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Another Summer Ritual Canceled: The Beach House Share Another Summer Ritual Canceled: The Beach House Share
(about 16 hours later)
It was all Cher Landman was looking forward to this summer: her one-twelfth share of a beach house in Southhampton, a chance to participate in a seasonal ritual for many New Yorkers seeking a relatively affordable way to partake in Long Island’s glamorous Hamptons scene. It was all Cher Landman was looking forward to this summer: her one-twelfth share of a beach house in Southampton, a chance to participate in a seasonal ritual for many New Yorkers seeking a relatively affordable way to partake in Long Island’s glamorous Hamptons scene.
Instead, she will most likely be spending the summer holed up in her one-bedroom apartment in Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn, out several thousands of dollars for a country house she cannot set foot in.Instead, she will most likely be spending the summer holed up in her one-bedroom apartment in Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn, out several thousands of dollars for a country house she cannot set foot in.
A Type 1 diabetic, Ms. Landman, 36, is at higher risk for serious illness were she to contract the coronavirus. Suddenly an idyllic summer of clambakes and poolside hangs with a revolving cast of roommates seemed unwise.A Type 1 diabetic, Ms. Landman, 36, is at higher risk for serious illness were she to contract the coronavirus. Suddenly an idyllic summer of clambakes and poolside hangs with a revolving cast of roommates seemed unwise.
The ritual of the summer share, in which collectives of beach-seeking New Yorkers pool their resources to rent oceanside escapes on Long Island and in New Jersey’s shore towns, has long been a mainstay, immortalized in pop culture by MTV’s “Jersey Shore.”The ritual of the summer share, in which collectives of beach-seeking New Yorkers pool their resources to rent oceanside escapes on Long Island and in New Jersey’s shore towns, has long been a mainstay, immortalized in pop culture by MTV’s “Jersey Shore.”
But with the coronavirus outbreak still dictating nearly every aspect of life in the New York region, the notion of the summer share house is all but finished this year.But with the coronavirus outbreak still dictating nearly every aspect of life in the New York region, the notion of the summer share house is all but finished this year.
On the list of negative impacts of this crisis, the end of the summer share is perhaps among the most trivial and least upsetting in a world where people have lost jobs, fallen ill and nearly 100,000 Americans have died.On the list of negative impacts of this crisis, the end of the summer share is perhaps among the most trivial and least upsetting in a world where people have lost jobs, fallen ill and nearly 100,000 Americans have died.
Those whose summer plans were dashed acknowledge that having a canceled luxury vacation to be disappointed about — with so many more mortal traumas unfolding everywhere you look — is in itself a kind of privilege.Those whose summer plans were dashed acknowledge that having a canceled luxury vacation to be disappointed about — with so many more mortal traumas unfolding everywhere you look — is in itself a kind of privilege.
But for those in the rarefied segment of affording such experiences, summer by the sea was a balm to which they said they looked forward to, particularly now. Parties? Bobbing on inflatable pool flamingos with a dozen housemates? All currently forbidden. Bars, nightclubs and restaurant dining rooms remain closed. Social-distancing protocols are still in place. Many beaches are restricting access to outsiders.But for those in the rarefied segment of affording such experiences, summer by the sea was a balm to which they said they looked forward to, particularly now. Parties? Bobbing on inflatable pool flamingos with a dozen housemates? All currently forbidden. Bars, nightclubs and restaurant dining rooms remain closed. Social-distancing protocols are still in place. Many beaches are restricting access to outsiders.
“It’s really depressing. I was recently single, and thought, ‘Maybe I’ll meet someone through this, that could be a good idea,’ and to broaden my social circles. None of that can happen now,” Ms. Landman, a comedian said. “When you are in a share house you can’t control all the people, and God knows what they’ve been doing.”“It’s really depressing. I was recently single, and thought, ‘Maybe I’ll meet someone through this, that could be a good idea,’ and to broaden my social circles. None of that can happen now,” Ms. Landman, a comedian said. “When you are in a share house you can’t control all the people, and God knows what they’ve been doing.”
