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Behind this stone Bavarian gatehouse at the entrance to Millbrook is the 2,079 acre Hitchcock estate with a listing price of $65 million.
Christine Bates
MILLBROOK — The famous Hitchcock estate was listed for sale on June 25 by Heather Croner Real Estate, Sotheby’s International.
The property was assembled beginning in 1889, by German-born acetylene gas mogul Charles F. Dieterich, a founder of Union Carbide, who named the complex Daheim, German for “home.”
The property includes over 2,000 acres of farmland, forest and lakes as well as the storied 1889 10 bedroom, 6 bathroom main house of 14,000 square feet and 10,000 square foot guest house designed by Addison Mizner of Palm Beach fame in 1912. Also on the grounds are a tennis court, inground pool, gatehouse, original barns, Victorian bowling alley, carriage house, 3 bedroom cottage, and two farmhouses.
The large rectangular property has frontage on four roads and is unencumbered by conservation easements. Currently the full market assessment according to Dutchess Parcel Access is $29 million. If sold for the asking price it will be the highest priced residential sale in the history of Dutchess County.
The estate, which has been owned by Peggy Hitchcock and her brothers for over 60 years, was described as “ground zero of psychedelic awakening” in the 1960’s when the owners, inheritors of the Mellon banking fortune, invited Timothy Leary of LSD fame to the property in 1963. Reportedly Jack Kerouac, Allen Ginsberg and Aldous Huxley all stopped by to participate in the goings on. After raids by Dutchess County Assistant District Attorney Gordon Liddy, the Hitchcocks asked Leary and his followers to leave in 1968. The mansion later fell into disrepair but has recently been renovated.
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45 On Main turns one
Jul 17, 2024
State Rep. Maria Horn (D-64), pictured in dunk tank, got dunked at 45 On Main’s birthday party.
Lans Christensen
KENT — On a sunny Saturday, July 13, 45 On Main - Coffee Chocolate & Creamery in Kent celebrated its first birthday.
Music, Games, and entertainment brought in friends and customers of all ages.
By far, the main attraction was the dunk tank with the opportunity to dunk a variety of well-known locals.
Kent Library’s Sarah Marshall was the first dunkee, followed by State Rep. Maria Horn (D-64), and then First Selectman Marty Lindenmayer. All were happily dunked and cheered the delighted “dunkers.”
All funds from the event went to support the Kent Food Bank.
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KENT — On July 11, Kent Planning and Zoning Commission held a meeting to discuss the illegal business status of a current applicant seeking an extension to a lot on Bridge Street. The applicant, Guy Mauri and Jason Doornick with Motoriot, failed to achieve certain permits from the Sewer Commission and the Fire Department.
Mortoriot is a vintage car company that sells historical vehicles. For the Bridge Street site, the owners expect to have 15 to 20 cars at a time. There have been issues with plans for the parking lot, in that the amount of spaces for cars is inconsistent across applications to P&Z.
Tai Kern, Land Use Clerk said, “Every month it seems like there’s such great hope that they’re gonna just come in and wrap it up that you’d hate to shut them down.”
Kern said she made it clear to them that after next month, the nature of site plan approvals would leave the applicant with no more room for delay. They will be denied for “lack of information.”
Motoriot has also run into issues with the Sewer Commission. Concerns over the content of the company’s waste is of interest due to the nature of a motor vehicle business.
Currently, the applicant’s business is operating without a state license in Kent. Motoriot has locations in other towns. The Sharon location is also unlicensed.
P&Z member Sarah Chase expressed the commission’s pro-business stance while acknowledging that Motoriot has had a hard time getting approvals.
Kern said she would send the applicant a letter with the commission’s concern, warning a “cease and dismiss order” if the permits are not sorted out. Thus, a motion passed for the extension approval, and the Commision will return to the application next month, Aug. 8.
Kern advised P&Z to reconsider its definition of new cannabis regulations effective July 1, 2024.
The current “very light” definition only addresses retail licenses. Kern suggested expanding the regulations to include manufacturing and farming. She also suggested creating clear distinctions between THC and CBD.
The change will help the commission better regulate the new industry as businesses apply for licensure.
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NORTH CANAAN — The application to subdivide land along the Housatonic River has been withdrawn for the second time.
The River Woods project, also known as the Honey Hill project, was originally submitted to the Planning and Zoning Commission in 2023. The initial proposal to create 20 lots suitable for building was withdrawn after three public hearings and then resubmitted in 2024 with suggested changes.
Further public hearings raised additional concerns, prompting a change in the plan to create a cul-de-sac as opposed to a two-entry road. North Canaan regulations limit the number of lots on a dead-end road to 10. In order to create 20 lots, the applicant (Allied Engineering on behalf of owner Bruce McEver) applied for a text change to the town regulations.
A public hearing was held for the text change in Town Hall May 30. P&Z discussed the requested change at a regular meeting June 10 and decided to do more research.
Before P&Z could revisit the topic, Allied Engineering withdrew the application.
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