Self-sufficient private island just 30 minutes from Manhattan up for sale at $13 million

A private island located just 30 minutes by boat from Manhattan has gone up for sale for $13 million, featuring a 5,600-square-foot residence surrounded by a dock and a sea wall. 

Columbia Island is a roughly one-acre bedrock situated in the Long Island Sound just off New Rochelle in Westchester, New York.     

The home has four bedrooms and two bathrooms and is designed to be self-sufficient – with solar panels on the roof and a desalination machine in the basement to provide clean water. 

It is also almost entirely hurricane proof, with a 14-foot high and five-foot thick concrete sea wall, a 60,000-gallon-per-hour pumping system and automatic storm shutters. 

The island offers an enviable view of the New York skyline, from an unparalleled secluded location, and included in the sale price is the neighboring and undeveloped Pea Island.

Al Sutton, Columbia Island’s current owner, told Bloomberg: ‘You get on the island, even if it’s a wreck, and it’s just gorgeous — the sky, the tide, the birds, everything. And that sort of blinded me and my thoughts. I just went: “Wow, what a Zen experience this could be”.’ 

But Sutton – a doctor and author who also takes on real estate and producing projects on the side said he was ‘sort of cocky’ when it came to developing the island, which he bought for $1 million in 2007 and pumped $8 million into over the next 11 years.

‘I’m 85 now,’ he told Bloomberg, ‘and I guess when I bought it, I was in my 70s and I was more ambitious.’ He never actually moved in to the property – instead listing it with Patti Anderson at Julia B. Fee Sotheby’s International Realty.  

Columbia Island, a private island situated in the Long Island Sound just off New Rochelle in Westchester, New York, has gone up for sale 

The 5,600-square-foot property is self-sufficient - with solar panels on the roof providing energy and a desalination machine in the basement cleaning its water

The 5,600-square-foot property is self-sufficient – with solar panels on the roof providing energy and a desalination machine in the basement cleaning its water

The property has panoramic views of the Long Island sound in every room and at night boasts unparalleled views of the New York skyline

The property has panoramic views of the Long Island sound in every room and at night boasts unparalleled views of the New York skyline

The residential property on the island has four bedrooms and two bathrooms and is virtually hurricane proof, with automatic storm shutters

The residential property on the island has four bedrooms and two bathrooms and is virtually hurricane proof, with automatic storm shutters 

Columbia Island's current owner Al Sutton embarked an 11-year development project which transformed the bedrock into a luxurious home

Columbia Island’s current owner Al Sutton embarked an 11-year development project which transformed the bedrock into a luxurious home

Owner Al Sutton, who made his millions as a doctor, author, writer and producer, spent around $8 million developing the island, which he bought for $1 million

Owner Al Sutton, who made his millions as a doctor, author, writer and producer, spent around $8 million developing the island, which he bought for $1 million

Columbia Island is just 30 minutes from Manhattan by fast boat and located off New Rochelle in Westchester, New York

Columbia Island is just 30 minutes from Manhattan by fast boat and located off New Rochelle in Westchester, New York 

Included in the $13 million sale price is the neighboring and currently undeveloped Pea Island, which was bought by Al Sutton five years ago

Included in the $13 million sale price is the neighboring and currently undeveloped Pea Island, which was bought by Al Sutton five years ago 

Al Sutton never actually moved in to the property - instead listing it with Patti Anderson at Julia B. Fee Sotheby's International Realty

Al Sutton never actually moved in to the property – instead listing it with Patti Anderson at Julia B. Fee Sotheby’s International Realty

The luxurious residential property is also hurricane proof thanks to the 14-foot high, five-foot thick sea wall surrounding it

The luxurious residential property is also hurricane proof thanks to the 14-foot high, five-foot thick sea wall surrounding it

Owner Al Sutton told Bloomberg: 'You get on the island, even if it's a wreck, and it's just gorgeous ¿ the sky, the tide, the birds, everything. And that sort of blinded me and my thoughts. I just went: "Wow, what a Zen experience this could be"'

Owner Al Sutton told Bloomberg: ‘You get on the island, even if it’s a wreck, and it’s just gorgeous — the sky, the tide, the birds, everything. And that sort of blinded me and my thoughts. I just went: “Wow, what a Zen experience this could be”‘

Sutton has said the property could appeal to someone 'who wants privacy but also high-profile bragging rights. Certainly sports figures could manage it financially'

Sutton has said the property could appeal to someone ‘who wants privacy but also high-profile bragging rights. Certainly sports figures could manage it financially’

The island, which is roughly one acre in size, features a private a dock and a sea wall - as the only way to get there is by boat

The island, which is roughly one acre in size, features a private a dock and a sea wall – as the only way to get there is by boat 

The entire property was gutted before being made waterproof. It is also about as hurricane-proof as it is possible to be - with a 60,000-gallon-per-hour pumping system and automatic storm shutters

The entire property was gutted before being made waterproof. It is also about as hurricane-proof as it is possible to be – with a 60,000-gallon-per-hour pumping system and automatic storm shutters

Read more at DailyMail.co.uk