La Selva Back On The Market

One of my favorite properties is back on the market and for a lower price than ever. La Selva is Italian Renaissance mansion in Upper Brookville, New York built for investor Henry Sanderson in 1915. It's a classic American example of the exuberance of wealth. The 40-room villa on 24 acres was used by the Roman Catholic Church as the St. Francis Retreat House and next went to Sylvia Kumar, wife of imprisoned former Computer Associates chief Sanjay Kumar. Sanjay Kumar was ordered by a federal judge to pay back $798 million to shareholders after he pleaded guilty to securities fraud. The home was bought by Sylvia Kumar from St. Francis Monastery for $6.75 million in 2001.

The home has a domed rotunda, a loggia, a winding staircase, a library, two dining rooms, seven bedrooms and seven bathrooms. The home has stone columns and arches, wrought iron doors and delicate Renaissance style paintings. There is a possibility that the land could be subdivided into five acre plots and the property does have a renovated three-bedroom cottage and a walled carriage house with heated garage, five indoor stables, six bedrooms, workshop and two bathrooms. It was first listed at $17 million then went to $14.5 million. Now it's back with a new listing and new listing pictures (finally, furniture!) and a price that skates under $10 million at $9.999 million. Margaret Mateyaschuk and Margaret Trautmann of Daniel Gale Sotheby's International Realty have the listing.


[via Newsday's Real LI]