He’ll be MC ing World Wrestling matches while he’s away

oooh, the pain!!!

NBC suspends Brian Williams for six months without pay.

And back for more ….

212 Taconic Rd

212 Taconic Road has been returned to the market, now asking $3.985 million. Built new in 1997 and sold for $3.750 million in 1999, it was extensively renovated and resold in 2008 for $4.9 million. It’s been for sale again, on-and-off, since 2010, when it started at $5.495 million. I always felt that this house, beautiful from the road, still felt like a 1950’s colonial inside. That may not be its problem, but something has kept buyers away. Perhaps its new, 1999 price will do the trick.

Finally!

11 Club Road

11 Club Road, Riverside, reports a contingent contract. Last asking price, $6.4 million. Our now-edited MLS records only show the sales history on this going back to 2011, when it was asking $8.5 million, but I’m pretty sure it was on the market several years further than that. In any event, it has a buyer. Grand old, beautiful house, with some issues (or it did at some point, perhaps long since corrected). I’m jealous of the buyers.

A 1980s feature, still being put in homes

Too big

At the house we inspected today, the master bedroom bath’s whirlpool tub was turned on and into the water spewed a whole bunch of …echhh. Our inspector said that’s pretty common with these things, because no one uses the feature and the water sits in the pipes forever, growing things. Which brings me to my point: whirlpool tubs take up an enormous amount of space, are expensive to maintain and are rarely,if ever, used, so why are they still in homes? My clients today, for instance, weren’t concerned with the condition of the tub we inspected because they intend to rip it out and install a real shower, something that’s far more popular.

A couple of years ago I asked a builder friend of mine if he was still installing the things in his homes and he said that he was: he knew no one used them, but he was afraid too many buyers still expect them in expensive baths. My advice is to skip it, and use the space more productively.

Nothing to report on the broker open house tour

27 Baldwin Farms

In part that’s because I was at a home inspection all morning, and so didn’t go touring, but when I got back and checked the list, there were only 3 single family homes being shown – a combination of school vacation and snow, I suspect, so we’ll wait til next week.

One house that was available to be seen was 27 Baldwin Farms, a 2005 Mark Mariani creation that sold new for $7 million and today, after 475 days of looking for $7.4, is marked down to $6.8. 11,000 sq. ft (the listing claims that much; it looks as though “only” 7,600 of that is actually above ground), on two acres, at least some of which is underwater – in a nice way: there’s a duck pond in back.

I’ve never been a fan of Mariani’s houses, but a fair number of people are, so if you’re one of them, here’s your chance.

Putting new teeth into CT’s distracted driving law

Now, driving with a moose in the front seat, THATS an issue

Next up: banning dogs in your lap when driving. While it makes sense to me not to drive around with anything but a cute chick in my lap. my first thought upon reading this was “how many accidents are caused by this practice?” Turns out, there are no statistics on the subject at all. It would be nice if state legislators could, just once, stifle the urge to pass new laws when they have no idea whether one is needed or would solve anything.

From horsemeat ye did arise and to horsemeat ye shall return

The cycle of life

Original Weston’s joint, until recently operated as Baang, is sold to Pet Pantry for $2.7 million.

Attention, military history buffs: Quonset hut hits the market

Zoom zoom Zillow!

7 Turner Drive, the er, “unusual” structure over on our west side, has been placed for sale, asking price $1.995 million. While that seems steep to me, I’m probably discounting it because I’m not struck by its architecture. Zillow, on the other hand, is more broad-minded, and estimates its worth at least $3.2 million. Gentlemen, start your airplanes.

 

UPDATE: Reader Westside provides this historical insight into the building’s history:

There was a time that this house was home to one of the greatest Ferrari collections in America. It was many years ago, but the place was basically built for and around a car collector’s passion.

Am surprised it is not marketed towards such as the space and place is still there…