A FAMILY has held on to their sandy driveway for decades, even though they don’t own a house at the end of it.
Homeowner Eric Nathan, 77, said he considers the land his “spiritual home,” which is so priceless he would never consider selling it.
The driveway is located on Dune Road in Westhampton Beach[/caption]
The 18-foot-wide piece of land is just a short walk away from the beach[/caption]
The strip of land is an oceanfront parking spot in Westhampton Beach, New York, that Nathan’s family has owned since the 1960s.
The piece of land is 18 feet wide by several hundred feet long and only costs about $15 a year in property taxes, according to the New York Times.
Stretching from Dune Road to Moriches Bay, the nearly private driveway is a prime piece of real estate sitting right on the beach, surrounded by luxury homes.
However, Nathan said the spot, which can fit about six cars, will stay in his family forever due to its hidden perk — it leads right to the water.
Visitors only have to cross Dune Road and walk to a bridge hidden between two houses that leads straight to the sand.
The beach is practically private due to a lack of parking and inaccessibility for other visitors, making it a sanctuary for the family.
Nathan said the family once received an offer of $40,000 for the 18-foot strip, but he turned it down.
“I wouldn’t sell it for any amount of money,” Nathan told the NYT.
“It’s my ticket to the beach.”
Over the years, the driveway has served as a campsite, a meeting place, and a parking spot for beach days.
Although the site might be invisible to beachgoers driving past, the driveway is marked by two pieces of driftwood that were painted turquoise.
BEACH COTTAGE HISTORY
Over 60 years ago, Nathan’s parents bought a cottage at the address where only the driveway remains today, so they could spend weekends and summers at the beach to get away from their busy Manhattan lives.
Nathan, who now lives in Connecticut, said his love of the beach grew at the cottage, where his family spent time together doing chores and taking walks to the ocean.
Then tragedy struck in 1984.
WHEN TO REDO DRIVEWAY PAVEMENT
Here are the classic signs a driveway needs a refresh…
Pavement driveways are supposed to last around 20 years.
However, leaking motor oil, harsh temperatures, heavy rainfall, or big cars may break down the pavement’s strength.
Look out for these classic signs:
- Small cracks that don’t connect
- Potholes
- Sunken spots
- Lightened color
- Edges breaking off
Some driveway repairs may just need a quick resurface. Unresolved issues may require a complete repavement.
Most fixes will cost drivers between $1 and $3 a square foot.
Source: Budget Dumpsters.
Nathan’s parents were killed in a car crash near their beach cottage.
“That changed everything,” Nathan recalled to the NYT.
Nathan and his half-brother inherited the cottage and surrounding land, and the family continued to bring their own children there to create happy beach memories.
Then, in November 1992, the Nathans’ cottage was swept into the ocean in a powerful nor’easter.
After the beach was rebuilt, Nathan and his half-brother decided to sell most of their property for financial reasons, which is a decision Nathan regrets to this day.
‘WEIRD ASSET’
As vacation homes sprang up on the beachfront, Nathan and his family held on to one parcel of land — the sandy driveway strip.
“Sometimes I feel like a pauper out here,” Nathan said about the massive homes being built in the neighborhood.
However, the driveway has served as a special and “weird asset” for the family, Nathan’s 35-year-old daughter Sarah said.
“His ghost will harass me for the rest of my life if I give up this driveway,” Sarah said about her dad.
Sarah, who will inherit the portion of land from her dad, said she and her siblings plan on never selling the beloved driveway.
