Brooklyn power couple Vito Lopez and Angela Battaglia were no doubt drawn to Peconic Knolls on the edge of Long Island’s North Fork for its tranquility and privacy.
The Suffolk County village, where Lopez and Battaglia have vacationed since 1997, is known for its marinas, award-winning vineyards, and rampant Republicans.
The $173,000 house that the couple purchased is an unremarkable two-story wood-planked abode with a back porch, a colorful play set for children, and lots of trees on a small road just off the Long Island Sound.
Neighbors say they rarely see the couple, though several Brooklyn elected officials and community leaders said they have made the drive to the North Fork at Lopez’s invitation — mostly on holidays.
The house is certainly not fancy, said Carl Soller, the Manhattan lawyer who sold it to Lopez and Battaglia.
“It’s a wonderful vacation house, but certainly not in the luxurious class whatsoever,” said Soller. “I don’t think I ever met [the buyers]. I remember that he was in politics, but it was not a recognizable name to me.”
A town assessor, Darlene Duffy, is less charitable in her description of the house and the street it’s situated on.
She estimated that the house and lot is worth about $550,000 these days, more than triple what it was sold for in 1997.
“It’s not a fancy house,” said Duffy. “It’s not the best, but it’s not terrible.”
