http://www.luxist.com/2008/10/28/devonshire-estate-of-the-day/ Luxist Comments for Devonshire, Estate of the Day http://www.luxist.com/media/feedlogo.gif http://www.luxist.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/http://www.luxist.com/2008/10/28/devonshire-estate-of-the-day/http://www.luxist.com/2008/10/28/devonshire-estate-of-the-day/
The gardens today, for example, really are nothing more then ghosts of what was. There are the brick outlines of once sunken and carefully thought out garden walls and paths for plantings. Yet today it all really is nothing more then just a grass filled maze.

That sprawling contoured lawn likely was once filled with specimen trees or at least active pastures. Today from the one aerial shot it seems more like a golf course with the manor serving as the club house. That is never really a good thing as a house that feels like a resort instead of a home will not resonate with buyers.

The property has somewhat already languished on the market with no interest and with this slump I cannot think it will find many takers for quite some time. Other equestrian properties have been sold north of $25M but they had at least an indoor riding arena. This property appears to have more of the shed row stabling found with race horses. The Harriman family has long been associated with harness racing

As an aside the annual taxes - pre sale and likely to readjusted upwards with a fresh assessment - are just typical insane Westchester Co. at $242,977. Compare that to say Fauquier Co, Virginia where much larger (and often more impressive) country estates selling in the teens have tax bills of just $10k - $15k a year because of "in land use". [Read: some Angus or hay is actively raised on the property] ]]>Oct 28th 2008 4:52PM