Who could have predicted this?
In an incredibly happy twist of fate, an iconic New Jersey stable property that seemed destined for a housing development has been purchased to continue as a home for horses.
It gets even better. Top jumper rider/trainer Brianne Goutal-Marteau and her husband, real estate developer Romain Marteau, are refurbishing the former Essex Equestrian Center (aka Suburban Essex, Montclair Riding Academy) with an eye toward preserving its heritage and making it a top-class facility.
In December, it seemed like the end of the line for the double-decker stable, which dates back to the early 20th Century. Owner Larry Hall announced its imminent shutdown, saying the school horses would be rehomed.(Click here for a link to the original story)
As for the property’s future, it seemed there was only one answer.
It is in an R-1 (residential) zone. The minimum lot size is 80,000 square feet per lot for potential single-family homes. So more housing appeared to be in the cards for already well-developed West Orange Township.
The exterior of the equestrian center.
But there were no buyers, and Romain kept his eye on the parcel. He made a deal and in September, it was purchased from R & L for $1,150,000, according to public records.
The 100 stalls are being trimmed to 60, enlarged and improved for the horses’ comfort. Brianne’s clients will have between 20 and 40 horses on site in the spring and the fall. In the winter, she operates out of Wellington, Fla., and in the summer, at Two Trees, the property she and her husband own in the Hamptons.
At least one, or perhaps two, trainers are being sought to take the other stalls on a permanent basis, so the stable is occupied year-round.
A native of New York City who still lives in Manhattan with her husband and their children, Brianne discussed the attraction of the former Essex Equestrian Center on Woodland Avenue.
And no surprise, it is that well-worn real estate axiom: “Location, location, location.”
Brianne, who won all the major equitation championships as a junior, commuted as a teenager from the city to Colts Neck, N.J., in Monmouth County to ride with Frank Madden, Stacia Madden and Max Amaya at Beacon Hill. It was not a short trip.
Brianne had been looking “since I can remember” for a place that was commutable from the city. I could never really find it.”
When her husband learned of the stable, he asked Brianne if she’d ever heard of it.
“Of course I’ve heard of that place,” she told him.
The stable is 15 miles from the Holland Tunnel. It was best known as a lesson barn, a home away from home for many horse-crazy kids. Although it hosted shows over the years and had many riders who competed, it couldn’t really be called a show stable.
But the building had “beautiful bones and original parts,” as Brianne put it, and once her husband looked at it, he saw the potential was evident while “trying to keep it as original as possible.”
The indoor arena at the stable will be getting new footing.
In addition to work on the building itself, footing is being replaced in both the indoor and outdoor ring and the limited turnout is being transformed into 10 paddocks, probably measuring 40 by 60, after clearing away underbrush. A house on the property also is being rebuilt.
There are many possibilities to what will happen when the stable opens for business, which likely will happen in May.
“This checks a lot of boxes for us. In the fall and spring training, I’d like to always be doing more,” said Brianne.
Quality will remain a priority as the couple gets to know the property.
“I want to make sure it stays really high-end and a great place for horses. We have a major goal of keeping it true to its foundations and not changing too much of the structure. A lot of the time, it’s a lot cheaper to knock something down and build it new, but that’s definitely not what we wanted to do. We’re trying to restore it to its former glory.”
What else will happen in addition to having a place for Brianne’s clients is still up for discussion
“It could be a very nice place for a couple of operations,” she mentioned. “The goal is to have one person who’s there all year and then figure out the rest of it. I think everything is on the table. There is a lot of room for creativity.” She has thought about a therapeutic riding program, which the stable hosted previously.
“I would love to see what the community interest is first. It’s very, very open,” she commented.
“We bought it because it’s something that really excites us and works for us and is very convenient for us. We have a very deep attachment to history and we want to restore it to what it was. I’m very interested in the community outreach and desires.”
Romain noted, “We want a certain standard in the way the place is kept and the way the business is run.”
He said the community has been both welcoming and excited, noting “It’s great.”
Brianne and Romain are interested to hear from trainers and others who have an interest in what’s happening at the facility, which will be getting a new name. They can be reached at info@bgrmdev.com.
