'Arcadia," An 1850 Italianate Victorian Estate On The Hudson River Hits Market For $5.9M

Click HERE for high-resolution images – Photo credit to Ian Nelson, JumpVisual

Low-res images in email from Evy Apostolatos

Subscribe

PALISADES, NY — A rare chance to own a circa 1850 Italianate Victorian Hudson riverfront estate is here for $5.9 million.

According to the listing, by Richard Ellis of Ellis Sotheby's International Realty, "Arcadia," a property with historical and architectural significance, in the exclusive Sweden's Landing enclave of Palisades, is on the market for the first time in over three decades.

"Arcadia offers a once-in-a-generation opportunity to own a storied piece of Hudson River history," Ellis said. "Rich in provenance, architectural integrity and natural beauty, Arcadia stands as one of the most historically important homes in Snedens Landing. Its legacy as both a private sanctuary and a cultural landmark continues to resonate today, offering an extraordinary opportunity to carry forward a tradition of quiet elegance and artistic spirit along the Hudson River."

The four-bedroom, four-bathroom, 4.700-s.f. home on Lawrence Lane is located on around 1.8 acres along 163 feet of private rocky and sandy shoreline with "sweeping" views of the Hudson River from almost every room.

According to Ellis, Arcadia is believed to be among the earliest Italianate Victorian homes in the Palisades, and has distinguishing hallmark architectural elements, including a low-pitched hipped roof, broad overhanging eaves with prominent brackets, tall paired and bay windows with intricate entablatures, and a full-length veranda complemented by a welcoming entrance porch.

The name Arcadia "is derived from the ancient Greek ideal of a peaceful pastoral retreat, reflecting the home’s sense of escape and harmony with nature," according to Ellis. With its location along a stretch where the Palisades cliffs meet the Hudson River, the estate offers one of the area's few accessible waterfront settings.

For over 175 years, the estate has had only a few owners, "underscoring its enduring appeal and significance." Originally built by U.S. Army Col. A. V. Elliot, the house was later owned by prominent 19th-century New York merchant Henry E. Lawrence, who is honored by the street name. Lawrence was father of sculptor Mary Lawrence Tonetti, who rented houses to artists, actors, musicians and architects who came and settled in Snedens.

The home was relocated to its present site around 1870, and later became the residence of Annie Underhill, known as "Auntie Annie," who helped establish the property as a bohemian gathering place for artists and creatives during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

The hamlet surrounding the property is often referred to as the "Hollywood of the Hudson" due to its stunning river views and the notable figures that have both stayed and lived nearby. Snedens Landing has been home to past and present celebrities, including Laurence Olivier, Vivien Leigh, John Steinbeck, Katharine Hepburn, Orson Wells, Mike Nichols, Al Pacino, Mikhail Baryshnikov, Angelina Jolie, Scarlett Johansson and Colin Jost, Bill Murray, Diane Sawyer, Bjork, Lorraine Bracco, Trey Anastasio, and Ellen Burstyn. The single town road which grants entry and exit allows for privacy and seclusion.

Snedens Landing offers access to scenic hiking trails, a private tennis association, the Palisades Library, the Community Center, and The Triangle. Residents are located close to the historic river village of Piermont, and can enjoy weekly farmers markets and over 3,000 acres of protected parkland, including Tallman State Park and the Palisades Interstate Park system.

The home is zoned to the South Orangetown Central School District and property taxes are estimated to be $44,606 annually.