Mohamed Hadid's controversial hilltop ‘Starship Enterprise' mansion site is up for auction — again
The remnants of Mohamed Hadid's stalled-out megamansion could be yours.
The demolished concrete remains of Hadid's $50 million Los Angeles residence are being sold in a sealed-bid auction, the Real Deal reported. The no-reserve sale has a starting bid of $7.9 million and lasts until July 16.
The former dwelling earned the nickname 'Starship Enterprise' from alarmed neighbors, who feared the pad's gargantuan size and uncertain foundations would lead to a cliffside disaster for the entire neighborhood.
5 Hadid's would-be home sold at auction in 2021 after he was ordered to tear it down.
Anadolu via Getty Images
5 A judge previously ordered the under-construction home to be torn down amid safety concerns.
MEGA
5 Sahara Construction completely demolished the property.
MEGA
Compass's Tracy Tutor and Premiere Estates Auction Company's Todd Wohl hold the listing.
The unfortunate eyesore currently belongs to Paul Ventura's Sahara Construction, which purchased the property at auction for $5 million in 2021. Attempts to sell the Bel-Air property since then have failed to bear fruit.
Sahara Construction has carefully demolished the partially built structure down to its concrete foundations, the Real Deal reported, citing a court-ordered engineering report that declared the site now safe for a 15,000-square-foot home.
Hadid previously tried to build a home twice that size, and was taken to court over his efforts.
5 Hadid, pictured with his famous daughters, Gigi and Bella, in 2016.
Dimitrios Kambouris
5 Hadid planned to build a 30,000-square-foot structure on the hilltop site.
AP
'If this house came down the hill it would take a portion of the neighborhood with it,' said Los Angeles Judge Craig Karlan in his 2019 ruling for Hadid to demolish the illegally built hillside home.
Hadid, a real estate developer and father to Bella and Gigi Hadid, began construction on the planned megamansion in 2014. The tycoon fought the city of Los Angeles for several years to build the estate. Hadid's company 901 Strada LLC filed for bankruptcy when he was ordered to tear down the structure.
Sahara Construction listed the property for sale in the fall of 2023 for $18 million, The Real Deal reported, but the listing was removed last year.
'The demolition took a tremendous amount of money,' Premiere Estates Auction Company's Todd Wohl told the outlet. 'From the court's standpoint, the legal issues and development issues are cured. There's a flat pad now. This would survive a major earthquake.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Yahoo
Another of Mohamed Hadid's Failed Mansion Projects Heads to Auction Block—a Year After Developer Filed for Bankruptcy
The developer father of supermodels Gigi and Bella Hadid will see another of his beleaguered mansion projects put up for auction later this year—just weeks after it was announced that his so-called 'Starship Enterprise' property in Bel-Air was set to go under the hammer. , 76, has long been known for building some of Los Angeles' and Beverly Hills' most opulent properties; however, his yearslong run as a leader in the industry has hit a hefty hurdle in recent years amid stalled construction, ongoing legal woes and bankruptcy filings. Now, one of his unfinished projects in Beverly Hills will be sold off to the highest bidder, just over one year after the limited liability company through which Hadid financed the construction filed for Chapter 11, claiming that it had been the victim of 'predatory lending.' The stalled project, which is situated in Beverly Hills' exclusive Bella Vista Estates, along with 'recently reconsidered' architectural plans for its development, will hit the auction block on Sept. 23, with a sealed bid deadline of Sept. 16. In a press release shared with Keen-Summit Capital Partners real estate brokerage revealed that the new plans for the 3.2-acre lot envision a 25,000-square-foot abode that includes a theater, gym with a spa, an 11-car garage, staff suites, and a wraparound pool. 'Grading and foundation work are already underway, making this a rare, shovel-ready opportunity in one of L.A.'s most coveted enclaves,' the press release added. The auction comes, the statement noted, after the current owner, Hadid's company Tree Lane LLC, filed for bankruptcy protection in April 2024, news that was first reported by the New York Post. 'The guarded community of Bella Vista Estates is truly one of the most private, secure and prestigious enclaves in Los Angeles,' Keen-Summit Capital Partners' principal and co-president Harold Bordwin said in a statement. 'Overlooking Beverly Hills, this is a once in a lifetime opportunity to build a stunning estate, starting with an architectural design recently reconsidered by the AD 100 architects at Woods + Dangaran. With gorgeous architectural plans, grading underway, and panoramic views, this site is ready for a visionary buyer to bring a luxury estate to life quickly.' News of the auction comes just over a year after Hadid insisted that he had been the victim of 'predatory lending' at the hands of fellow developer Zach Vella, whose company, Skylark Capital, provided his LLC with a $31 million loan to finance the development of the Bella Vista dwelling. 