Apr 16, 2008 7:29 pm US/Eastern
Proposed Greenwich 'SuperMansion' Causes Uproar
Theatre, Billiards Room, Gym, Turkish & Finnish Baths, Wine Cellar & Dog Grooming Room Just In Basement!
Idea Of 26 Toilets 1 Of Many That Irks Wealthy Neighbors
GREENWICH, Conn. (CBS) ―
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A mystery owner of a seven-acre lot in Greenwich, Conn., has proposed an unbelievable super mansion for the grounds. The neighbors, all wealthy, in their own right, want no part of this plan.
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The proposed mansion will have 27,000 square feet of floor space, making it bar far the biggest home in Greenwich, a community that knows all about the lifestyles of the rich and famous.
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The owner bought the seven-acre estate for $18 million and is tearing down the exisiting mansion.
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The home will have, among others, a theatre, billiards room, game room, Turkish bath, Finnish bath and a dog grooming room.
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Image buying a seven-acre estate for $18 million just to tear down the existing mansion.
A businessman wants to do just that in "back country" Greenwich – tear down a massive home and build something unprecedented, even for Greenwich.
But as CBS 2 HD found out, neighbors aren't exactly putting out the welcome mat.
When the famous architect Daniel Burnham said "make no little plans," this is what he must have had in mind.
The blueprints show a theatre, billiards room, game room, gymnasium – with male and female lockers, a a Turkish bath, a Finnish bath, a wine cellar and even a room to groom the dogs, and that's just in the basement.
A drawing shows the proposed mansion in all its limestone-clad glory – with 27,000 square feet of floor space. By cubic volume it would be by far the largest home in Greenwich, a place known as a community for the ridiculously rich.
"I think the only ones who like it are the ones who are being paid," neighbor Morris Sachs told CBS 2 HD.
Sachs is one of many local residents who have petitioned the town to deny a building permit. However, despite its size, the proposed home is well within what is permitted under Greenwich zoning laws.
The man behind the home appears to be Valery Kogan – a somewhat mysterious Russian businessman, though no one associated with the project will confirm that.
Because the house will have eight bedrooms – and an amazing 26 toilets in bathrooms with multiple stalls – neighbors wonder whether it's more than a single-family home. However, a lawyer for the owner says the home – while extravagant – is indeed intended for just one family.
"Twenty-six toilets," Sachs said in amazement. "Who needs 26 toilets unless you're holding a convention? I'm very suspicious."
Sachs says the home is out of scale with the neighborhood – and so big – construction will be a noisy nightmare.
The town has two months to consider neighbors' objections before deciding whether Kogan can build his dream home.
(© MMX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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