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Even Palm Beach, a millionaire retreat in southeastern Florida, stands out as a monument to excess at 1071 North Ocean Blvd. The over 35,000-square-foot mansion is designed with 16 bathrooms, gym, barber shop, theater and library. Last year, the property was reportedly sold to billionaire heir to Estee Lauder’s make-up fortune, William his Lauder-related entities for his stunning $110 million. But the palatial mansion is clearly not up to his family’s standards.On Wednesday, the town approved a plan to demolish his just six-year-old home to the ground.
This decision upset some locals. “I have a really weird feeling in my stomach about it. I think it’s a complete waste,” one prominent resident told the Daily Beast. “I mean, normal people don’t do that. It’s kind of gross.
Another resident, third-generation Palm Beach KT Catlin, described himself as “in favor of development and redevelopment.” But even in her mind, she “questions the tendency to constantly tear down to build bigger,” she said.
Known to some locals as ‘The Castle,’ the estate was completed in 2016 and angered community members from the start. Of particular concern are the Palm Beach Daily News As previously mentioned, it was the sheer size and the way it ate up a good chunk of two acres of land.
The original owners, attorneys-turned-charter-school consultants Daniel and Vahan Gregian, narrowly won approval to build their “dream home” in 2011. They never actually lived in it. Instead, it put the property up for sale in 2015 for over $80 million before construction was completed. Greggian sold it to another entity for his $40.9 million in 2019.
Now that Lauder appears to have taken over ownership, there are speculations within the community about whether he might build an even larger colossus on the site, as he reportedly also owns an adjacent vacant lot. There are disturbing speculations.
Midtown Palm Beach resident Victoria “Cookie” Donaldson says she’s neutral about the demolition and is divided on the project.
Screengrab from Google Maps, May 2015
google map
When the plans were first announced, detractors reacted with “shock” at the nine-figure luxury of demolition.
Palm Beach officials told the Daily Beast that the new owners have not yet submitted proposals for what they would like to build after the demolition. One of Lauder’s attorneys declined to comment.
Even before the recent controversy, tensions in Palm Beach had been simmering for months, between wealthy snowbirds and year-round locals and property owners (whose identities are corporate entities). (often hidden behind ) and more modest homeowners.
Newly constructed homes are built taller than many existing properties due to federal regulations. As a result, during severe storms, water from modern mansions runs directly onto neighbors’ properties, multiple residents said.
Construction trucks have repeatedly damaged cars and buildings, and crews have been known to work earlier or later than regulations allow and sneak in on weekends, Katrin said.
In addition, there are also concerns that Loader’s project could exacerbate traffic problems, which could already be miles apart. “There are only two roads for him,” said Donaldson. During President Donald Trump’s presidency, when his visit to his Palm Beach resort, Mar-a-Lago, was blocking traffic flow, she had three homes under construction near her. “I couldn’t get out of her driveway for four years,” she said.
Compounding the frustration is that the soon-to-be-demolished house has been at least partially under construction for years. “They keep renovating and renovating it,” he says Catlin. Now, with the rebuilding, some people are upset that “it will take another X years to see and deal with this.”
Donaldson remembers growing up in Palm Beach decades ago. And nothing was demolished to make way for another gigantic, gigantic house. “
Perhaps the most obvious example of that change is underway six miles south, where billionaire Ken Griffin is building his own version of Versailles. The project has also earned the ire of his members of the community, who are billionaires.
Despite the recent flare-up, several residents said the Lauder family enjoys a positive reputation in the community. According to his LinkedIn page, New York City-based William Lauder is the chairman of his family’s cosmetics business. forbes It also reportedly owns properties in Aspen and Westchester, New York. The outlet pegs his net worth at $3.1 billion.
Earlier this year, Lauder reportedly settled with a former “mistress” who sued him for violating an agreement to pay for a $7 million Los Angeles mansion in 2018. According to 2010. forbes According to the story, the couple had a child together in 2007, during which time Lauder got married and was CEO of Estée Lauder. They struck out a private deal in which the woman agreed to “move to California, refrain from contact with the Lauder family, and hide her father’s identity, even from her children.” reportedly filed his own lawsuit, declaring that the woman had breached the contract “on several occasions.”
A tabloid conspiracy is clearly not a factor in the Palm Beach controversy. “This is a sign of a bigger problem,” the person said, evoking adjectives “flashy” and “gauche” that might apply to sequined maxi dresses. “I think we are losing our town.”
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