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Was Chamberlain's Iconic Bel Air Home a Demolition?
Was Chamberlain's Iconic Bel Air Home a Demolition? Dallas
By   Lisa Johnson Mandell
  • City News
  • US Property
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Abstract: The rockiest bachelor pad - which has since been renovated into an elegant architectural masterpiece - is now for sale for just the land value: $9.995 million.Does that mean the iconic Bel-Air mansion built for NBA legend Wilt Chamberlain is doomed?

Bobby Syed, the listing agent for Coldwell Banker Beverly Hills, says he hopes buyers will appreciate the legendary mansion as much as the land it sits on.


Developers looking to build new construction, however, will certainly covet the 2.51-acre lot, which sits on a private promontory with extraordinary views.


But buyers who want to keep the mansion and live there, or add it to their personal collection of iconic homes, know that the estate cannot be replicated.

Was Chamberlain's Iconic Bel Air Home a Demolition?

Said Said, "It's a one-of-a-kind home, unlike any home in all of Los Angeles, and even if someone had a billion dollars to their name, they couldn't rebuild it in the same configuration."


He was referring to a city permit variance enacted after the home was built in the 1970s. The space, the location of the pool adjacent to the main house, the height, the ceilings-these are all things that cannot be built now. It's impossible to replicate."


Is there anything else that can't be replicated? These sellers are offering a deal. They're offering a loan to a "super-qualified buyer" at a 4% interest rate.

Was Chamberlain's Iconic Bel Air Home a Demolition?

If you're not familiar with this exceptional Frank Lloyd Wright-inspired custom-built property, let us introduce you. It is jaw-droppingly original and elegant.


Chamberlain chose this secluded hilltop site and worked with renowned architect David Rich to build this unique 9,395 square foot mansion in 1971.


He spent more than $1 million to build the house, which he named Ursa Major.

Was Chamberlain's Iconic Bel Air Home a Demolition?

The mansion also has a legendary reputation. In his 1991 autobiography, View from Above, Chamberlain claimed to have had relationships with more than 20,000 women, many of which took place in the mansion.


Highlights of 1970s opulence (which may be one of the reasons he called himself a "salty man") include a master suite with a mirrored retractable ceiling above the bed and a sunken bathtub at the foot of the bed. There's also a game room with a waterbed floor, a dining room with an in-floor spa and a pool that extends into the living room.


While these lofty features are as outdated as shorts on a basketball court, some of the home's standout architectural elements remain - 200-tonne stonework and a 14-foot-tall, 2,000-pound front door, among other details.

Was Chamberlain's Iconic Bel Air Home a Demolition?

The soaring fifth-floor living room features cathedral ceilings, windows, tree-like columns and several tonnes of Bouquet Canyon stone.


The massive pool has also been renovated, and it still winds its way into the living room. The pool wraps around the entire house and would be impossible to get a permit for today.


Other luxury amenities include a media room, billiards room, gym, mahogany sauna, chef's kitchen with stainless steel appliances, outdoor kitchen, and spacious indoor/outdoor entertaining space. There is also a garage and motor court for over 10 vehicles.

Was Chamberlain's Iconic Bel Air Home a Demolition?

The current owner, Dmitri Novikov, purchased the property in 2008 for $6.555 million and was responsible for many of the renovations. He reconfigured the downstairs area and removed the bathtub at the foot of the master suite bed.


Since 2018, Novikov's house has been on the market on and off for as much as $18.999 million.


So the question is, how can the current owners let go of this one-of-a-kind property at its current price?


"My clients own a lot of properties, including this estate," says Said.


Over the years, they have invested millions of dollars in remodelling this iconic home and have enjoyed living here for over a decade. When sellers are serious about selling, they are serious about selling. And that's what the listing price and terms reflect.

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Was Chamberlain's Iconic Bel Air Home a Demolition?
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