The Newport Historical Society Partners with Lila Delman Real Estate to create Mobile Guidebook: “Explore Historic Newport”

Lila Delman Real Estate is Christie's Exclusive Affiliate in Newport, Rhode Island

---

---

The Newport Historical Society is preparing to launch a web-based mobile app designed to help visitors take an annotated walk around the City’s historic streets—whether exploring by foot or surfing from their sofa. The Society has partnered with Christie's International Real Estate exclusive Affiliate Lila Delman Real Estate, which is the Founding Sponsor of the app. Lila Delman Real Estate has been honored with preservation awards for the restoration of its Newport and Narragansett offices.

“As dedicated supporters of historic preservation, Lila Delman Real Estate is a natural partner in this project. We are delighted that through this technology Newport and its rich history will be even more readily recognized and available,” states Melanie Delman, President of Lila Delman Real Estate.

Entitled “Explore Historic Newport”, the app will work on any platform that accesses the web, such as a smart phone, tablet or desktop computer, and will be free. “We have spent this spring researching the history and choosing which sites to incorporate into the first phase of ‘Explore Historic Newport,’” states NHS Processing Archivist Stacie Parillo.

“Explore Historic Newport” will include Washington Square up to Bellevue Avenue, Catherine-Kay Streets and down to the waterfront of Long Wharf and the Point neighborhood. Users can learn about diverse sites such as the 1699 Great Friends Meeting House, the mid 18-Centuryhouse where Ezra Stiles once lived and the early 20th-Century ballpark Cardine’s Field.  Ultimately, it is expected that the mobile guide will encompass the entire City.

“Unlike a traditional walking tour that follows a designated route, mobile users do not need to walk in any particular order,” Parillo explains. “The app uses GPS-enabled interactive maps. It pinpoints where a user is standing and orients them to historic sites nearby. It’s like a historical guidebook with pictures from the NHS collections that show how exciting Newport history really is.”

To offset additional development costs, the Society is launching a Kickstarter campaign to raise US$10,000 in 45 days. Pledges range from US$10 to US$1,000 and include gifts at each level. Donations can be made at http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/nhs/explore-historic-newport.

“History is a powerful tool,” states Ruth Taylor, the Society’s Executive Director. “It is also a source for education, heritage tourism, and much more. The Newport Historical Society is making history more accessible to more people. A pledge to our Kickstarter campaign helps tell the story of Newport’s role in American history in a unique and exciting way to a very broad audience.”

“Explore Historic Newport” is the city’s first history app tour made available to the public by a Newport cultural institution. It is scheduled to launch in late June or early July.

About the Newport Historical Society

Since 1854, the Newport Historical Society has collected and preserved the artifacts, photographs, documents, publications, and genealogical records that relate to the history of Newport County, to make these materials readily available for both research and enjoyment, and to act as a resource center for the education of the public about the history of Newport County, so that knowledge of the past may contribute to a fuller understanding of the present. For more information please visit www.NewportHistory.org.

About Lila Delman Real Estate

Lila Delman founded the company’s original office in Narragansett nearly 50 years ago.  Since then, Lila Delman Real Estate has grown to include 6 strategically located offices, over 100 REALTORS®, a marketing department that creatively uses online social media, and an award winning website.  As an exclusive marketing partner of Christie’s International Real Estate, the firm is consistently a frontrunner in the luxury market.  For more information please visit www.LilaDelman.com

America's Happiest Seaside Towns

Lahaina, Hawaii

The Hawaiian kings knew that Lahaina was the crown jewel of the islands. Which is why this town of 11,700 was once the royal capital of Maui Loa in antiquity. Now it's the charming gateway to Maui's world-famous Ka'anapali and Kapalua beach resorts to the north. Its banyan trees add a courtly air to the downtown, and its brightly colored Front Street, busy with shops and galleries, keeps things lively. Lahaina has nearly perfect air quality, and when you add its dry, sunny climate in a tropical paradise, that makes life pretty ideal.

Long a favored harbor for American whaling vessels, Lahaina maintains an exotic tinge of a mid-19th-century Hawaiian seaport in its architecture and vibe. The seafaring tradition continues each year, when the town hosts the finish of the Vic-Mauo Yacht race, the longest offshore sailboat race on the West Coast, held every June through July.

Read the full article... 

