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House of the week
A Gilded Age eight-acre estate available at auction
Minimum required bid: $2 million
Annual property taxes: $81,545
38 Westerleigh Rd, Purchase
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The eight-acre estate at 38 Westerleigh Road in Purchase isn’t just a wonderful place to live; it brings with it a fascinating history and style of a bygone era. After enduring several years with the 1907 property on the market, the owners—heirs of the Klein family behind the legendary S. Klein Department Store—have decided to go the auction route. Now, one lucky bidder will not only acquire a seven-bedroom mansion with seven full baths, three powder rooms, 10 fireplaces, herringbone mahogany floors, 11-foot ceilings, solid mahogany doors, ornate moldings, an in-ground pool, two cottages, and formal gardens (landscaped by Frederick Law Olmsted of Central Park fame), but a grand lifestyle as well.
“The property is very stately, royal, elegant, and grand, evocative of the Gilded Age,” explains Joshua Olshin, president of Tranzon Integrated Property Group, the company responsible for the estate’s auction. “Even the hallways are interesting, with nearly floor-to-ceiling windows that feature the arched angles architect Stanford White was known for and offering views of the pool and gardens. An entire room—a beautiful wood-paneled library—was imported from England, which wasn’t unusual in those days.” The luxurious property was designed by McKim, Mead & White, the same renowned architectural firm noted for such New York City landmarks as Madison Square Garden, Penn Station, Columbia University’s Morningside Heights campus, and the Brooklyn Museum, as well as the 1903 renovation of the East Wing and West Wing of the White House. “Walking through the home gives you a sense of history—a certain gravitas,” Olshin says. In addition to its exceptional history and design, the property is in excellent working order. Recent updates include a new roof, heating system, oil tank, and state-of-the-art alarm system.
Olshin’s advice before advancing to the auction phase? “Do your due diligence. Go to the website, review the details in our information package that includes the survey, photos, the property’s history, and even historic newspaper articles. Ask questions.” After screening the materials and viewing the property, Olshin says, come to the auction ready to bid and with a $150,000 certified check as a down payment. The highest bidder should expect to close about 35 days later. Serious prospective buyers can make an appointment for a pre-auction inspection of the property. Registration for the onsite auction is at 3 pm with the actual auction scheduled for 4 pm. For more information, contact Tranzon Vice President Jeremy Sandel, at (212) 375-1222, ext. 710 or visit www.stanfordwhiteauction.com.
