Inisfada Approved for Demolition

251 Searingtown Road, Manhasset, New York, United States, 11030

The 93-year old mansion known as Inisfada in Manhasset, New York has lost its battle with the wrecking ball.  Crews were on site Thursday morning and demolition began on the sprawling 72,000 square foot 87-room mansion.  Inisfada was built between 1916-20 for Nicholas Frederic Brady & Genevieve Garvan at a cost of $2.3 million.  Following Genevieve’s death the Jesuit order took ownership and in 1938 turned it into the St. Ignatius Retreat House.

News Day noted that the mansion was purchased in July for $36.5 million by The Manhasset Bay Group Inc.  They reached out to them but they declined to comment.  The property was marketed over the last year as a “Prime Development Site” noting that it would allow for a private gated community, luxury town homes, or condominium units.  The 33-acre site was listed at $49,000,000.

Several of the mansions furnishings were auctioned off in mid-November.  News Day reports that the auction raised more than $50,000 for Fordham University including the sale of a late 18th-Century walnut prayer desk, a carved marble statue, and a 15-foot high Gothic bookcase.  Paul Mateyunas of Daniel Gale Sotheby’s International Realty told News Day, “It is one of the grandest and most intact homes to come down in over 30 years.”  What we have lost this week can never be replaced.  For a vast collection of recent photos view this Flickr Gallery.