La Ronda (estate)

The 17,500-square-foot (1,630 m2) Philadelphia Main Line mansion was the last commission by the renowned early 20th century architect Addison Mizner based in Palm Beach, Florida.

It has not been seriously vandalized, abused or neglected… To have this building demolished and replaced rather than adapted and reused would be to suffer a tragic loss due to unfortunate ignorance and misguided hubris.

The new owner, whose identity was hidden behind a corporate front, applied for a demolition permit and announced plans to tear down the La Ronda mansion and build a new 10,000-square-foot (930 m2) house.

The Lower Merion Historical Society attempted to raise $7 million to buy La Ronda and establish a foundation to preserve the building.

In August 2009, Benjamin Wohl, a Florida real estate developer, offered to buy La Ronda and move it to an adjoining lot to be his second home.

Wohl stated that he had a purchase agreement for land adjoining the La Ronda property, and that he had contracted with an engineering firm to assess the feasibility of moving the house.