Jay Z And Beyonce Buy Church That Was Converted Into A Mansion
According to the Christian Today, Jay and Beyonce bought the old Westminster Presbyterian Church that was converted into a mansion in the 1990s. The power couple reportedly purchased the Spanish Baroque property, named La Casa de Castile for $2.6 million.
The property is at 1527 Harmony Street in the Garden District, which is one of the most historic and memorable houses in New Orleans. The Central Business District and the French Quarter are just a couple of miles away.
Jay Z and Beyonce purchased the 13,292 square foot property that is a three-story mansion with 22 rooms, including seven bedrooms and eight bathrooms. It has a 26-foot-high ceiling, massive arched windows, and three separate apartments.
The master suite has a sophisticated chandelier and an antique claw foot bathtub. The building has an open concept design and features a rooftop deck with the largest residential green roof in New Orleans, which serves as a yard with views over downtown.
Besides the beauty of the property, it comes with a rich history. It used to be a house of worship until the 1920s. Then it become the home of Ballet Hysell, operated by legendary dance instructor Maestro Harvey Hysell, who used two of the apartments for himself and used the main church area as his dance studio.
First the building was a church. Then it was a ballet school. Then it underwent massive renovation when it was purchased by Sandra Castille McNamara and was finally used as a residential space in 2000. McNamara explained what was done to the mansion.
“In 1999, we purchased the building and began a massive renovation to make it our home, including replacing all its electrical, heating/cooling and plumbing systems. We added new structures, relocated the elevator shaft, closed in the front yard and added an amazing living green roof, which is currently the largest in New Orleans.”
The owners’ quarters take more than 9,800 square feet. The great room with 26-foot ceilings and massive arched windows used to be the sanctuary. The altar became the dining area, and the master suite used to be the third-floor-choir loft. Original features include hardwood floors, columns, and molding throughout.
The owners’ quarters have a sitting room, an office with exposed beam ceilings, and plenty of storage space. There are three one-bedroom apartments with entrances on the side street.
This residence, a converted 1927 Spanish Baroque design, is a half-block off St. Charles Avenue on a broad oak tree-lined street with other mansions and historic hotels.
E! Online reported that the superstars are moving to New Orleans just as Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie are moving out. Beyonce’s sister, Solange Knowles, lives there.
[Image via E! Online]
