Grammy award-winning musician Billy Joel has called Oyster Bay, a hamlet on Long Island in New York, home since 2002. Now, the “Movin’ Out” crooner is saying goodbye to the property.
The “Piano Man” singer recently listed the 26-acre property, known as Middlesea, for $49 million. First built in 1994, the property sits on 2,000 feet of waterfront on Centre Island, a small island 40 miles east of Midtown Manhattan. It’s located within Oyster Bay Harbor along Long Island’s North Shore. He first purchased 14 acres in 2002 for $22.5 million before scooping up the surrounding land years later. He even restored some of the historic buildings on the property.
The estate includes a 20,000-square-foot main house, which is currently undergoing renovations and has five bedrooms and eight bathrooms. There’s also a three-bedroom guest apartment, three-bedroom beach house, and a four-bedroom gate house. It’s a veritable family compound for multi-generational families to enjoy. The main house features incredible 180-degree views of the water, and the grounds have rolling lawns and outdoor space to enjoy. Selling in the middle of renovations allows the future buyer to make decisions closer to their design style.
As far as amenities go, the future buyer is in for a treat. There are two pools, a helipad, bowling alley, exercise room, home office, a floating dock, boat ramp, and an elevator that goes to every floor. The home is set behind a private gated driveway, which meanders to the main brick-clad home. There are winding, lush pathways that connect the main houses together, as well as one that leads to the water and helipad. The grounds are filled with mature trees and a charming gazebo.
Inside, the interiors are coastal chic with a neutral color palette, French doors, and large windows that let in plenty of natural light. Many of the rooms are connected to grand, sweeping terraces with water views. There is also a covered patio and gazebo, a multi-car garage, and plenty of outdoor seating space for enjoying warm summer days. It’s an exceptionally private home far from prying eyes. The home is listed by Bonnie Williamson of Daniel Gage Sotheby’s International Realty.
According to The Wall Street Journal, Williamson said that Joel covered up an indoor pool to use as a music room as the room had great acoustics. She says that Joel and his wife are selling the home as they’re spending more time in Florida with their two young children. Middlesea is currently the most expensive home listed for sale in Oyster Bay, the Journal reported. It also reported that companies tied to Joel show he owns property in Florida and Sag Harbor, New York. Joel is currently in the middle of a residency at Madison Square Garden in New York City.
Oyster Bay is best known for its most famous resident: former president Theodore Roosevelt. He once owned a three-story mansion, called Sagamore Hill, that became the “summer White House’ during his presidency. It’s now a national historic landmark.