A mid-country bidding war — no kidding! Plus, some less fortunate sellers

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Hunting Ridge.jpg

62 Hunting Ridge asked for $5.395 million last September, attracted at least two buyers, went to contract in early October and closed December 28th for $5.511 million. The owners paid $6.650 for the place in 2004, and dumped a pile of money into it afterwards, adding a pool and tennis court, among other amenities, but kudos to listing agent Ann Simpson and her clients for recognizing reality and pricing it at an appropriate level for today's market.

29 Pecksland rd

29 Pecksland rd

The owners of 29 Pecksland, now under contract, last asking price $3.495 million, weren't so fortunate: They've been trying to unload the property since 2010, when they asked $5.275. Purchased for $2.3 in 1999, but that was before they blew out the original 1840 structure to 7,000 square feet.

42 Lower cross rd

42 Lower cross rd

And way up north 42 Lower Cross Road, which began at $6.995 million in 2015, has sold for $3.9 million. Conyers 'Far' just ain't what it used to be.

Hoist by their own petard: I expect only more delicious stories like these in 2018

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Mr. Andraya Mitchell (YES, THAT'S A MOUSTACHE) won two girls state championship track meets in CT this year. Congrats!

Mr. Andraya Mitchell (YES, THAT'S A MOUSTACHE) won two girls state championship track meets in CT this year. Congrats!

Women's only swimming area invaded by bikini-clad men.

For decades it has been an oasis for women wishing to swim and sunbathe away from the prying eyes of men.
But now the famous Ladies’ Pond on London’s Hampstead Heath will no longer be a haven preserved for women after a controversial ruling allowed men transitioning to be women to bathe there.
Regular users of the tranquil fresh water pond – used by famous names such as actress Helena Bonham Carter, comedian Rhona Cameron and novelist Esther Freud – have complained in recent months that men who identify as women and wore female bathing clothes were using the pond.
This week, a spokesman for the City of London Corporation which manages the lake, confirmed to the MoS that men transitioning to women will be allowed to use the pond and the female changing rooms.
But last night, female bathers responded with outrage at the prospect of transitioning men being admitted to their ‘special sanctuary’ – despite there being a men’s and a mixed pond available to use on the Heath.
Ms Roberts, who has been swimming in the open-air waters for 32 years, said: ‘I and many others are threatened by having to have essentially “cross dressers” come to the pond and openly use our private space. Women have few private spaces and we have had to fight many times to keep the pond open.
‘Can men not allow women to have any private space?’

Heheheh — where was Ms. Robert's concern when, say, the NYT published 40 articles and editorials condemning Augusta National Golf Club's exclusion of women in just 150 days? When men's clubs all over America and England were forced to admit women? 

So welcome to the club.

Meanwhile, also in England, a woman who requested a female nurse to perform a pap smear was instead met by a bearded, tattooed gentleman who claimed to be "in transition". The NHS apologized after the patient complained, but next year will see a recognition of "self-certification" of transgenders — no actual medical pronouncement necessary — so apology notes will no longer be issued.

Suck it up, honey.

Greenwich Time continues to blow smoke up buyers' backsides

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80 Cat Rock Road: what "previous era" does this "harken back" to?

80 Cat Rock Road: what "previous era" does this "harken back" to?

"New construction on Cat Rock Road". This old chestnut has been discussed here several times, beginning when its builder was trying to unload the land it sits on in 2007 or so, continuing when he finally gave up on that and began construction himself in 2015, and the put the place on the market in July, 2016 at $3.995 million, increased its price to $4.450 in May, 2017, and subsequently reduced it to $3,980,808 (how silly). Nevertheless, Greenwich Time's "reporter" is happy to gush and moon over his new discovery:

One of the most recent residences to come out of the wave of new construction may serve as a guidebook to the current trends in amenities and design features. While its architecture harkens back to a previous era [1965?] the house at 80 Cat Rock Road is packed with the living elements that families are looking for in 2018.
“It’s got everything,” noted the listing agent, Julianne Ward.
And the paint has barely dried.

Any house whose paint  requires three years to dry must have a serious moisture problem. But wait, there's more!

The bar is typically set high for designs of master bedrooms, and the Cos Cob house aims to meet expectations. An 18-foot cathedral ceiling creates a sense of splendor. 

If you can consider an airplane hangar or Costco warehouse "splendid", then I suppose this is accurate. Eighteen feet high? Sheesh.

Outside, the house presents itself as a somewhat eclectic Colonial, drawing from an old Greenwich architectural tradition while modernizing it. 

Personally, I don't know how an inanimate object can "present itself", but even if that's possible, does "somewhat eclectic" accurately describe its hideous architecture?

I think not: "eclectic" is too kind, by far.

Meet-up on Islamorada!

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He'll have to spruce it up a bit before our arrival, of course

He'll have to spruce it up a bit before our arrival, of course

It's -7 in Maine, 14 in Greenwich, and -37 in Michigan. I'm thinking the FWIW northern crowd (though of course the Californian readers would be welcome too) should hold a meet-up at Libertarian Advocate's sunny, warm mansion down in the Keys. LA could provide fishing guides and gear, his lovely wife could prepare delicious French meals, and a jolly time would be had by all. 

No date yet, but readers with a specific time slot in mind should email me privately: we want this to be a surprise.