DEAL REACHED: Gustave White Sothebys International Realty has reached an agreement with the historic Ocean House Hotel to be the exclusive listing agent for the hotel’s residential suites.

The hotel, which is being rebuilt from scratch, is slated to open in the spring of 2010, reprising the role of the original hotel which once adorned Watch Hill for over 135 years.

For some time, the viability of a grand hotel remaining in Watch Hill was anything but a certainty. After its final summer of operation in 2003, the original Ocean House Hotel closed for business and seemed destined for the wrecking ball and a historical footnote as one of Rhode Island’s great seaside resorts.

Built in 1868, the Ocean House had welcomed the families of New England for decades and had served to preserve the memories of more genteel times.

Julie Quigley Smith, manager of the Gustave White Sothebys Westerly office, will be representing Ocean House.

GRAND OPENING: Bay Ridge, a new community of 60 shingle-style town home condominiums for those 55 and older will have a grand opening event this weekend. The event will showcase a brand new, professionally decorated model home.

The event will be held from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 345 Forest Ave., in Middletown.

All units have a two-car garage and full basements and many units have views of the Newport Bridge. Bay Ridge will also have a professionally decorated clubhouse with two social rooms and an exercise facility.

CHRYSALIS AWARDS: An addition to a Barrington home has won two regional Chrysalis Awards for Remodeling Excellence. Modern Yankee Builders of Cumberland, earned honors for the project in the categories of “Addition from $100K to $200K” and “Green Remodel.” This year, the national competition had a field of more than 500 entries.

The Barrington project, which was designed by Solley Design of Barrington, consists of a two-level addition incorporating a sunroom on the first floor and a home office on the second floor. The sunroom has an exposed roof structure and large, cottage-style windows to create an open space which maximizes views and sunlight. Cove lighting creates a dramatic and cozy nighttime ambiance.

The home office space on the upper floor affords scenic river views and an efficient, comfortable work space.

harruda@projo.com