This historic church-turned-mansion for sale in the Garden District of New Orleans is surrounded by intrigue and all the elements of a Lifetime Original Movie. In fact, the location has nearly 99 issues, but transparency is not one of them!
After less than a week on the market, the asking price unexpectedly increased by $1 million, from $3.5 million to nearly $4.5 million. Why are the current listing images from 2015, when the property was last sold, when the building was allegedly damaged by arson in July? Who and why sparked the fire? Why is the property listed as FSBO (for sale by owner) when the proprietor’s phone number is registered to an immigration attorney in Mississippi? In addition, the listing instructs prospective purchasers to visit a nonexistent property marketing website — and that’s just the beginning! (The elaborate Spanish-style building is also completely obscured on Google Maps, as expected.)
Perhaps the most intriguing fact about the mansion known as La Casa de Castille is the following: It may have never been inhabited by Shawn “Jay-Z” Carter and Beyoncé (née Knowles), but it is unquestionably theirs. The property is registered to Sugarcane Park LLC, an entity established by Beyoncé’s Parkwood Entertainment and managed by her mother, Tina Knowles, according to the deeds. According to public records, Sandra McNamara sold the property to the Carters in early 2015; it is unknown how much the Carters paid, but the asking price was $2.6 million. According to documents from the Orleans Parish Assessor’s Office, McNamara purchased the property for only $500,000 in 2001.
In addition to the home’s peculiar recent history, it is now available exclusively on Zillow, which is intriguing in and of itself. An unnamed “Grammy winner” was reportedly quoted in the original listing as saying, “The acoustics and vibes are excellent. As I watched the sunset from the rooftop garden, I produced my finest work ever!” According to that listing, the baroque venue has also hosted weddings, events, and prominent corporate executives. In addition, the sellers have offered to paint the structure in the new owner’s preferred color before the transaction concludes.
Located within a half-block of the city’s renowned St. Charles Avenue, the 1927 structure features three enormous arched windows and an ornate Churrigueresque crown. Although it is believed to retain the original hardwood floors, columns, moldings, and church pews, the building has obviously witnessed a significant transformation since its days as a Presbyterian church.
There are currently six bedrooms and seven bathrooms distributed across 13,300 square feet. In addition, there are three one-bedroom residences, each measuring approximately 1,000 square feet, with discrete separate entrances from a side street, as well as a rooftop garden with views of the downtown area. The 26-foot-tall great room, which was formerly the church’s sanctuary and features gleaming oak floors, dominates the expansive home’s exterior.
Other circa-2015 highlights included a red-walled dining room, a loft-like seating area, a library with built-in bookshelves, and an opulent executive office, although it is unclear whether these spaces have been modified in recent years. In addition, there is a capacious, albeit aesthetically dated, kitchen with Viking appliances and granite countertops. A massive owner’s bedroom suite is located on the second floor and includes a private sitting room, walk-in wardrobe, and bathroom with a clawfoot tub.
The Carters, whose combined estimated net worth exceeds $1.5 billion, also maintain a $26 million home in East Hampton, New York, a $88 million Bel Air mansion, and a luxurious Tribeca penthouse obtained by Jay-Z in 2004.
