Historic Merritt Mansion on Former Ambassador College Campus Asking $10 Million

Even for Pasadena, a town uncommonly blessed with grand Gilded Age mansions, this listing's a real humdinger. Originally known as Villa Merritt Ollivier, the Millionaire's Row residence was built by railway/steel tycoon Hulett C. Merritt. The Italian Renaissance-style home was constructed between 1905 and 1908 at a cost of $1.1 million. Following Merritt's death in 1956, the property was purchased by Ambassador College. Now owned by developer City Ventures, Villa Merritt Olliver's most recent incarnation was as a wedding and film venue, but since February, it's been up for grabs. According to the listing (which is maddeningly stingy with interior photos), the 17,329-square-foot house has "9 bedrooms, a fully built-out basement with 6 additional rooms, two security vaults, and an underground swimming pool and locker room," but puzzlingly, only two bathrooms. That can't be right, can it? Sited on a 1.81-acre lot with stupendously lovely landscaping designed by Garrett Eckbo, the mansion hit the market three months ago with an asking price of $11 million, which has since been pruned to $9.95 million.

100 South Orange Grove Blvd [Redfin]