Usually when I see a brand new home this peculiar on the market, I think only one thing, someone was building it for themselves and something happened. It's hard for me to believe that any developer with any sort of savvy would create this home in Paradise Valley, Arizona. The property is on two acres in the pricey and posh La Place enclave. The 17,000 square foot residence looks like a medieval hall updated for modern times. There are some very intricate and expensive details such as the handcarved dome and the flooring design. The heavy stone, the huge fireplaces, the dark wood, the strange stone herms placed under a chandelier and the elaborate ceilings just seem a bit much for a desert community. And it doesn't seem fully completed, several photos show signs of work not yet completed with exposed wires and insulation. It is listed at $17.995 million. and doesn't even look to have a pool yet.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
9-18-2008 @ 1:38PM
Deidre Woollard said...
Thanks for the comment Len. I agree with you, certainly there have been huge spec houses built all over the U.S. too especially in the Hamptons, South Florida and Southern California. The reason I suspect this was the work of an owner is that it seems so specific with its heavy medieval styling. If it was built by developers they have some intriguing views of what they think an Arizona home buyer wants.
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9-18-2008 @ 1:57PM
Len said...
Deidre,
Although your suspicions regarding "something happening" may in fact be correct with this home, I do know that in Whistler, BC developers for years now have been building houses completely on spec, then selling them for outrageous sums of money to the wealthy.
I'm not talking about homes on the cheap either, I am referring to homes valued $8M and up. I believe the most expensive homes ever sold in Whistler were in fact built by risk-taking developers and their backers, without ever having a buyer in mind.
That would throw your theory into the wind.
Cheers.
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9-18-2008 @ 2:20PM
Kelly said...
http://www.fmrealty.com/site/property/listing.asp?mlsID=1607357&rNum=R76572&area=22&markettime=1%2F1%2F1993&whichpage=1
I'd love your thoughts on this "estate" (MLS 1607357) We fly over it all the time (I also drive by it on my commute--I too live in the middle of nowhere--but you can't see much from the ground). It's not terribly attractive, it's brand spanking new (much like the estate you published today in AZ) and it's really out of place in the community, such as it is (that's the country side--about 20 miles from Durham, NC, 35 miles from Chapel Hill NC and Raleigh NC)
Your estates of the day are my favorite part of Luxist!
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9-18-2008 @ 2:37PM
zzoeyy said...
17 for this?? LOL It doesn't even look finished in areas.
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9-18-2008 @ 3:10PM
Scott said...
Looks like a set for The Addams Family!
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9-18-2008 @ 4:27PM
William said...
Wow! Is someone actually gonna buy it? It's so tasteless.
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9-18-2008 @ 10:51PM
John said...
This house is absolutely hideous. I live in Phoenix, and I study the real estate market daily. The seller would be lucky to receive $7 million for this house. It had a $25 million price at one point during construction, then it dropped to $20 million, and now this.
What's worse is that the original house was built in 1983 and was one of the nicest in town. Although outdated, it did not need to be remolded into this monstrosity. The builder covered up many windows, removed marble floors, tore out intricate woodwork, and in fact enclosed an interior courtyard to make the "ballroom." Prior to this disaster this was Anfernee "Penny" Hardaway's home, and it was much, much nicer than this.
I do believe that this is a spec home. One could buy two or three great houses in Paradise Valley for this price. I don't know what the builder was thinking, since the interiors look like a Medieval tortue chamber to me.
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9-18-2008 @ 11:05PM
Phil said...
***Hahah i used to ride the bus home from school and would pass this house. i watched it get built. Its got like 6 garages and a RV garage and a friend of mine who lived next door says the owner has a taser company or something. It used to have or still does lion, deer and rabbit statues. its on Cheney rd i believe just down the street is Kurt Warrners house Quarter back of the AZ Cardinals. but i think the Glass house behind it should be an estate of the day. It looks awesome and its a 3 story rectangle. Past Kurt's house is the owner of My Big Fat Greek Restaurant. it looks like Scarface's Mansion.
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9-19-2008 @ 2:29AM
John said...
Phil - The house is located on the northeast corner of 64th Street and Lincoln Drive. There used to be lions on either side of the entrance. They may sound tacky, but they were elegant compared to the catastrophe that sits there now.
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9-19-2008 @ 9:06AM
T. Leeflang said...
What's that line about "all your taste is in your mouth"?
I think it applies here.
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9-20-2008 @ 2:09AM
hey dude7 said...
T,Leeflanger i do not know the line please inform....
BTW its the line about gays?...
thanx...
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