Realtor: Mansions of the Moguls: 6 Regal Homes in the Rust Belt

Tuesday, March 14, 2017

Mansions of the Moguls: 6 Regal Homes in the Rust Belt

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The Rust Belt has been in the news a lot lately. This region stretching from the Great Lakes to the Upper Midwest played a large (and largely unexpected) role in the recent election, and has come to exemplify American working-class angst and grit. But here’s the real news: Housing stock in the Rust Belt is not only sturdy but swanky. The land of steel, factories, and shipping has a strong underpinning of the luxe life.

Don’t believe us? We advise you to cast your mind back to the era of the mogul. The construction of these homes was commissioned by the then-elite—railroad, auto, and brewing magnates, among others—so the finest materials were chosen to make these mansions. The resulting homes were designed to last for at least a century. And many of them already have.

In the Rust Belt, it isn’t difficult to uncover a regal home for well under $1 million. Or … you could spend between $3 million and $4 million and truly evoke the era of the cigar-chomping robber baron. Inspired by the resurgence of big-time capitalism, we scoured our listings for a few choice old-timey mansions that are anything but rusty…

750 Whittier Rd, Grosse Pointe Park, MI

Price: $3.25 million
For the aspiring mogul: Built in 1920, this classic Tudor Revival lakefront manse just outside Detroit—along Lake St. Clair, and behind iron gates—boasts an outdoor pool, ornate fountain, wine cellar, and a pub. In a nod to local craftsmanship, rare Pewabic tile can be found in the kitchen. Work from home in the third-story home office (with lake views!) and ditch the gym membership, because there’s a fitness center above the garage. It’s worth revving up your wallet—a buyer will get to rub elbows with members of the Ford family, who maintain residences in the area.

750 Whittier Rd., Grosse Pointe Park, MI

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25 Tower Hill Loop, Tuxedo Park, NY

Price: $4.475 million
For the aspiring mogul: Currently the fourth-most expensive listing in the Buffalo area, this 14,000-square-foot Tudor on the shores of Tuxedo Lake is a real gem. Take a long look at the intricate woodwork inside and out, because this place is on the market for the first time since it was built in 1899. A new owner will come home to 15 wood-burning fireplaces, a guest cottage, and four sizable rooms on the first floor ripe for hosting galas.

25 Tower Hill Loop, Tuxedo Park, NY

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400 Shady Ave, Pittsburgh, PA

Price: $2.25 million
For the aspiring mogul: Behind the peach-colored exterior of this 1859 home in Pittsburgh’s Shadyside neighborhood are bursts of color. Walls are painted yellow, orange, and red, and stained-glass windows are found throughout. Crown-molding, 15-foot ceilings as well as an original wood staircase in the home are some of the remaining historical details, blending in with a chef-grade modern kitchen and a balcony off the master bath.

400 Shady Ave., Pittsburgh, PA

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19400 N. Park Blvd, Shaker Heights, OH

Price: $4.995 million
For the aspiring mogul: This Georgian Revival estate within a tony Cleveland suburb channels the best of countryside living, with 3.5 acres of land. Outside, you’ll find landscaped grounds, stone terraces, and a pool. Inside, there’s a bar thoughtfully positioned in the great room for entertaining in “Downton Abbey” style, and a lower-level pub. For guests who over-imbibe, there’s an ultraprivate apartment.

19400 N. Park Blvd., Shaker Heights, OH

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9625 Ladue Rd, Ladue, MO

Price: $7.9 million
For the aspiring mogul: This home is 90 years old, but it’s been updated over the years with love and care. It features modern amenities including heated floors, a wine room, a finished lower level—plus high-end Wolf, KitchenAid, and Miele appliances in the kitchen. It is located in a posh St. Louis suburb, and such historic details as marble flooring and the library’s wood paneling evoke the home’s lavish past. Its eight acres offer resort-style living with a tennis court, greenhouse, pool (with poolhouse) and carriage house that serves as an apartment.

9625 Ladue Rd., Ladue, MO

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5400 N. Lake Dr, Whitefish Bay, WI

Price: $1.85 million
For the aspiring mogul: Located on the shores of Lake Michigan in a suburb 15 minutes north of downtown Milwaukee, this Mediterranean-style home was built in the 1920s. Its architectural details include arched doorways, marble columns, leaded-glass windows and an original iron-rail staircase—plus modern updates like a soaking tub in one of the baths and a deck overlooking the lake. Beach views are spectacular from the three-season sunroom.