The Farmhouse, a 9.7-acre property in Ellisville that ran afoul of town officials on several occasions over owner Paul Krasinski’s use of buildings to run educational programs without proper permits and in alleged violation of the state’s fire code, is apparently no more.
Krasinski, the enigmatic and locally controversial brother of actor John Krasinski, is selling the place.
And the asking price is steep – $4.5 million. The 4,637-square- foot, five-bedroom, 6.5-bathroom house on Center Hill Road also comes with several outbuildings. Krasinski bought the property in 2021 for $1.75 million with a $1.59 million loan from the Small Business Administration, according to records at the Plymouth County Registry of Deeds. Initially, he used it for short-term rentals and as a venue for events such as weddings.
Krasinski did not respond to a request for comment.
In 2024, the town ordered him to stop using buildings on his property for educational programs.
Plymouth South High School, MAP Academy, and EdTV – the Plymouth Public Schools’ video education production program – participated in events at The Farmhouse.
Krasinski was sent two cease-and-desist orders by the town in March of last year, one for using his house for public and educational purposes and for putting up and altering several buildings without getting permits, and another for operating an educational facility in violation of fire safety codes.
Fire Chief Neil Foley said at the time that town inspectors went to The Farmhouse and discovered that one building was built on a neighbor’s property and another wasn’t far enough away from the property line to meet regulations for new construction.
Krasinski said then that students did come inside the property’s main house as invited guests, but no programming was going on in the main house.
In April 2024, Krasinski held an event for the Plymouth Public Schools after the cease-and-desist orders were issued – a film festival for EdTV. Jackie Bruno, a former NECN and NBC Boston television anchor and reporter who spoke at the event, said then – after learning of the town’s action – that high school and middle school students were present. In all, Bruno said more than 200 people were in attendance, and that Krasinski provided three tents and catering services.
“We have been working very closely with town officials on building permits,” Krasinski told the Independent that same month. “I think there was some kind of confusion as to whether we were hosting any of these programs out in these various buildings, which we did not.”
Neighbor Josh Jordan said last year that one of the buildings Krasinski put up, which he called the Wellness Center, was partly built on Jordan’s land. Utility lines to another building Krasinski had built, which he called the Biddle Barn, also ran across Jordan’s property, he said.
Krasinski has said he used some of the proceeds from the sale of his software company, Carlisle-based Epicenter Experience, to build the campus at The Farmhouse.
The Zillow listing for the property describes it as “breathtaking.”
“Perched masterfully overlooking Cape Cod Bay, the main house is perfectly designed for both family life and entertaining,” it reads.
The Farmhouse’s once slickly-designed website has been replaced with a static image of the property. Its Instagram account remained active as of Tuesday evening, but the most recent post is from November.
Fred Thys can be reached at fred@plymouthindependent.org