An iconic artifact of American architectural history has entered the commercial and residential real estate market. The Glen Sanders Mansion, a historic estate situated along the scenic banks of the Mohawk River in Scotia, New York, has been officially listed for sale at $8 million. Recognized as one of the oldest surviving structures in the United States, the property combines over three centuries of American history with a high-volume hospitality enterprise and pre-approved residential development rights.
Represented by real estate firm Douglas Elliman—with a brokerage team comprising John Lawrence, Angelo Michael Mazzone, and Rick Rosa—the three-acre estate encompasses more than 40,000 square feet of interior space. First reported by The New York Post, the listing marks a major transition for the property, which has operated under the stewardship of hospitality entrepreneur Angelo Mazzone for nearly four decades.
1. Main Facts
The Glen Sanders Mansion represents a rare convergence of early American colonial heritage, modern hospitality infrastructure, and forward-looking real estate development potential.
Key attributes of the listing include:
Location: 1 Glen Avenue, Village of Scotia, New York (Schenectady County / Mohawk Valley region).
Asking Price: $8,000,000.
Historical Origins: Originally established in 1713, utilizing structural components reclaimed from an earlier 1655 dwelling.
Lot Size & Interior Footprint: 3.0 acres overlooking the Mohawk River; over 40,000 square feet of built area.
Current Operational Status: Premier event venue, boutique inn featuring 22 guest rooms, ballroom facilities, riverfront terrace, and a grand porte-cochère.
Listing Brokerage: Douglas Elliman (Agents: John Lawrence, Angelo Michael Mazzone, Rick Rosa).
Development Entitlements: Includes municipal approvals and architectural plans for a 101-unit residential apartment extension.
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| GLEN SANDERS MANSION AT A GLANCE |
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| Listing Price | $8,000,000 |
| Construction Date | 1713 (Incorporating 1655 materials) |
| Ancestral Lineage | Glen-Sanders Family (266 years / 6 gens) |
| Interior Footprint | 40,000+ sq. ft. |
| Site Area | 3.0 Acres |
| Guest Accommodation | 22 Rooms |
| Approved Expansion | 101 Residential Apartments |
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2. Chronology
The timeline of the Glen Sanders Mansion spans late 17th-century Dutch colonial settling through the American Revolution, the 20th-century hospitality boom, and modern real estate expansion.
1655 ── Dutch colonial elements constructed on site
1713 ── Primary three-story Colonial manor house completed
1780s ── Notable visits from George Washington and Duke of Orléans
1961 ── Glen-Sanders family exits after 266 years; converted to an inn
1988 ── Angelo Mazzone acquires property; initiates massive expansion
2019 ── Mazzone Hospitality operations sold to Compass; real estate retained
2024 ── Property listed for sale at $8M with entitlements for 101 apartments
The 17th and 18th Century Beginnings
The origins of the property date back to 1655, when Dutch settler Alexander Lindsay Glen constructed a homestead on the north bank of the Mohawk River, naming the area Scotia after his native Scotland. In 1713, his descendant, Johannes Glen, built the primary three-story stone-and-brick manor house standing today, incorporating timber, masonry, and architectural hardware salvaged from the earlier 1655 structure.
For 266 years across six consecutive generations, the home remained within the single lineage of the Glen and Sanders families.
Revolutionary Era Prominence
During the late 18th century, the manor served as a center of local political and social life in the Mohawk Valley. Historical records indicating local military and political gatherings note that Commander-in-Chief George Washington visited the manor during his trips through Upstate New York following the Revolutionary War. Louis-Philippe, Duke of Orléans (who later became King of the French from 1830 to 1848), was also hosted at the estate during his exile in the late 1790s.
Transition to Commercial Hospitality (1960s–1988)
In 1961, the last direct heirs of the Glen-Sanders family sold the estate, concluding nearly three centuries of single-family residential occupancy. The residence was subsequently adapted into a regional inn and dining facility, marking its initial transition into commercial adaptive reuse.
The Mazzone Expansion Era (1988–Present)
In 1988, local restaurateur Angelo Mazzone acquired the property. Over the following decades, Mazzone executed a series of architectural expansions designed to complement the original early-American structure. The expansion introduced:
A 22-room boutique inn.
A dedicated ballroom and banquet center.
A grand covered porte-cochère.
An outdoor landscaped terrace and ceremony gazebo overlooking the Mohawk River.
