Montauk’s East Deck Motel Returns To The Market

The East Deck Motel in Montauk’s Ditch Plains has returned to the market for $25 million, a little over a year after it was sold for $15 million.

Known for its 1950s retro decor and proximity to a hugely popular surf spot, the motel was slated to become a private club, much to the chagrin of many in the community.

Vitaminwater billionaire J. Darius Bikoff reportedly purchased the property back in 2013; however, the buyer is listed as the limited liability corporation ED40. The property, which hasn’t been in use since it sold, is in a resort zone, and the LLC wanted to transform it into a private membership club.

“There’s very few pieces of oceanfront left, and this is commercial oceanfront; this is so rare,” said Sotheby’s associate broker Edward Bruehl, who, with Rylan Jacka, has the listing for the property.

In addition to a new 8,000-square-foot swimming pool, hot tub, showers, restaurant, spa and exercise room, ED40 was going to add a gate house, 64 more parking spaces and decking on the 5-acre parcel. Although no construction on the motel had begun, last spring ED40 had restored the dunes in front of the building, which had suffered severe erosion during Superstorm Sandy.

The proposal was met with staunch opposition from several community groups, including the Ditch Plains Association, which gathered thousands of petition signatures to protest the planned club.

Following the onslaught of opposition, ED40 postponed its plans last fall and gave East Hampton Town a chance to purchase the property with Community Preservation Fund money. After an independent appraisal, the municipality reportedly offered $8 million, less than a third of what the site is on the market for now. The deal didn’t take.

Still, DPA strongly supports the town purchase to assure public access to Ditch Plains beach.

According to the association’s position statement, “The East Deck property is flanked by two town-owned parcels. The town purchase of the East Deck parcel represents a unique and critical opportunity to extend the town-owned beach at Ditch Plains by clearly establishing public ownership of the shoreline between two town-owned parcels.”

Presently, the town has expressed no interest in purchasing the property at its new price tag—“not for $25 million,” said East Hampton Town Supervisor Larry Cantwell last week. However, the municipality is keeping a watchful eye. “I think we have an interest in the property, and we certainly are concerned about its future,” the supervisor said.

Since its return to the market, the parcel has garnered many inquiries, according to Mr. Jacka. “There’s been a tremendous amount of interest in the property, and the people who seem most serious are the ones who have a deep connection to Montauk and one that is in keeping with what’s there and that Ditch Plains vibe,” he said.

Given the attention East Deck has gained in the last year or so, it is likely plans submitted by the next buyer will face similar scrutiny.

According to Laura Michaels, president of the Ditch Plains Association, the organization “remains adamantly against any expansion of use within what is otherwise an entirely residential community and a magnificent public beach. Exploitation of Ditch Plains, which is regional jewel, will be vigorously opposed.”