes are $5,361. Vincent Pescatore, Saunders West, 631-288-4800.
RECENTLY SOLD
$5.55 million
Parrish Pond Ln.
Style Traditional
Bedrooms 6
Bathrooms 9½
Built 2006
Lot size 1.38 acres
Taxes $23,070
+/- List price -$445,000
Days on market 214
$9 million
Halsey Farm Dr.
Style Estate
Bedrooms 4
Bathrooms 6½
Built 2000
Lot size 1.84 acres
Taxes $33,410
+/- List price -$950,000
Days on market 263
$19.25 million
Pheasant Ln.
Style Estate
Bedrooms 8
Bathrooms 12 full, 4 half
Built 2020
Lot size 1.93 acres
Taxes $48,510
+/- List price -$745,000
Days on market 446
ON ONEKEY MLS 76
Number of listings
Price range $749,000 to $31.5 million
Tax range $2,177 to $69,335
