Lynnewood Hall after Widener ownership Lynnewood Hall

lynnewood hall in winter (january 2013)

the grounds used training military dogs during world war ii, , parcels of land outside property fence (see below) sold others after 1943.

lynnewood hall suffered general decline under ownership of faith theological seminary, religious group headed carl mcintire, purchased in 1952 $192,000. during ownership interior detailing, such mantels, walnut paneling, , landscape ornamentation sold off in order raise funds. evidenced 2006 auction of french bronze figural fountain—one of 2 major surviving henri-leon greber commissions in america—originally installed @ lynnewood hall.

lynnewood hall added preservation alliance greater philadelphia s 2003 list endangered historic properties , eligible national register of historic places. cited in cheltenham township s comprehensive plan 1 of township s cultural , historical resources, , in township s open space plan priority preservation, warranting conservation easement. seminary , property foreclosed upon second-mortgagee, reportedly one-time follower of mcintire.

at 33.85 acres (according montgomery county board of assessment data), lynnewood hall owned first korean church of new york. however, lynnewood not in use church , remains vacant. of 2007 no significant stabilization or repair efforts have been evident. on june 25, 2007, cheltenham township planning commission reviewed , denied submitted request (appeal no. 3225) first korean church of new york, inc., owner of premises known 920 spring avenue, elkins park, pennsylvania decision of zoning officer variance rules , regulations of class r-2 residence district outlined in ccs 295-14. use of premises church , domicile caretaker/assistant pastor instead of 1 of permitted enumerated uses.

this second such request, first submitted in 1998, variance. resulted in lawsuit [see first korean church of new york v. twp. of cheltenham zoning bd; submitted pennsylvania supreme court may 2001], upheld cheltenham s denial of request.

there have been negotiations ongoing of new ownership , possible renovations estate. parties had hoped have plan finalized end of 2011. proposed renovation take estate private residence, , offer guest rooms social elite , of high society bed , breakfast. ongoing searches previous pieces of estate belonged lynnewood hall have been undertaken, , total cost of renovations determined buyer. in state court decision handed down in february 2012 judge norma l. shapiro, court ruled first korean church of new york, inc. did not qualify tax exemption. in rare interview philadelphia inquirer after court ruling dr. richard s. yoon, video cameras permitted inside lynnewood hall , original seminary chapel. dr. yoon stated, “we have no choice (but) relocate. don’t want fight more.”

the mansion s grounds, bordered ashbourne road, spring avenue , cedar lane, surrounded original wrought-iron fencing , gates stone base , pillars, in marked contrast of nearby trumbauer contemporary whitemarsh hall similar fencing (which encompassed greater acreage) sacrificed wartime scrap , rapid postwar development. gatehouse , staff outbuilding, of same materials lynnewood, still exist within fence. property within fence has remained contiguous, never having been subdivided.

this property on market $16,000,000 of june 2017. historical restoration architect estimated in 2014 take $50 million restore mansion former glory; however, realtor frank johnson suggests property renovated $3 million $8 million dollars.