Chances are that when you order a Big Bite at the 7-Eleven in Flanders, the billionaire financier Carl Icahn will not be the one serving it to you … but it could happen. Recently released Suffolk County records reveal that the land and the convenience store on it was purchased by Voltari Real Estate Holdings LLC. According to the business publication Barrons, Icahn owns roughly have the shares of Voltari.
The company, formerly called Motricity, was a mobile advertising and marketing company based in New York City. It struggled since its founding in 2004, then underwent a reorganization in 2013. Icahn has been a longtime investor and may have persuaded the re-christened Voltari to shift its focus to real estate. The purchase of the Flanders property and 7-Eleven, for just under $3 million, appears to be the company’s first significant acquisition.
The biggest big deal reported during the last couple of weeks is actually a twofer: 69 and 77 Meeting House Lane in Amagansett, which were sold for the nice round numbers of $5,173,890 and $8,601,110, respectively. The buyers were two limited liability companies, Action Craft 1 and Action Craft 2. The Action Craft company is a maker of high-end recreational boats and is based in Cape Coral, Florida. Together, the properties total 1.5 acres, each containing a house. Presumably, the buyer intends to create a compound. Away all boats!
Runner-up is the $12 million plunked down for 30 West End Road in East Hampton. If that address is familiar it’s because, as The Press reported last month, it is one of the parcels comprising the former Courtney Ross estate on Georgica Pond which David Geffen bought several years ago. He is now selling the parcels off, soon after acquiring a manse on Lily Pond Lane. After “win” and “place,” the “show” property is 8 Association Road in Wainscott, bought by 8 GAR LLC, whoever they are, for $9,750,000. It is in the Georgica Association, a 100-acre private enclave on the west bank of Georgica Pond. In addition, the 2.5-acre site borders a 44-acre agricultural reserve. With all that lush land to wander around in, the new owner might not spend much time in the 5-bedroom, 3,800-square-foot house.
Another East Hampton property is at number 5 on the big deals list, this one at 17 Pondview Lane, which sold for a whisker under $5 million. An interesting note is the purchaser is Casa Escondida. That name won’t ring a bell for younger folk, but the rest of us: Casa Escondida is a senior citizen complex in New Mexico operated by Monica Niess, who is also head of the Write Choice Network, a consulting and public relations firm. Perhaps the place on Pondview will become a haven for older memoir writers. The Douglas Elliman copy does say that “for the savvy buyer/builder opportunities abound, including a possible compound.”
What about number 4 on the list? Bridgehampton doesn’t want to be ignored, and it won’t be thanks to the purchase of 63 Newlight Lane by Joakim Mellander. He is the head of North American Capital Markets at Accenture, and he shelled out $5,585,000 for the property. If all these real estate transactions have worked up a thirst, head to Flanders and see if Carl Icahn will serve up a fresh, cold Slurpee.