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la selva

La Selva Back On The Market

Filed under: Estates


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]

La Selva Revisited, Estate of the Day

Filed under: Estates


I've written about this property before but new pictures and a lower price make it worth a second look especially because I think it is due for another price cut. The Italian Renaissance mansion in Upper Brookville, New York was 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.The estate is owned by 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 listed at $17 million, it was chopped to $14.5 million last December but given that the home itself likely requires significant updating, I am guessing that it may take another deep price cut to sell this home.

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La Selva, Estate of the Day

Filed under: Estates


As Ellen Yan writing for Newsday documents, this home has quite a story behind it. She reports that this home was put on the market by Sylvia Kumar, the wife of imprisoned, former Computer Associates chief Sanjay Kumar. The home in Upper Brookville, New York is on 24 acres. The home known as La Selva was once used by the Roman Catholic Church as the St. Francis Retreat House.

Sanjay Kumar was ordered by a federal judge to pay back $798 million to shareholders after he pled guilty to securities fraud. Even if the home sold at list price, $17 million, it will be just a drop in the bucket. The home was bought by Sylvia Kumar from St. Francis Monastery for $6.75 million in 2001. The 1915 Italian Renaissance-style mansion has a domed rotunda, a loggia, a winding staircase, a library, two dining rooms, seven bedrooms and seven bathrooms. There is also a three-bedroom cottage and a walled carriage house with six bedrooms, a workshop and a heated garage or space for five stables on the grounds. It probably needs some updates but it is a real beauty if for the rotunda alone.

Gallery: La Selva

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