Grey Gardens is getting a renovation

The iconic Grey Gardens home that was the site of the 1975 documentary with the estate’s namesake is getting a renovation, reports The East Hampton Star.

According to the original report by James Bufalino, chimneys have been removed, the front porch is gone, and the entire home is about to be lifted up in order to add a full basement to replace the current crawlspace that’s under the home.

Previous owner Sally Quinn had told the Washington Post that the new owners had plans of preserving the historic integrity of the estate. But the look of the home has local residents, history buffs, and Grey Gardens fans concerned that the buyers are not sticking to their word, and are instead about to turn one of the Hamptons’s most iconic residences into a McMansion.

While the state of the home doesn’t look very good, Grey Gardens lovers may not need to worry just yet.

It was mentioned that the chimney bricks will be reused, the home will be put back in its original place on the property, and the original wainscoting will be kept for reuse.

The new owners also have the word of Frank Newbold, who told the East Hampton Star that they still plan on restoring Grey Gardens. Newbold represented the buyers in the sale, but is also the chairman of East Hampton village’s zoning board.

After coming on the market in February of 2017, the historic estate found its buyer, went into contract in October, and finally closed in December for $15.5 million—which is about $4.5 million below the original listing price.

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• Panic Over Grey Gardens Redo [East Hampton Star]
• Sally Quinn found a buyer for Grey Gardens, and she’s selling Big Edie and Little Edie’s furniture [The Washington Post]