Centre Island Estate

Billy Joel’s huge bayfront property

By Bill Lindsey

Many pursue the dream of becoming a music legend, but this magnificent bayfront estate is a good indication that a young man from Long Island with great piano and singing skills achieved his dream.

Set on a very private 26-acre parcel with 2,000 feet of frontage on New York’s Oyster Bay Harbor, the property is ideal for large families who enjoy entertaining, as it includes a 20,000-square-foot, five-bedroom, six-fullbathroom, two-half-bathroom brick main house built in 1994, which is currently undergoing renovation, as well as a four-bedroom gatehouse with a three-bedroom apartment, and a three-bedroom beach house.

Set behind majestic wrought-iron gates, the property is located on the end of a point for maximum privacy, with water on two sides giving it the look and feel of a park, surrounded by lush stands of mature trees and rolling lawns.

The multilevel main house features cathe- dral ceilings, wood flooring, an expansive kitchen with an enormous island/breakfast bar adjacent to a dining room and an open floorplan living room, an alfresco dining area overlooking the bay, a living room perfectly sized for a grand piano, a gym, a home office, a bowling alley, and an elevator. The bedrooms all feature private bathrooms as well as sliding glass doors to access the yards or a private terrace. There are a total of six fireplaces throughout to keep everyone toasty warm during the winter.

The two separate outbuildings—one near the gate, the other directly on the beach—ensure privacy for guests during their stay at the estate. Depending on the weather, the owners and guests have the choice of an indoor or outdoor pool, as well as a floating dock to explore the bay by boat. Other notable features include a four-car garage, a helipad for fast getaways, and a boat ramp to launch and retrieve trailer-transported vessels.