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| Landsdowne Lakefront Mansion, Lake Bluff, IL |
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| Benjamin Marshall |
Chicago, IL (Dec. 19, 2013) – Hinsdale, Ill.-based Foxford Communities has announced
new pricing and plans for the historic Lansdowne lakefront mansion in Lake
Bluff, Ill., designed by famed Chicago architect Benjamin Marshall
and built in 1911 for the Harry Clow family.
The 10-bedroom, 14,845-square-foot home, which sits on 3.9
acres and overlooks Lake Michigan, now includes its own private beach in its
listing price of $5.49 million. The private beach includes more than 160 feet
of Lake Michigan frontage.
Prior to Foxford
purchasing the 21-acre Lansdowne estate earlier this year, the property did not
have rights to the beach. “Even without the beach, this is a breathtaking home
and property,” said Peter Brennan, CEO of Foxford.
“But we saw tremendous value in purchasing the beach and
including it in the price of the mansion without changing the price of the
home, and think buyers will agree. We are also working on getting approval to
expand the depth of the beach to accommodate a path down to the beach for easy
access.”
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| Orren Pickell |
The Lansdowne mansion, a three-story Georgian, has undergone
significant interior renovations in the last few years courtesy of North Shore
luxury builder Orren Pickell.
Pickell preserved the home’s original character while also
incorporating the most desired modern technology, including a new gourmet
eat-in kitchen and updated bathrooms and closets.
In fact, the master suite now includes its own walk-in shoe
closet, as well as a separate18 by 20 foot wardrobe room.
In all, the home boasts
24 rooms including 10 bedrooms, nine full baths and two half baths, a sunroom,
exercise room, grand foyer with a double staircase, three fireplaces, 12-foot
ceilings, a wine cellar, a finished basement with sauna and whirlpool, and
floor-to-ceiling windows with stunning views of Lake Michigan and the entire
estate.
“What’s so special
and rare about this property is that the home and grounds are as equally
magnificent as the views. Everything truly complements each other, which is a
testament to the home’s architect, Benjamin Marshall, and its original
landscaper, Jens Jensen, two of Chicago’s most significant design
names,” said Brennan.
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| Jens Jensen |
“And even though the home is more than 100 years old, it has
the open floor plan, room sizes, bonus spaces and traffic flow that resonate
with today’s buyers.”
But the mansion isn’t the only option buyers have to
purchase a home at the historic Lansdowne estate.
The 21-acre estate has been
divided into seven lots, one of which includes the Lansdowne mansion.
Foxford
Communities is continuing with the plan for an exclusive enclave of luxury
homes on the property.
To date, Foxford has sold two lots, with one of those lots
already under construction. Foxford plans to start construction on a third lot
for a speculative home in early 2014.
Lansdowne lot sizes vary from 1.5 to 3.1
acres with prices ranging from $979,000 to $3.7 million.
Opportunity to
combine lots is available. “Right now, the lot next to the mansion has a sunken
bronze pool and pool house,” said Brennan.
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| Gen. George Patton |
“If a buyer chooses to purchase the mansion and the adjacent
lot then they have the option of keeping the pool. Additionally, the buyer
would have rights to the entire beach (370 feet of Lake Michigan frontage)
making it an incredible investment.
"Or, buyers could purchase the lot adjacent
to the house and build their own custom home with access to their own private
beach.”
According to Brennan, the Lansdowne estate represents one of
the only developments of its kind on the North Shore.
“By offering buyers the
option of purchasing the Lansdowne mansion, one of the other lots on the
grounds, or combining a number of lots, we’re giving them a rare opportunity to
live not just on a piece of history, but in one of the most beautiful and
peaceful settings in the North Shore,” said Brennan.
Rich in history, the
Lansdowne estate was the site of the first polo match in the Midwest where General
George Patton was said to have played.
Additionally, movies such as “Chain Reaction” and “Kissing a
Fool” were filmed on the property. With Lake Michigan to the east, and a
private drive to the west, the estate is also bordered by a wooded ravine to
the north and a thicket of trees to the south, providing optimum privacy.
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| Jeff Ohm |
Sales for Lansdowne
are being arranged by Jeff Ohm of Premier Realty Group. To schedule a
tour of the Lansdowne mansion or visit the estate’s available home sites, contact
Ohm at 847-821-9090 or johm@prg123.com.
To view the listing of the Lansdowne mansion, visit http://www.prg123.com/600-lansdowne-lake-bluff
The Foxford Communities has developed a number of properties
in the Chicago area. Most recently, the firm re-imagined Van Buren Lofts,
a rehabbed condominium loft building at 1224 W. Van Buren in Chicago’s West
Loop, which was once home to a paper mill.
For a complete
copy of the company’s news release, please contact:
Kelly Shumaker kshumaker@taylorjohnson.com,
312-267-4519
Emily Johnson, ejohnson@taylorjohnson.com,
312-267-4522
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