Bridle Path estate, once owned by financier Robert Campeau, listed for sale at $25 million

TORONTO, Oct. 9, 2014 /CNW/ - The iconic French Chateau once owned by Canadian financier and real estate developer Robert Campeau was listed for sale today by luxury realtor Barry Cohen.

The sprawling, four-plus acre property, priced at $25 million, is located in the city's prestigious Bridle Path area.  Campeau built the gated home at 68 The Bridle Path during the early 1980s when his star was on the rise, but was forced to sell when his company was unable to meet its debt obligations.  Following years of neglect, the 28,000 sq. ft. architectural masterpiece was subsequently sold to the existing homeowners (2002) who dedicated years to restoring the property to its original grandeur. Entrusting the late architect Gordon Ridgely, interior designer Brian Gluckstein, and landscape architect Ronald Holbrook, to achieve their vision of balance and proportion, the owners themselves then sourced the globe for period pieces dating back to the 17^th century. 

"The outcome is an authentic French Chateau that truly transports prospective purchasers to another time and place," says Cohen, a realtor with RE/MAX Realtron.  "From the gently sloping cobblestone driveway to the gradual unveiling of the imposing structure, the meticulous attention to detail is evident throughout.  The estate itself rivals any French Chateau found in the Loire Valley and its only 20 minutes from Toronto's downtown core."

The property, featuring 10 bedrooms, 14 bathrooms, a state-of-the-art gourmet kitchen, and an Olympic-size swimming pool with a retractable floor that converts into a ballroom, is rich with history.  It was blessed by Cardinal Carter - notable guests include former Prime Minister Pierre Elliot Trudeau and actress Jane Fonda.  Numerous films have been shot at the home, including It Takes Two and Kissinger.  Just last year, the home appeared in an episode of 'Suits.'

"After close to 13 years, the timing is ideal for my clients, who are empty nesters, to sell.  The robust housing market, particularly in the exclusive upper end, is an added incentive," says Cohen, citing a 42 per cent uptick (889 units vs. 626 units) in the number of high-end sales over the $2 million price point year-over-year, including one for over $14 million on less than an acre in the Bridle Path. 

68 The Bridle Path is being sold turnkey, including French elements quintessential to the property such as antique furnishings, gilt bronze and crystal chandeliers and wall sconces, and various works of art.   

"This is a rare opportunity to own one of the most spectacular properties in the Greater Toronto Area, given its acreage, integrity, and proximity to the core," says Cohen.   "We suspect that it won't take long for a discerning buyer to recognize the architectural brilliance and outstanding attention to detail in this one-of-a-kind home."                                  

SOURCE: Point Blank Communications

Barry Cohen, Realtor, RE/MAX Realtron, Office: 416.223.1818, Cell: 416.219.7455; Eva Blay-Silverberg, Point Blank Communications, Office:416.781.3911, Cell: 416.505.0627