Jerome Robbins bought the beach house in 1979 to use as a creative retreat.
Sotheby’s International Realty
The Bridgehampton beach house that formerly belonged to the late choreographer, dancer and director Jerome Robbins is for sale for the first time in 40 years.
Robbins bought the beach house in 1979 to use as a creative retreat, noted Frank Newbold, an agent with Sotheby’s International Realty, the brokerage handling the listing.
While it’s difficult to say what Robbins was most famous for, his more than 60 ballets and musical productions included “West Side Story” (1957), for which he also co-directed the 1961 film adaptation. Among his other Broadway hits were “The King and I” (1951), “Peter Pan” (1954), “Gypsy” (1959) and “Fiddler on the Roof” (1964). He had no shortage of accolades either, receiving two Academy Awards, four Tony Awards, an Emmy and more throughout his career.
Robbins, second from left, in 1962 after winning an Academy Award for co-directing the film adaptation of “West Side Story.”
ASSOCIATED PRESS
With all his artistic talent, it’s no surprise that Robbins needed a quiet place by the beach to sort through his ideas. His two-bed, 2 ½ bath wooden-shingle cottage on an acre along the Hamptons oceanfront was the perfect spot, with a wraparound deck and views of the water from every room, across to Mecox Bay to the north. The home, built in 1950 and located at 139 Dune Road, also has a 45-foot heated pool, plus 118 feet of private beachfront accessible by a sandy pathway. When Robbins passed away in 1998, he left it to his foundation, which recently decided to sell it and use the proceeds for its work in the arts.
The home has a heated pool and 118 feet of private beachfront.
Sotheby’s International Realty
The existing house is sure to be full of inspirational energy leftover from Robbins famed imagination, but the inside would need some updates, and Newbold predicts the property’s new owners will be more attracted to its potential. Its zoning allows for a brand-new, 6,000 square foot home that can be situated closer to the water than is usually permitted on the beaches of Long Island’s east end.
Plus, with just 1,000 square feet, the interior is a little small, “especially if you have a big family – and a big fan club,” Newbold explained. “It’s amazing how popular you are when you have a vacant bedroom at the beach.”
Despite being fresh on the market, the listing has already received a lot of interest, particularly from families with money from Wall Street, publishing and online companies. That’s not to say that plenty of Robbins’ fans in the creative community haven’t also inquired about the place, Newbold added, but the $15 million price tag may be a little out of reach for a starving artist’s salary.
Zoning for the acre of property allows for a new, 6,000-square-foot house.
Sotheby’s International Realty