Montauk Compound Of ‘Tinder Select’ Fame Sells For $18 Million

A modern Montauk oceanfront compound that was the site of “Tinder Select” parties back in 2017—until East Hampton Town put a stop to the dating app’s unpermitted events—has sold for $18.14 million. It was listed in April for $21 million.

The compound at 230-234 Old Montauk Highway was owned by Michael Hirtenstein, the founder of WestCom Corporation, an international telecommunications company for the financial industry that he sold to IPC Systems in 2007. Mr. Hirtenstein is now a real estate investor; among his projects is a 43.5-acre proposed subdivision in Sagaponack Village that has been tied up in legal battles as the partners have failed to agree one on vision.

The Montauk compound is on 4 acres with more than 100 feet of oceanfront. It comprises two contiguous parcels of 2 acres each.

James Biber, of Biber Architects and Pentagram Design, designed the 5,500-square foot three-level main house built in 2006. The masonry and steel structure includes a gourmet kitchen, a dining room, a step-down living room, a second-story sitting room above the master bedroom, a roof-top deck and wraparound terraces. The finished lower level has high ceilings, a skylighted gym, a screening room, a wine cellar and storage space.

The guest house is about 2,400 square feet with two bedrooms, one bath, an eat-in kitchen, a lounge and a continuous deck. Renderings that accompanied the listing show a proposed rooftop pool for the guest house—though the compound already includes an infinity edge pool, Jazuzzi and outdoor shower.

“Both houses were custom built by MenAtWork to the withstand hurricane force winds, using the highest quality wood, steel, stone, glass, and glazed finished brick,” the Corcoran listing states.

Corcoran’s Gary DePersia represented the seller. Robert Dankner, the president of New York City-based brokerage firm Prime Manhattan Residential, represented the undisclosed buyer. Last year, Mr. Dankner was involved in the sale next door: He represented the buyer of 240 Old Montauk Highway, which sold for $22.8 million in an off-market transaction, the second most expensive sale ever in Montauk.

In an interview Wednesday, Mr. Dankner spoke highly of the location and design of 230-234 Old Montauk Highway. “It’s arguably one of the most prime pieces of beachfront property that exist in the Hamptons—it’s stunning,” he said.

The properties and two structures are striking from both the street side and the beach side, according to Mr. Dankner. “It’s unlike most stately clad houses you see up and down the beaches,” he said. “It’s a more space-age structure of steel and concrete. It almost looks like a piece of art.”

He said that, unlike most houses where visitors are greeted by the driveway and front door, at this property the front doors of both the main house and guest house are not obvious. Instead, visitors driving up and are greeted by the open space between the two structure looking out to the ocean. “It’s a very interesting arrival,” he said. “It’s a wonderful arrival. It’s very unique”

Mr. Dankner noted that there was competition for the property. “There was another buyer that we had to edge out, which I think speaks to the strength of the luxury market on the East End—not blanketly, but really blue chip properties.”