Daybreak Montclair — a well known Georgian mansion with eight fireplaces, multiple garages and carriage house sold last week for what some are calling a steal — $1,187,500. The property, at 88 South Mountain Avenue, was originally listed at $1,725,000 in early 2012. The list price was dropped to $1,300,000 around August 2012. Taxes are $52,262. The property was listed with Roberta Baldwin, of the Baldwin Dream Team; the home was sold completely “as is.”
The owner, Noel Brogan, is in the antique business and items from the home were auctioned back in 2006.
There are two Daybreaks in Montclair. The other Daybreak, the one at 99 Lloyd Road formerly owned by Michael Strahan, sold for $3,845,426 in December 2010, according to Zillow. It had been listed at one point for a whopping $7,750,000.
More background on the two Daybreaks from historian Frank Gerard Godlewski:
There are really two Daybreaks. The Daybreak gateposts on South Mountain lead up a steep winding lane to the first Daybreak on Lloyd Road, now the Strahan House. The Strahan house belonged to the Dear family. Some of their descendants still live in town. E. F. Hutton married the Dear’s daughter in his second marriage. His first wife was Marjorie Merryweather Post and they had lived in South Orange. This was all very talked about back then. Noel Brogan’s Daybreak was built about five years after the Strahan’s Daybreak and prior to the practically twin Daybreak houses, the property was a Victorian working farm estate that extended south to Union Street. Noel who many many years ago was Daybreak’s next-door neighbor, brought the house from the Hand family who were practically the original owners. This was the Hand’s summerhouse. They wintered in Palm Beach. Before leaving for Palm Beach each year, they would throw a ball and as party favors, they would give each guest a Daybreak Highball Glass with the date of their return to Montclair etched onto it. Noel has a reserve of their glasses as souvenirs.
Nice little summer cottage. And a bargain to boot!
It will probably be demolished and 10 cookie-cutter houses built on the lot, with 20% affordable housing.
Oh gosh, Redrum. You’re probably right.
Even though this is not in UPPER Montclair, is it merely a Georgian mansion, or could it be considered a palatial estate?
One wonders.
I think one would consider it a teardown at this point.
Sorry to disagree with you Redrum…. the property got hit by the storm….the way that many of our’s did…the interior is absolutely spectacular and one of the most beautiful houses that I know. if Daybreak is a teardown….you might as well tear down Montclair.
An excessively large house, but all the parts are well proportioned to the whole.
Here comes the new owner who is going to expect 20 thousand less taxes. Which they will get. More to come. This moronic council has no plan.
“Here comes the new owner who is going to expect 20 thousand less taxes. Which they will get. More to come. This moronic council has no plan.”
Explain to me how the council has any influence over this? If the new owner can prove the home is unfairly taxed they follow a simple appeals process. A process we are welcome to go through under the law. It has nothing whatsoever to do with the council. If your looking to take a shot at the council I think you need better ammo than that absurd statement.
The new owner may or may not get a tax break. The sale was “as is” which makes it non-usable for assessment/comparable purposes.
Our taxes are based on “Assessed Value” and not “market rate” or “last sale price.” They can certainly appeal them using comps but the assessed value is at the town’s discretion, for better or worse.
Hopefully, if you are buying up in that rarified air, you can afford the taxes.
Rarified Air ? Maybe they should call it “Windbreak” instead.
Redrum – an “arm’s length” transaction is a virtual sure thing at appeal…
You can see the blue tarps on the roof at left in the photo and it also looks like that front porch is in serious need of work. Bargain? maybe, but whoever lived there last wasn’t maintaining the property, hence the need to sell at a loss. It’s interesting that the same house in an Upper Montclair address actually sold for double.
And taxes- yikes- you’re right if folks can afford those prices, I’d assume they can afford the taxes- but Montclair- we left you and your 3-5% (3 different ranks) tax rate in 1998 and haven’t looked back- ridiculous. Come South to Cary NC- where for 1.18% you can live veryyyy comfortably in homes selling at an average of $300,000 for 3000 sq ft!
Come South to Cary NC- where for 1.18% you can live veryyyy comfortably in homes selling at an average of $300,000 for 3000 sq ft!
It’s tempting , but …do any of your nieghbors believe that dinosaurs and humans co-existed 5000 years ago ?