The seasonal real estate market is not suffering: Brokers say that wealthy families eager to flee New York City created an early spring frenzy for desirable properties, a 30 percent increase over last year, according to Cody Vichinsky, a founder of Bespoke Real Estate. But most, Mr. Vichinsky said in an email, are individuals snapping up long-term rentals as a refuge from the virus’s hot spot, New York City. For those who sublease houses — often illegally — to dozens of renters, the market has largely dried up.The seasonal real estate market is not suffering: Brokers say that wealthy families eager to flee New York City created an early spring frenzy for desirable properties, a 30 percent increase over last year, according to Cody Vichinsky, a founder of Bespoke Real Estate. But most, Mr. Vichinsky said in an email, are individuals snapping up long-term rentals as a refuge from the virus’s hot spot, New York City. For those who sublease houses — often illegally — to dozens of renters, the market has largely dried up.
In one share house in a hamlet of East Hampton Town, on any other Memorial Day weekend, its four bedrooms would have been packed with New Yorkers. By summer’s end, the house would typically have seen 150 renters cycle through the house, according to the residence’s proprietor.In one share house in a hamlet of East Hampton Town, on any other Memorial Day weekend, its four bedrooms would have been packed with New Yorkers. By summer’s end, the house would typically have seen 150 renters cycle through the house, according to the residence’s proprietor.
This year will be different: The house, he said, is being split among four families. He has required them each to be tested for the virus before arriving.This year will be different: The house, he said, is being split among four families. He has required them each to be tested for the virus before arriving.
“People living amongst each other that don’t know each other that are not family — I think it’s done,” said the man, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because he was illegally subleasing the house that he had rented. “I think it’s done until you have a vaccine.”“People living amongst each other that don’t know each other that are not family — I think it’s done,” said the man, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because he was illegally subleasing the house that he had rented. “I think it’s done until you have a vaccine.”
In a normal year, he said, he would pull in a profit of about $30,000. This summer, he said he would settle for making back the approximately $50,000 that he said he paid to rent the home.In a normal year, he said, he would pull in a profit of about $30,000. This summer, he said he would settle for making back the approximately $50,000 that he said he paid to rent the home.
Another house, in Montauk, was supposed to be the summer hangout for Blake Thomas, 25, and about two dozen of his friends. Instead, Mr. Thomas is now living at his parents’ home in Prairie Village, Kan., where he fled from Manhattan’s West Village last month.Another house, in Montauk, was supposed to be the summer hangout for Blake Thomas, 25, and about two dozen of his friends. Instead, Mr. Thomas is now living at his parents’ home in Prairie Village, Kan., where he fled from Manhattan’s West Village last month.
They gave up the Montauk house earlier this spring, partially for financial reasons: Mr. Thomas said at least seven of his share-house crew have lost their jobs, including four people who are all roommates in New York City.They gave up the Montauk house earlier this spring, partially for financial reasons: Mr. Thomas said at least seven of his share-house crew have lost their jobs, including four people who are all roommates in New York City.
Still, he said he cannot help feeling some misgivings about leaving New York and giving up on the summer share.Still, he said he cannot help feeling some misgivings about leaving New York and giving up on the summer share.
“Most of us have done the antibody test, and some of us have tested positive but never felt sick,” he said. In hindsight, Mr. Thomas said, “most of us, who are 25 to 29 years old, we feel less risk adverse to the situation, because we all feel young and healthy.”“Most of us have done the antibody test, and some of us have tested positive but never felt sick,” he said. In hindsight, Mr. Thomas said, “most of us, who are 25 to 29 years old, we feel less risk adverse to the situation, because we all feel young and healthy.”