Five years ago, Mazzone sold the corporate operating entity, Mazzone Hospitality, to Compass Group (Compass International), while retaining direct ownership of the underlying physical real estate and land.
3. Supporting Data and Architectural Specifications
The property presents a mix of preserved historical framing and modern commercial infrastructure designed for high-capacity events.
Architectural Features and Historical Integrity
Despite several modern augmentations, the historic core of the mansion retains key features of early Dutch-Colonial craftsmanship:
Exterior Masonry & Roofline: Features classic brick and local fieldstone construction, decorative roof dormers, and traditional multi-pane window shutters.
Entryway: Preserves the original 1713 solid timber double Dutch front door, featuring original hand-forged iron hardware.
Interior Millwork: Original wooden staircase banisters remain in place, complete with historical hatchet marks dating to conflict periods of the colonial era.
Doors and Trim: Interior passageways retain original hand-milled wood doors, frames, and structural beams installed during the 1713 construction.
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| HISTORIC CORE VS. MODERN ADDITIONS |
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| HISTORIC CORE (1713) | Dutch front door, hatchet-marked banisters, |
| | original timber framing, fieldstone masonry |
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| MODERN EXPANSION (1989+) | 22-room inn wing, grand ballroom, riverfront |
| | terrace, commercial kitchen, porte-cochère |
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Commercial Infrastructure Metrics
Total Square Footage: ~40,000+ sq. ft.
Site Area: 3.0 Waterfront Acres.
Capacity: Main ballroom accommodates large-scale banquets, corporate retreats, and weddings (widely rated on wedding and event platforms such as The Knot).
Zoning and Approvals: Includes fully approved municipal architectural plans for the construct of 101 multi-family residential apartments, offering significant mixed-use development flexibility.
4. Official Statements and Owner Perspectives
In commentary provided following the public listing of the property, owner Angelo Mazzone reflected on the estate’s historical durability and its central role in his business trajectory.
"It was my baby. I grew a company from this facility to a $70 million food and beverage company," Mazzone told The New York Post. "But there’s really no one in my family that wanted to [take] it [over]."
Addressing the contrasting quality between colonial-era artisan construction and contemporary construction methods, Mazzone pointed to the structural longevity of the 18th-century elements:
"All the original doors are here," noted Mazzone. "So the doors that were put in in 1713, they’re all still working. But the doors that I put in, in 1989, I replaced ten times."
Representation for the listing emphasized that the property is being positioned to attract diverse buyer profiles, ranging from hospitality operators to real estate developers looking to capitalize on the pre-approved residential unit capacity.
5. Implications for Real Estate, Preservation, and Development
The listing of the Glen Sanders Mansion carries notable implications for the local economy, historic preservation efforts, and regional real estate trends in Upstate New York’s Capital Region.
Adaptive Reuse and Mixed-Use Development
The inclusion of municipal approvals for 101 residential apartments adds a significant commercial incentive to the sale. Urban planners and regional developers frequently identify adaptive reuse projects that balance historic preservation with residential density as key drivers of suburban economic stability. The pre-approved plans allow a prospective buyer to immediately pursue a high-density residential development on the excess parcel acreage without navigating lengthy entitlement processes.
PROSPECTIVE BUYER PATHWAYS
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┌───────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────┐
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[ Hospitality ] [ Mixed-Use Dev ] [ Private Estate ]
Continue operating Execute approved 101-unit Restore original core
inn & event venue apartment extension as private compound
Potential Strategic Outcomes for a New Owner
Expanded Hospitality Operations: A national or regional boutique hotel operator could acquire the site, upgrade the 22 existing guest rooms, and leverage the riverfront location to expand food, beverage, and event revenue.
Residential / Mixed-Use Integration: A developer could build the pre-approved 101-unit apartment complex, integrating historic commercial spaces (such as a club, restaurant, or co-working space) into the residential community.
Private Institutional or Residential Conversion: The property could be re-converted into a private estate, corporate retreat, or private social club, returning the 1713 core structure to exclusive residential use.
Historic Preservation Context
As one of the oldest structural landmarks in New York State, the sale of the Glen Sanders Mansion will be closely monitored by regional heritage organizations. The preservation of original 1713 interior and exterior elements through centuries of adaptive use highlights the viability of retaining early American architectural history within operational commercial property assets.
