On road to demolition, insides of Merion mansion to be gutted
Though a demolition permit hasn't been approved yet, the owners of a Merion mansion will sell off parts of the interior structure this weekend.
On road to demolition, insides of Merion mansion to be gutted
The owner of an 86-year-old Main Line mansion has plans to raze it and build a new home in its place.
But as he waits, the 12,000 square-foot-structure at 117 Raynham Rd., in Merion will begin to lose its insides.
From stripping the library’s cherry wood to doors with stained glass panels to removing flagstone, and intricate railings, the company Pre-demolition Sales will help sell off the contents of the home and its pool houses starting Sunday.
Save a few exceptions, such as the stone from the exterior, the home is up for grabs.
Located in a private section of Merion Station, the home changed hands in February 2011. The previous owner, Paul Lee Newman, lived at the residence since 1997. The house was assessed at $975,000 as of 2011 and is surrounded by 3.57 acres, according to tax records.
The buyer, Gladwyne-resident David Magerman, had other plans for his new home. In November, he submitted a permit for demolition of the home along with a permit requesting to build a new, larger dwelling.
The permits haven’t been approved by Lower Merion Township yet, but Assistant Director of the Building and Planning department Art Noel said the applicant is simply following procedure.
A neighbor who wished to remain anonymous said the township notified her and area residents about the impending demolition.
Calling it a disappointment to the historical nature of the home, she said it seemed like “an environmental waste.”
Noel said the residence isn’t historically designated, as past owners opted not to make it a historical home.
Neighbors has calls into the Merion Civic Association as well as the owner, but have you seen the residence? Share with us your thoughts below in the comments.
What kind of house can one need that is bigger than this?— Friend of Fily- I visited a house in Toledo, Spain, that was built by Romans and is still a residential property. Lucky we that the people who have owned it during the past 1,800 years have had no need for a four-car garage or a state-of-the-art media room.— DonQ
- His house, his land, as long as he stays within code, why do any of you care?— jimmymack
- Wow! They payed over $3.5 million for a tear down (They will get some back from the salvedge!). This house has over 7 Bathrooms and 9 bedrooms! The taxes per year are now almost $30k/year! Wait till they build the new one!!! But hey, if they have the money they can do what they want with it. More Power to them!!!— Carson Connor
- Look at the photos of the exterior of the mansion. It's absolutely magnificent. What a waste to demolish such a home. If the new owners wanted to build a futuristic, state-of-the-art Bill Gates type mega-mansion, did they really have to build it on this land?— Freedom Fries
- New money, go live in LA, where taste and class is not required. You will fit right in.— thesource1975
- Dollars, no sense.— frobnitz
- Wow the house was assessed at slightly higher than Ackerman's buyout value.— Jack Klompus
Comment removed.- Congratulations to the Magermans on their new home! Anyone who has them as neighbors will truly be blessed. I can personally attest to their good character. They are amazing, down to earth fun-loving people who have worked very hard. I truly hope that the Marion town welcomes them with open arms.— angelena
- No doubt it will be replaced with a very expensive, very tasteless mcmansion. Sad.— farhorizons
- From the statement that the external stone is withheld from the sale, I assume the architect is planning to us it to keep it in line with the neighborhood look and feel.
A Building made in 1925 had "knob and tube" wiring, heating and cooling systems were also inefficient. If they haven't been significantly upgraded since then, just the hassle of dealing with all the limitations of the house could warrant a redesign/rebuild. It would be cheaper than upgrading all the systems, which would require compromises to work within the existing structure.
Hey! I WELCOME the rebuild, it shows commitment to the area at least!— turkytom - If the new owners are "down-to-earth" people as angelena writes, why do they intend to build "a new, larger dwelling?" Why wasn't a house with 7 bathrooms and 9 bedrooms big enough for them? Mr. Newman, the previous owner, managed to live at this house since 1997 with only 7 bathrooms and 9 bedrooms.— Gnip Gnop
- Turkeytom, I don't think the new owners are showing a commitment to the area by demolishing a magnificent mansion. What they are showing is a commitment to indulging their own needs for the newest and the biggest. I don't believe we should tear down every house built in 1925 because it's too much of a "hassle" to upgrade the cooling and heating systems.— Gnip Gnop
- I see this story has elicited the usual spate of chest-beating comments about how private property owners can do what they like. Sure, from a legal perspective that's accurate, but it's also beside the point. The point, in my view, is that we all owe something to the past and to our neighbors. We are all impoverished when people, especially those of means, disregard our common patrimony. For a counter-example, I would refer everyone to the excellent landowners in Chester County's Willistown Township, who have banded together in a conservation trust (www.wctrust.org) to preserve the farm- and pastureland that makes it a beautiful refuge from the ugly, pragmatic development that is gobbling up so much of our open spaces.— Dave Clemens
