Condo development booms in the Hamptons

Right now, new high-end condominium developments are rising throughout the Hamptons -- including the much-anticipated Watchcase project in Sag Harbor -- providing summer vacation homes without the fuss or overhead of keeping a house.

Bruce Orr, senior vice president of sales and marketing at Timber Ridge Homes, which is building the Dunes at Westhampton, attributes the East End building burst to two factors. For one, developers are "looking to get greater density in a smaller parcel," he says. And the population is aging. "People are looking for a no-maintenance lifestyle," says Orr, noting that some are looking at these as second homes.

Here's a look at four Hamptons complexes being built right now:

"We believed it was important to retain as much of the old building fabric as possible, and this has led to a difficult construction process," says Craig Wood of Cape Advisors Inc., the builder. "Over the past 15 months, the factory has had almost all of the original facade repaired and re-pointed, over 80 timber beams replaced, and the structural integrity of the building restored -- all while dealing with a building that is over 130 years old and had been exposed to the elements and nature and was unoccupied for over 30 years."

This attention to authenticity -- more than 20,000 bricks were salvaged -- helps to create lofts with exposed original brick and yellow-pine timber beams while maintaining the original factory feel of openness and light through oversized windows and 11-feet-plus ceilings.

The Watchcase team included architectural conservator Baldassano Architecture and Beyer Blinder Belle, which helped restore such places as Grand Central Terminal and the United States Capitol.

The development also contains nine new town houses modeled after the 18th and 19th century houses of Sag Harbor. All units offer some type of private outdoor space -- the bungalows contain gardens that face the central courtyard -- and, in some condos, there are several spaces, including terraces, patios and balconies.

The property also contains a shared lobby-living room and a lounge area with a huge fireplace where the original chimney once stood.

Finished models will be available for viewing this spring. The project is expected to be completed in summer 2014.

Units include gas fireplaces with marble or stone surround, and feature either three to five bedrooms, some with French doors that open onto terraces or balconies. Kitchens contain a Wolf stainless-steel range, Sub-Zero refrigerator and a windowed breakfast nook.

Pre-construction sales have started and about 20 units are reserved. The first occupants are expected this fall.

Bishop Ponds' current boundaries occupy both Southampton Village and Southampton Town. Slattery says the developers hope to annex the town section into the village so that residents of the entire complex can access the village beaches. Discussions will continue June 6, and then the two boards will vote on the issue.

Condo features include Andersen windows and screens, a front covered porch, back patio, 10-foot ceilings, carpeted bedrooms, oak flooring on the main floor and upper hallways and kitchens with a Sub-Zero refrigerator, Miele cappuccino/espresso machine and built-in wine cooler.

The project broke ground in 2008.

Luxuries include 9-foot ceilings on the main level, oak floors, carpeted bedrooms and gourmet kitchens outfitted with stainless-steel appliances, 42-inch maple cabinets and granite countertops.

The project broke ground in July, and nine units are almost complete, with seven others in the construction process. Although two are currently in contract, owners cannot officially take occupancy until six are sold. Orr forecasts that the complex will be completed in 2014.