The Center hosted the Fire Island Share-a-Thon, the long-running annual meet-and-greet for those looking to nab a summer beach house share on the island..  Over twenty agents were on hand offering great properties, including a major real estate company offering a range of properties on the island.  By 7pm the room was packed with enthusiastic people hoping to secure their ticket out of the city this summer.

As many know, fire destroyed several businesses last November, including the Pavilion, the island’s premier nightclub.  Just this month, property owners selected the architectural firm, Diller Scofidio + Renfro, whose recent high-profile commissions include the High Line and the redesign of Lincoln Center, to rebuild with an ambitious set of plans.  However, since construction cannot be completed until the 2013 season, they also announced that a temporary nightclub would be built for this season.

So how does this affect property rental for this season?  Most of the agents indicated that the fire would actually have little, if any, effect.  In fact, even with the economy, many agents said that they were ahead of last year in filling up vacancies.

And, what will the loss of so much of the business district have on the vacationing experience?  One agent offered the following assessment, “No matter what the circumstances, the boys will always party!”  Another said he has already heard of many house parties in the planning stages and that this season could actually be unique because house parties usually make it easier to get to know others on the island.

There was a range of offerings available to suit almost anyone’s needs and bank account.  So congratulations to those who locked down a deal – and for those who haven’t, don’t miss the next Share-a-Thon on Thursday, February 23^rd.