Franton Court is offered for sale by The Higgins Group with international marketing services provided by Christie's International Real Estate

---

---

Westport, Connecticut—Franton Court, a historic three-acre estate surrounded by seven acres of natural preserve land, is being offered by The Higgins Group, with international marketing services provided by Christie's International Real Estate. This magnificent residence features a rare provenance, with only seven owners in its 149-year history, and has hosted some of the world’s most celebrated artists including Wassily Kandinsky, Fernand Léger, Marc Chagall, and architect Frank Lloyd Wright. Franton Court comprises a 7,355-square-foot main house, a guest house, and superb recreational options including a tennis court and pool. The property is located in the heart of the prestigious Greens Farm section of Westport, five minutes from Long Island Sound and downtown Westport, and just 50 minutes from Manhattan, and is offered for sale at US $6,495,000.

The three-story Italianate–style manor was originally built in 1859 for Walter Sherwood, a successful Westport farmer. Among the home's most notable owners are Hilla von Rebay, an early 20th-Century abstract painter and the original curator and cofounder of New York’s iconic Guggenheim Museum. Naming the home "Franton Court" in honor of her parents, von Rebay hosted some of the world's most celebrated artists at the estate, including Wassily Kandinsky, Fernand Léger, Marc Chagall and architect Frank Lloyd Wright.

“This elegant stone manor, complete with period architecture and beautiful grounds, presents a rare opportunity to own one of the finest homes in Westport, a lovely town close to the beaches of Long Island Sound and within commuter distance to Manhattan,” says Rick Higgins, Chairman and Founder of The Higgins Group, a residential real estate brokerage located throughout Fairfield County.

The majestic Franton Court, which spans 7,355 square feet with nine bedrooms and 10 baths, has undergone extensive renovations over the years including the addition of a new wing and a sunny garden room. After a three-year restoration by its current owners, the estate stands as a testament to its former grandeur yet features an exciting array of 21st-Century amenities, such as a tennis court, pool, and an entertainment barn. The main house is defined by grand interiors abounding with beautiful architectural details including 10-foot ceilings and nine fireplaces. Furthering the splendor are a family room, library, foyer, formal dining room, and a master suite with a fireplace and a balcony overlooking the grounds.

"Franton Court is a remarkable estate with a rich history and provenance that has been host to many seminal artists of the early 20th Century,” says Kathleen Coumou, Christie's International Real Estate SVP of the Northeast Region.

Set amid three verdant acres, which are surrounded by more than seven acres of natural preserve land, Franton Court’s verdant, landscaped grounds are enhanced with a two-bedroom guest house, as well as a restored barn and outbuildings. The estate is situated just five minutes from the town of Westport and the beaches of Long Island Sound, and is within 50 minutes drive from New York City.

Switzerland: Boost for home ownership gets second chance

by Urs Geiser and Olivier Pauchard, swissinfo.ch

---

For the second time within three months a proposal to boost Swiss home ownership by granting tax breaks is going to a nationwide vote. A first plan was thrown out by a 56 per cent majority of voters back in March.

Sponsored by the Home Owners’ Association, the latest initiative facing voters on June 17 seeks to encourage the purchase of so-called first homes for taxpayers as Switzerland’s rate of home ownership is below average compared with other European countries.

Up to SFr10,000 ($11,016) per person could be set aside as tax deductible for a period of ten years with tax-free interests on the accumulated capital, according to the text of the initiative.

Supporters argue home ownership is not only high on the list of people’s personal goals but its promotion is also enshrined in the constitution.

Jean-François Rime, a parliamentarian for the rightwing Swiss People’s Party and a prominent businessman, says Switzerland still has to catch up with other European countries.

He adds that the promotion of home ownership has been successfully introduced in one of the 26 cantons of Switzerland - in Basel Country. But this assertion is questioned by Carlo Sommaruga, parliamentarian for the centre-left Social Democrats and secretary-general of a tenants’ association in western Switzerland.

For the rich

Parties to the left and the centre, as well as the government, have come out against the initiative saying it interferes with the autonomy of cantons and only helps the well-off to acquire property and save taxes.

“Only the rich can benefit from the initiative. Those who can afford to buy property will be allowed to save tens of thousands of francs on top of everything,” says Sommaruga.

He says there are enough other fiscal incentives available to promote ownership, notably the possibility of investing money from two official social security schemes, including the occupational benefit fund.

“The really wealthy are most likely already home owners. But the example of canton Basel Country shows that middle class earners between SFr60,000 and SFr80,000 have benefited,” counters Rime.

He also discounts allegations that as a result of the savings plan the tax breaks would lead to a substantial drop in revenue for the state.

While Sommaruga warns that lower revenue would make the situation for public finances all the more worse at a time of an economic crisis and tight budgets, Rima downplays the financial impact.

Officials estimate revenue will slump by more SFr370 million annually for the federal as well as the cantonal and local authorities.