'I believe I was a victim and now I have to fight my fight,' Hadid told the New York Post. 'They gave us enough money to hang ourselves and then they stopped funding.' His claims came two years after Vella's company sued Hadid's LLC over the Bella Vista property, which had, at the time, been undeveloped for four years—with Skylark Capital accusing Hadid of 'outright theft' and 'fraud,' the Post reported. However, this isn't the first time one of Hadid's failed abodes has hit the auction block. Just weeks ago, it was revealed that his planned $50 million Los Angeles mansion was going on auction with an opening bid of $7.9 million—after he was forced to demolish the structure because it violated building regulations. That 1.2-acre site is being sold off by Paul Ventura's Sahara Construction in a sealed auction that will end July 15, according to its listing, which is held by Compass's Tracy Tutor and Premiere Estates Auction Company's Todd Wohl. But while the first few listing photos reveal renderings of a stunning hillside home, all that remains of Hadid's former mansion is a foundation and a few slabs of concrete—along with planning approval to build an opulent dwelling that spans up to 15,000 square feet. The listing, which was first reported by The Real Deal, also notes that, while bids are set to start at $7.9 million, there is no reserve on the property, which means that it will sell to the highest bidder, regardless of whether that opening bid price is reached. Despite the torrid history of the home that once sat on the land, the listing describes the property as a 'rare and exceptional development opportunity' to hold space in one of 'Los Angeles' most prestigious and desirable neighborhoods.' The vacant lot is situated at the end of a cul-de-sac and offers residents complete privacy, sweeping canyon views, and a 'foundation to build a world-class custom estate,' according to the listing. Hadid began construction on his own property on the plot back in 2012, laying the groundwork for a home that would ultimately span 30,000 square feet—double the size that planning permits allowed for on the plot. The initial work on the dwelling revealed the floor plan to be so vast that the home was nicknamed the 'Starship Enterprise' by horrified neighbors, who quickly voiced upset over the dwelling's expansive size. By 2015, the size of the home became the focal point of a furious legal dispute, when the City of Los Angeles prosecuted Hadid for refusing to adhere to the halt work orders that had been issued on the property. Three years later, Hadid had yet to downsize the property, prompting his neighbors to file a civil lawsuit against him, raising fears that the mansion could slide down from hits perch on the hillside and cause major damage to the entire community. The lawsuit claimed that the home had been illegally built, was not up to code, and that it was unstable, with a structural engineer testifying in court that the home's support piles had only been driven 20 feet into the ground, instead of the 30 feet that is required by building regulations. In 2019, a judge ordered Hadid to tear down the property, stating that the dwelling posed 'a clear and present' threat to his neighbors. 'If this house came down the hill it would take a portion of the neighborhood with it,' Judge Craig Karlan said of his ruling, according to the New York Post. Hadid made multiple attempts to appeal the ruling—and in 2019, he even filed for bankruptcy on behalf of the LLC through which he purchased the plot, claiming that his company was facing between $10 and $50 million in debt because of the construction costs involved in the failed project. In 2021, he opted to sell the property to Sahara Construction for $8.5 million, rather than pay the $5 million required to safely demolish the home—a cost that the buyer agreed to cover. The construction firm then took out an $8 million loan from Northern Bank & Trust Company in 2023 and completed the requirements to stabilize the slope. Things went from bad to worse for Hadid when he was ordered to pay a lump sum of $2.6 million toward his neighbors' legal costs in 2023. Buying a House Is the Second Most Important Financial Goal for Gen Z—the No. 1 Goal Is Why It's Out Of Reach Investors Are Selling a Record Share of Homes To Cut Their Losses—Especially in These 5 States First-Time Homebuyers Say This Is Their Biggest Regret After Closing on a House
New York Post
02-06-2025
- New York Post
The ‘Waldorf-Astoria of Brooklyn' finally has a future — after years of failed renovation attempts
