Living in Centre Island
Centre Island might be small, but most of its homes have sweeping water views. (June 28, 2013) Credit: Ed Betz
THE SCOOP Centre Island is one of the smallest of the 64 villages in Nassau County. Accessible by one road from Bayville, the claw-shaped peninsula is bordered by Cold Spring Harbor, Oyster Bay Harbor and Long Island Sound.
"The views are breathtaking," says Margaret Trautmann of Daniel Gale Sotheby's International Realty. Shawn Elliott, owner-broker of Shawn Elliott Luxury Homes & Estates, added that the community's ambience is "magical."
Most homes, about 75 percent, are on the water, Elliott says. While many are not visible from the road, they can be seen by boat, Trautmann says.
"There are amazing houses. They are well kept and well manicured," she says. The average property is about three acres, Elliott says, noting many have a pool and tennis court. Architectural styles are diverse, ranging from Mediterranean and Contemporary to traditional brick manor.
In the center of the peninsula is a section of cottages, built in the early 1900s for the staff of the wealthy, which sell fast when they come on the market, Trautmann says.
Speaking of wealthy, Billy Joel owns a house on Centre Island, and in 2009 Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt reportedly rented Rupert Murdoch's estate while Jolie was filming scenes for the movie "Salt."
West Shore Road, one of two access routes into Bayville and Centre Island, recently reopened after sustaining damage from superstorm Sandy.
SALES PRICE From June 1, 2012, to June 25, 2013, there were six sales with a median price of $1,481,944, according to Multiple Listing Service of Long Island data. The low price was $456,500, and the high was $7,900,000. From June 1, 2011, to June 25, 2012, there were five sales. The median price was $2,200,000. The low price was $825,000, and the high was $9,100,000.
ATTRACTIONS Centre Island Beach Village Park; Oyster Bay National Wildlife Refuge; Eastover, a private beach; Seawanhaka Corinthian Yacht Club, which is private
BY THE NUMBERS
Town: Oyster Bay
Area: 1.1 square mile
ZIP code: 11771
Population: 366
Median age: 50.1
Median household income: $147,083
Median home value: $1,481,944
LIRR time to NYC: 1 hour 16 minutes to 1 hour 23 minutes at peak from Oyster Bay
Monthly ticket: $276
School district: Oyster Bay-East Norwich
SOURCES: 2010 Census; mlslI.com; LIRR; Daniel Gale Sotheby's International Realty
*Based on sales in the past 12 months, according to MLSLI
