Arts & Entertainment

Brody Estate Sells for Over $14 million, Proceeds Benefit Huntington

The estate sale is part of the late Frances Lasker Brody's recent $100 million donation to the Huntington, to be used as Brody specified.

The Holmby Hills estate of Frances Lasker Brody, former Huntington Board of Overseers member who passed away last year, sold for $14,888,000 on Wednesday, with the proceeds benefitting the Huntington Library, Art Collections and Gardens.

The only part the Huntington will not receive is commission from the sale of the home.

Jade Mills of Coldwell Banker had the listing, as did Linda May of Coldwell Banker, and Mills said she had "no idea" as to the amount of the commission.

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Proceeds from the home sale are part of the projected $100 million-plus donation from Brody's estate to the Huntington—the largest single cash gift in the institution's history. $15 million from the Brody estate was donated in October and the Huntington announced $80 million more in donations in November.

"Visitors shouldn't expect to see any big changes or splashy new projects resulting from this gift," said Huntington spokesperson Lisa Blackburn on Thursday. "It's going to be business as usual. We plan to be very prudent, investing the funds to maximize their impact and being very cautious about how the money is spent. But we think Mrs. Brody would encourage us to think creatively and boldly in our efforts to keep The Huntington moving forward."

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Funds from the estate's sale will go to the same areas and projects as the previously donated funds, according to Brody's wishes.

The Huntington's botanical gardens will be a focus, which will allow funds for infrastructure and institutional programs including staff compensation and aging pipes and sprinkler systems. 

Blackburn said several lawn mowers were among the first priorities and the water infrastructure project is moving forward. 

"These are the sort of practical, unglamorous expenditures that Mrs. Brody understood were essential to maintaining the botanical collections and preserving the historic estate," said Blackburn. 

Brody's interest in vegetable gardening will result in the development of a kitchen garden, also known as a potager, that will focus on urban agriculture and stability and bring cohesion to the Huntington's herb garden and the recent Huntington Ranch project, according to a November Huntington press release.

Mills said the Brody estate was originally listed on June 7th for $24,950,000 and was then listed at $19.5 million before selling for over $14 million this week.

"I don't think that affected the price at all," said Mills, referring to the knowledge that proceeds would benefit the Huntington. "The house is in beautiful visual condition but anyone who buys it understands that … the house will need to be updated and I think a lot of people don't want to go through the process and this house deserves that process. It's a magnificent house, and the style and décor deserves to be put back in its original fabulous condition."

Mills said the house, which received enormous interest and many offers, is currently in "very nice condition" and was purchased by a female real estate investor who plans to restore the home as close to original condition as possible.

An A. Quincy Jones structure from 1950, "the home was built with design that was before its time," said Mills, with "a very indoor outdoor feeling … fabulous atrium and loads of glass and beautiful grounds. The house is in the middle of the lot, so it really takes advantage of the gardens from every room in the house."

In general, the home's proceeds will aid the Huntington's financial stability along with the previous donation, as it funds Brody's specified projects. The date certain projects, such as the potager, will commence is presently unknown. 


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