Astor Courts To Be Sold At Auction

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed)
Sep 15th 2010 at 11:01AM

Over the summer the Astor Courts estate in Rhinebeck, New York was in the news for hosting Chelsea Clinton's wedding, now it is up for auction. The home has been up for sale for a while, it was our estate of the day back in September 2009 and was listed for $12 million. Tranzon Asset Advisors, a national real estate auction firm, is organizing the auction in conjunction with H.H. Hill Realty Services of Rhinebeck, NY. The auction is open to qualified, pre-registered bidders and will start with a sealed-bid process that has an October 14th deadline.

The home was built at the turn of the century by John Jacob Astor, IV and his wife Ava. It was designed by Stanford White and was inspired by Louis XIV's Grand Trianon at Versailles, Astor Courts. The home was originally part of the Astor family's Ferncliff estate and Astor Courts (also known as the "Astor Casino" or "Ferncliff Casino") was designed as a guest lodge and sporting pavilion. The beautiful Beaux-Arts mansion was completed in 1904 and is on 50 acres. The expansive main living area has five bedrooms and spans over 15,000 square feet. The truly stunning details include the indoor clay tennis court topped with a glass ceiling and framed by Gothic arches and a white marble pool surrounded by arches and graced with a pale sky-blue ceiling.

In 1964 Brooke Astor gave the home to the Catholic Church. The current owners, real-estate developer Arthur Seelbinder and his wife, Kathleen Hammer, a former producer for Oxygen Media, bought the home in 2005 for $3.2 million and spent a fortune restoring it. Stanford White's great-grandson, Sam White led the restoration. The property is listed on the National Historic Register, and a Letter of Patent from New York State ensures access to the Hudson River in perpetuity and a Special Use Permit allows the property to be rented for corporate retreats, conferences and other functions. It has an estimated appraised value of $15 million but will sell to the highest bidder above $7,500,000.

Gallery: Astor Courts

Tags: astor courts, chelsea clinton and marc mezvinsky, chelsea clinton wedding, new york real estate, real estate auction, rhinebeck, RhinebeckNewYork

Filed under: Estates

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Mak Sep 15th 2010 11:35AM

I think its one cold looking building. It reminds me of those abandoned mental hospitals. Maybe its because its so stark, with hard floors and white everywhere. Ugh.

Spectacular Bid Sep 15th 2010 11:46AM

Interesting outcome but I suppose almost expected.

They pumped a tremendous fortune into restoring the property and didn't exactly buy it on the cheap either to begin with. All that money tied up into a beautiful white elephant with very few practical purposes. Sad but true. The taxes on the property along with upkeep are likely the stuff of a kings ransom. Good luck to the new buyers in getting the assessment reduced.

As much as someone might think it would be a fitting wedding/party venue and bought as a commercial holding that is unlikely to ever yield a profit. Starting off with an $8M+ purchase, then all the required improvements to meet code etc is a short road to eventual bankruptcy.

Looks like severing ties with the agent Heather Croner/Sotheby's Realty and striking out on their own as for-sale-by-owner AND jacking up the price didn't work too well.

gafoss Sep 15th 2010 3:41PM

A stunning and unique property. I would love it for a home. I hope the right person buys it and cares for it.

liguy Sep 15th 2010 8:20PM

Didn't Astor go down with the Titanic?

mm Sep 15th 2010 8:28PM

Could be the ultimate rich-and-classy-old-folks home.

Mitchell Forman Sep 15th 2010 8:42PM

So 'GAFOSS' hopes "the right person buys it and cares for it". --NEWSFLASH!! This home and it's grounds would require a full-time STAFF of caretakers and an enormous sum of money to pay them - not to mention a yearly fortune in property taxes, utility costs, security, etc... In fact this home will require the right 'dynasty' to buy and care for it.

WAYNE Sep 15th 2010 9:49PM

david bowie wanted to buy this home,but it just did not work out.More well to do would purchase a home in pawling

gafoss Sep 19th 2010 7:49PM

Me bad. Just don’t know where my lil’ old head was at thinking there would just be a boatload of New Yorkers – dynastic or not – who could afford to buy and maintain this. Too bad. It would have made a nice weekend place for some of them.

myona Sep 15th 2010 10:32PM

it is beautiful, but at the same time the photos gave me the creeps.

Barbara Loden Sep 15th 2010 11:42PM

The right landscaping would do wonders for the place.

shelly Sep 16th 2010 12:55AM

What a useless, ostentacious "estate." It looks like a huge mauseleum. Might be suited for a museum or something. Even if I had the money, I would not want to live there .... or even own it. Talk about a money pit!

AH Sep 16th 2010 10:52AM

Understand an exquisite renovation located on the Hudson River located next to the most scenic village in the Hudson Valley ... a rare opportunity for some big hitter.

ArtistLife Sep 16th 2010 11:09AM

Beautiful! Wow the other poster was right it is a little cold looking on the outside but some landscaping would make it a gorgeous home. the inside of it looks so pretty and airy and the indoor pool is to die for. now if only i get could find another couple million.... oh and 50 acres on the river ?what i wouldn't do for that!