Read more...

Bocasa, One of Boca Raton’s Finest Estates, is Offered at $10,850,000

This Magnificent Resort-style Compound is Offered by Christie’s International Real Estate Exclusive Affiliate Premier Estate Properties

---

---

One of Boca Raton’s finest estates, the magnificent Bocasa has been listed by Premier Estate Properties, the foremost brokerage company for high-end luxury real estate on Florida’s Gold Coast and an exclusive Affiliate of Christie’s International Real Estate. Commanding a prime position along the championship golf course of the illustrious Royal Palm Yacht and Country Club, the property is listed by Gerard Liguori, Joseph Liguori, and Carmen D'Angelo Jr., and is offered at US$10,850,000.

This one-of-a-kind trophy estate offers an unparalleled location across from the beautiful beach and Boca Raton Resort and Club with guard-gated seclusion amid a paradisiacal tropical landscape. Inspired by the majestic Italian Renaissance–style architecture and formal gardens of Miami's landmark Vizcaya estate, this newly built luxury compound was created under the direction of famed interior designer David Easton—one of Architectural Digest's AD 100 Designers.

Filigreed iron gates, a grand motor court, and a colonnaded courtyard are the grand introduction to this superlative residence. Sweeping across a prime double lot, the stunning estate interweaves indoor and outdoor living spaces amid sculpted Classical–style formal gardens. Elaborate custom details are lavished throughout this stately residence encompassing 18,466 square feet with nine bedrooms; and 11 full, and two half baths. A convergence of intimacy and grandeur, each room conveys its own unique character with many opening onto a series of terraces, which look out onto the sumptuous grounds. The aureate interiors are imbued with exceptional accents, such as antique stone, inlaid marble, imported wood floors, soaring ceilings, and state of the art features.

Leaded-glass doors lead from the courtyard into the central gallery, which reveals a regal double-height great room with inlaid marble floor, fireplace, leaded-glass windows, and French doors facing out to the gardens. The living room is appointed with a herringbone-patterned hardwood floor below an ornate trellis-molded ceiling complete with trompe l’oeil detailing. The banquet-sized formal dining room is styled with elegant custom built-ins and French doors. The showpiece chef's kitchen features Sub-Zero, Wolf, and Miele appliances, beautiful stone finishes, and a cross-beamed ceiling; while the breakfast area and family room enjoy access to a gorgeous poolside loggia. A grand foyer flowing from the main gallery showcases the stunning master suite, a luxuriant haven replete with a bedroom, terrace, sitting room, exercise room, his-and-her offices, and spa-like baths adorned in Crema Marfil marble and Jerusalem Gold limestone. Furthering Bocasa’s private quarters are two main floor staff suites, and six bedrooms on the upper floor highlighted by four suites overlooking the golf fairways.

Sensational garden terraces anchored by sparkling fountains frame Bocasa’s resort-style grounds. Among the stunning amenities are a secluded pool area with a mosaic-tiled spa under a beautiful pergola, and a cabana with a summer kitchen and full bath. A four-bay garage, elevator, impact-glass windows and exterior doors, a seven-zone HVAC, comprehensive Crestron electronics, and a whole-house generator further the splendor of this superlative offering.

For more information on Bocasa, visit www.premierestateproperties.com/luxury_real_estate/florida/palm_beach/boca_raton/R3121876.aspx

Lila Delman Real Estate Announces Highest Sale in Rhode Island

---

Lila Delman Real Estate announced the sale last week of 145 Wellington, “Bluebird Cottage”, in Newport, Rhode Island for US$5,400,000. The property was listed by Melanie Delman, President, and Robin Nicholson, Broker Associate, and Kim Doherty, Sales Associate, of Lila Delman Real Estate. This is the highest sale in Rhode Island, year to date, and the highest sale in Newport since 2010.

"'Bluebird Cottage' is a fine example of harbor view living in Newport, Rhode Island.  World class sailing, rich cultural experiences, stunning beaches, and proximity to Boston and New York make Newport an ideal choice for today's affluent buyers," said Melanie Delman.

“Bluebird Cottage” is an iconic Newport harbor front estate. Many jazz musicians were housed there in the early years of the Newport Jazz Festival, including Count Basie, who wanted to buy the stained glass window on the main stairway. “Bluebird Cottage” housed various America’s Cup crews in the 1970s and 1980s, including Sir Frank Packer’s crew for Australia's Gretel II (the last 12-meter boat built in wood) in 1970, and Alan Bond’s crew for Southern Cross in 1974. The expansive lawn was often to be seen draped with the drying sails of Cup contenders.