If you can’t decide whether to live a waterfront or wine country lifestyle, then this house presents the resolution to that conundrum. Here, you can do both.
Built around the turn of the century and extensively renovated in 2004, this farmhouse-style home in Greenport is close to both options — just steps away from Stirling Basin, which leads into Greenport Harbor and, at less than a mile from Kontokosta Winery, right at the North Fork’s starting point to Long Island wine country.
And if neither water nor wine appeal to you, this house offers a three-minute walk to the heart of the village with dining, shopping and art galleries — all against a historic maritime backdrop.
“It’s on a quiet corner with easy access to marinas, shops and beaches in a walkable community,” says Jerry Cibulski, the listing agent at Century 21 Albertson Realty representing the sale.
Sited on a .1 acre lot, the three-bedroom, two bath house is neatly contained in 1,300 square feet with an open layout on the first floor, a full bath and separate mudroom and laundry area. The eat-in kitchen has been updated with Corian countertops and custom rift oak cabinetry that showcases its wood grain and works in concert with the hardwood floors and oak window and door trims. The center island offers open shelving storage and an integrated wine rack, which Cibulski says is key for “true North Fork wine country living.”
The three second-floor bedrooms range in size from 92 to 134 square feet. The owner preserved the original pine plank flooring on this level, while redoing the floors on the first level with new hardwood. The three bedrooms share a hallway bath.
The lower level is a full basement, used for the mechanicals and storage. Additional storage is in a loft on the upper level of the detached two-car garage.
“This is a small-home living concept with a pied-á-terre kind of vibe,” Cibulski says. “It’s functional and simple, and gives people a place on the North Fork to experience the many walking trails, parks, beaches, wineries and more.”
But even if you never left home, the yard is a retreat unto itself with ample room for outdoor dining and cooking on the built-in grilling pad. Though a small lot, the landscape architect makes the most of it with thoughtful and scalable design, decorative pavement and textural plantings such as modo grass, cryptomeria and paper bark clump birch trees. Low stack-stone walls with bluestone pavers help define the space.
“It’s easy on the eyes, easy to maintain and has texture throughout the spaces,” Cibulski says. “The birch trees create the backdrop to the patio area to envelope you, create that outdoor room atmosphere and compliment the visual story.”
Overall, he said, the house is a “nod to low-carbon footprint living … its smaller spaces filled with visual interest, and sustainable natural materials like wood and stone that provide years of low maintenance.”
Clad in red cedar shingle and with a welcoming front porch for morning coffee (or Long Island wine!), Cibulski called the home an iconic example of a maritime farmhouse in an area of town that recalls the area’s historic seafood industry. Indeed, he says, while researching the home’s backstory, he heard that it was once a scallop-shucking shack. It’s a theory that holds water, given that the southeastern end of Stirling Basin was once dotted with scallop shucking shacks dating back to the 1870s on Sandy Beach Road, some of which were later converted to summer bungalows.
“I think what people like about Greenport village is its maritime history that has continued with a waterfront culture. Restaurants have come into that seafood farm to table, including the oyster farms, giving it a great foodie culture. There’s a great diversity of offerings from Manhattan-quality restaurants,” he said. And, if you want to explore further, he added, “Greenport is easily connected with lots of options for dining and recreation.”
Numerous local attractions herald Greenport’s history: the Maritime Museum, Long Island Railroad Museum, Floyd Memorial Library, and the Sterling Historical Society. The Long Beach Bar “Bug” Lighthouse is one of only four offshore lighthouses in the United States that receives visitors (tours available through the East End Seaport Museum). The town has a vibrant arts community (listing of galleries here). Mitchell Park is a four-acre green space on the waterfront with a carousel and public programming ranging from Tai Chi, summer stage music performances, a permanent camera obscura installation and other events.
The home at 302 Monsell Place lists for $999,999 and the details can be seen here.
