East Hampton Village Auction of Cottage

The summer rental of a coveted 613-square foot, one-bedroom, one-bath cottage at East Hampton Village Main Beach will be auctioned to the highest bidder next month, East Hampton Village officials announced last Thursday. The building is one of 13 Sea Spray Cottages — and a house built in the late 19th century on Main Street and moved to the beach for use as an inn. The house was destroyed by fire in 1978. 

Sealed bids will be received through 2 p.m. on Jan. 15 for number 14, a stand-alone cottage nestled behind trees and a fence just south of the Main Beach main parking lot. It apparently was cited as number 14 for reasons of superstition. The rental is from May 10 through Sept. 15. 

The village bought the cottages and the 16-acre property on which they sit, which abuts Hook Pond, for just over $1.3 million in December 1978.   

In 2010, the village held an auction for three-year leases for each of the cottages, which set a competitive rental rate. Since then the leases have been renewed‚ with an annual increase of 3 percent, until a tenant decides to leave, after which the property goes back on the auction block.

“The village feels that it is important to taxpayers to ensure that leases are getting the highest market value, which is why they are bid,” the village administrator, Becky Molinaro Hansen, said on Friday. 

The cottages differ in size, vistas (some have views of the ocean and the pond), and privacy (some are attached), and their rental rates reflect their desirability. Last year’s leases, Ms. Hansen said, ranged from just over $62,000 to nearly $129,000.

Inspection of the cottage is by appointment. Information and documents for bid submission can be obtained by writing the village‚ 86 Main Street, or by e-mailing [email protected].