The Hotel Bossert, a former luxury hotel in Brooklyn Heights, has been acquired by real estate firm SomeraRoad for $100 million — and it's going residential. The Italian Renaissance Revival-style building is an icon of Montague Street. The locally beloved landmark, where the Brooklyn Dodgers celebrated their only World Series championship in 1955, languished through more than a decade of stop-start renovations before it was recently snapped up by SomeraRoad, the Brooklyn Eagle reported. 6 The Hotel Bossert sits on the corner of Montague and Hicks streets. Dylan Wilson 6 The hotel in its heyday housed several Brooklyn Dodgers and happening parties in its top-floor bar. Getty Images The years of false starts and pesky scaffolding began after the former hotel's 2012 purchase by developers Joseph Chetrit and David Bistricer for $81 million. The previous owners planned to reopen the relic as a boutique hotel with 302 rooms, according to the Eagle. Their renovation efforts repeatedly stalled, however. Chetrit bought out Bistricer in 2019, the Real Deal reported. The saga ended earlier this year with $177 million of debt and a foreclosure auction. Beach Point Capital acquired the decaying hotel from the Chetrit Group at auction for $999,000. SomeraRoad purchased the property from Beach Point Capital, with the latter providing a $71 million mortgage, according to the Real Deal. The 14-story Hotel Bossert was constructed as an apartment hotel in 1909 by lumber magnate Louis Bossert. Its nautical-themed Marine Roof Supper Club was the toast of the town in its mid-20th century heyday, known for unbeatable Manhattan views and live music. 6 The hotel entrance in 1958. Getty Images 6 The hotel was known as the Waldorf-Astoria of Brooklyn. Getty Images 6 The hotel lobby, pictured in 2008. Dylan Wilson The Jehovah's Witnesses took over the building in 1983, and their restoration efforts on the building were widely praised, Curbed reported. The group sold the building to Bossert and Chetrit in 2012 amid a massive property selloff when they left Brooklyn for upstate New York. A 2019 New York Magazine story chronicled the experiences of the former hotel's five remaining rent-stabilized residents still living in the near-vacant building. Now, the grand 116-year-old hotel plans to welcome residents in one of Brooklyn's most in-demand areas. 6 Brooklyn Heights' hot real estate market makes the hotel's residential future especially enticing. Google Earth The Hotel Bossert's new owners, SomeraRoad, boast a track record of adaptive reuse projects — the firm gained attention for its successful restoration of the former India House building at One Hanover Square in 2023. Its founder, Ian Ross, is a Brooklyn resident. 'SomeraRoad plans to honor the property's rich history and restore and reopen the building as residences,' the company wrote in a statement.
New York Post
23-05-2025
- New York Post
Mohamed Hadid's controversial hilltop ‘Starship Enterprise' mansion site is up for auction — again
The remnants of Mohamed Hadid's stalled-out megamansion could be yours. The demolished concrete remains of Hadid's $50 million Los Angeles residence are being sold in a sealed-bid auction, the Real Deal reported. The no-reserve sale has a starting bid of $7.9 million and lasts until July 16. The former dwelling earned the nickname 'Starship Enterprise' from alarmed neighbors, who feared the pad's gargantuan size and uncertain foundations would lead to a cliffside disaster for the entire neighborhood. 5 Hadid's would-be home sold at auction in 2021 after he was ordered to tear it down. Anadolu via Getty Images 5 A judge previously ordered the under-construction home to be torn down amid safety concerns. MEGA 5 Sahara Construction completely demolished the property. MEGA Compass's Tracy Tutor and Premiere Estates Auction Company's Todd Wohl hold the listing. The unfortunate eyesore currently belongs to Paul Ventura's Sahara Construction, which purchased the property at auction for $5 million in 2021. Attempts to sell the Bel-Air property since then have failed to bear fruit. Sahara Construction has carefully demolished the partially built structure down to its concrete foundations, the Real Deal reported, citing a court-ordered engineering report that declared the site now safe for a 15,000-square-foot home. Hadid previously tried to build a home twice that size, and was taken to court over his efforts. 5 Hadid, pictured with his famous daughters, Gigi and Bella, in 2016. Dimitrios Kambouris 5 Hadid planned to build a 30,000-square-foot structure on the hilltop site. AP 'If this house came down the hill it would take a portion of the neighborhood with it,' said Los Angeles Judge Craig Karlan in his 2019 ruling for Hadid to demolish the illegally built hillside home. Hadid, a real estate developer and father to Bella and Gigi Hadid, began construction on the planned megamansion in 2014. The tycoon fought the city of Los Angeles for several years to build the estate. Hadid's company 901 Strada LLC filed for bankruptcy when he was ordered to tear down the structure. Sahara Construction listed the property for sale in the fall of 2023 for $18 million, The Real Deal reported, but the listing was removed last year. 'The demolition took a tremendous amount of money,' Premiere Estates Auction Company's Todd Wohl told the outlet. 'From the court's standpoint, the legal issues and development issues are cured. There's a flat pad now. This would survive a major earthquake.'
