Greek American Paul Halvatzis, a real-estate agent for Amorelli Realty (a company owned by his mother Anita Halvatzis, based in Astoria) negotiated the selling of the historical Steinway Mansion in Astoria, New York.
The 27-room mansion is a historical building that used to belong to the famous piano manufacturing family. According to the real estate agents it was sold to two local men at the price of 2.65 million dollars.
While media have not been notified yet in regards to what the buyers intend to do with the mansion, Lauren Cornea, a representative from Amorelli Realty assured that because of the building’s historical significance and landmark status, the house will in fact remain intact.
“The property is landmarked on a federal, state and city level, so it cannot be knocked down. It can’t even be altered without permission from Landmarks, so it is heavily protected,” she said. “It will always remain the Steinway Mansion.”
“Saying goodbye to a family homestead for almost 90 years is very sad, and I hope the mansion lives on forever,” said Michele Kazarian, daughter of late owner Michael Halberian, who said the new owners have promised to “maintain the integrity of the house.”
“That was a key issue for me, and they said they would,” she added.
Costa Constantinides of the city council said that the mansion’s new owners, whom he described as “two local guys,” who grew up in Astoria and who are open to the idea of a public use for the house.
“They’re very interested in working with the community to see this property become part of the fabric of the neighborhood,” he said.
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