NEWPORT, RI ‘Champ Soliel,’ one of only nine intact estates remaining in Newport, Rhode Island, has come to the market with an asking price of $22 million. The 5.3+ acre property is listed by Gustave White Sotheby’s Int’l Realty, with co-owners Paul Leys and David Huberman representing the seller.
The original owners, the Drexel family of Philadelphia, had been one of America’s richest families since well before the Gilded Age. Patriarch Anthony J. Drexel was the majority partner of Drexel Morgan & Associates along with his protégé, J. Pierpont Morgan.
Legacy of Ownership
The firm that would eventually become J.P. Morgan Chase, managed an impressive roster of clientele – among them the Vanderbilts, Ogdens, Belmonts, Carnegies, and Astors – many of whom would go on to build the extravagant palaces of Newport as well as New York, including The Breakers, Marble House, The Elms, Rosecliff, Miramar, Belmont Castle, and Champ Soliel. ‘Champ Soliel’ secured a spot on the southern end of famed Bellevue Avenue in 1929 and patterned its charming character after ‘La Lanterne’ at Versailles, surrounded by enchanting forests and stately specimen trees.
Following the Drexels, owners have included the Ogden family of NY’s Manhattan Bank who added a ballroom and servants’ quarters. Their stewardship was followed by The Metropolitan’s power couple, Russell and Annie Laurie Aitken – he a noted collector and sportsman, and she, a well-regarded sculptor and mother of Sunny Von Bulow, who resided across the Avenue in Clarendon Court.
Gilded Age Heritage
The 15,000+ sq ft villa, designed by renowned architects Polhemus & Coffin, is located at 601 Bellevue Avenue behind wrought-iron gates. The main residence houses seven bedrooms and 8.3 baths, grand rooms, paneled library, a home theatre, and fully modernized high-end systems. The property is graced with manicured gardens designed by landscape architect Umberto Innocenti, a croquet lawn, a 20′ × 40′ pool, FAA approved heliport, greenhouse, and expansive terraces.
The estate includes a separate two-unit carriage house with four-car garage and workshop, while vacant land offers the potential for subdivision. Meticulously restored and modernized, ‘Champ Soleil’ is a landmark estate preserving the splendor of Newport’s legendary Gilded Age, a rare opportunity in one of America’s premier coastal enclaves.
About Gustave White Sotheby’s International Realty
Gustave White Sotheby’s International Realty is a full-service agency specializing in waterfront and luxury real estate and serving all of Rhode Island, as well as southeast Connecticut and coastal Massachusetts. Gustave White is currently celebrating 100 years in business as a leader in the luxury market and became one of Sotheby’s International Realty’s first affiliates in 1976.
Gustave White is also the Rhode Island Regent member of Who’s Who in Luxury Real Estate. Paul A. Leys, Co-owner of Gustave White Sotheby’s Int’l Realty may be reached. For more information visit website.
About Sotheby’s International Realty Affiliates LLC
Founded in 1976 to provide independent brokerages with a powerful marketing and referral program for luxury listings, the Sotheby’s International Realty network was designed to connect the finest independent real estate companies to the most prestigious clientele in the world. In February 2004, Realogy Corporation, a global provider of real estate and relocation services, entered into a long-term strategic alliance with Sotheby’s, the operator of the auction house.
The agreement provided for the licensing of the Sotheby’s International Realty name and the development of a full franchise system by Realogy’s subsidiary, Sotheby’s International Realty Affiliates LLC. Sotheby’s International Realty Affiliates LLC supports its affiliates with a host of operational, marketing, recruiting, educational, and business development resources. Franchise affiliates also benefit from an association with the venerable Sotheby’s auction house, established in 1744.
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