On the Jersey Shore, some towns stopped issuing certificates of occupancy for beach homes, hoping to dissuade people from virus hot spots like New York City from relocating when the pandemic began, for fears that outsiders would bring contagion.On the Jersey Shore, some towns stopped issuing certificates of occupancy for beach homes, hoping to dissuade people from virus hot spots like New York City from relocating when the pandemic began, for fears that outsiders would bring contagion.
The orders caused rentals to be canceled en masse, said John Meechan, a broker who owns Gallery Residential Brokerage, which specializes in coastal beach houses in New Jersey.The orders caused rentals to be canceled en masse, said John Meechan, a broker who owns Gallery Residential Brokerage, which specializes in coastal beach houses in New Jersey.
But about three weeks ago, as some towns began to lift the orders, he said, business started to pick up again.But about three weeks ago, as some towns began to lift the orders, he said, business started to pick up again.
“There are a lot of people who don’t want to be near anyone, but there are also seven guys who were all college roommates who want to rent a house together,” Mr. Meechan said. “There are still people who are not freaked out about that closeness.”“There are a lot of people who don’t want to be near anyone, but there are also seven guys who were all college roommates who want to rent a house together,” Mr. Meechan said. “There are still people who are not freaked out about that closeness.”
Even so, New Jersey and New York are still prohibiting gatherings of more than 10 people, ruling out large share houses, and leaving people like Ms. Landman in a lurch. She said that the person running her share house has stopped answering her emails asking for a refund.Even so, New Jersey and New York are still prohibiting gatherings of more than 10 people, ruling out large share houses, and leaving people like Ms. Landman in a lurch. She said that the person running her share house has stopped answering her emails asking for a refund.
“We had a conversation about it where I asked, ‘What types of precautions are you taking?’” she said. “He was kind of like, ‘Oh, you’re really taking this coronavirus thing pretty seriously, huh?’”“We had a conversation about it where I asked, ‘What types of precautions are you taking?’” she said. “He was kind of like, ‘Oh, you’re really taking this coronavirus thing pretty seriously, huh?’”
Others have taken a different tack. Bradford Shellhammer, 43, bought in to a share house on Fire Island for the first time since he was in his 20s, he said, after others dropped out because of the crisis.Others have taken a different tack. Bradford Shellhammer, 43, bought in to a share house on Fire Island for the first time since he was in his 20s, he said, after others dropped out because of the crisis.
He and his husband will share the four-bedroom house with another couple, and leave two bedrooms unoccupied in an effort to keep enough space for social distancing.He and his husband will share the four-bedroom house with another couple, and leave two bedrooms unoccupied in an effort to keep enough space for social distancing.
The four have spent extensive time working out safety protocols, hammering out questions like whether guests are allowed to pop over for lunch. And if so, do they stay in the yard or can they come on the porch?The four have spent extensive time working out safety protocols, hammering out questions like whether guests are allowed to pop over for lunch. And if so, do they stay in the yard or can they come on the porch?
“The house is big enough that we can be for the most part wearing masks and staying six feet apart,” Mr. Shellhammer, who works for eBay, said. “I don’t need to see their faces.”“The house is big enough that we can be for the most part wearing masks and staying six feet apart,” Mr. Shellhammer, who works for eBay, said. “I don’t need to see their faces.”
On Friday, the man who runs the high-traffic share house in the East Hampton Town hamlet arrived for the first weekend of the season. It was quieter than typical summers, and he was disappointed that no restaurants were yet open for in-person dining.On Friday, the man who runs the high-traffic share house in the East Hampton Town hamlet arrived for the first weekend of the season. It was quieter than typical summers, and he was disappointed that no restaurants were yet open for in-person dining.
“But we will still be able to go to the beach, and I’ll still be able to surf every day,” he said. “Would I rather have it back the old way? Without a doubt. But can we make the best of a horrible situation, and have a good time? Most definitely.”“But we will still be able to go to the beach, and I’ll still be able to surf every day,” he said. “Would I rather have it back the old way? Without a doubt. But can we make the best of a horrible situation, and have a good time? Most definitely.”