Luxury, multimillion-dollar Park Ridge mansion to be sold after 10 years of council ruin

A southside council is under scrutiny for leaving a multimillion-dollar Park Ridge mansion to go to rack and ruin before selling it off.

Patricia Evans at the once-luxurious mansion at Park Ridge. The mansion was left vacant and to rack and ruin after Logan City Council bought it in 2008. Picture: AAP/Jono Searle

LOGAN City Council has been accused of letting a multimillion-dollar luxury property go to rack and ruin.

Council bought the four-bedroom Park Ridge mansion for $1.54 million in 2009 when it was set on 18,600sq m after it was sold for $1.7 million in 2007.

It is the second multimillion-dollar property the council has bought only to let dilapidate and rot.

A site at Loganholme, on the Pacific Highway, was bought in 2008 and is still not rented out.

ANTIQUES BUILDING LEFT TO RACK AND RUIN

Smashed windows at the once prestigious mansion that Logan City Council bought but left to rack and ruin. Picture: AAP/Jono Searle

The Park Ridge mansion was a landmark in the area with luxury outhouses and kept gardens, and is within 500m of the Boronia Bushland Reserve.

Logan couple Patricia Evans and her late husband had inquired about buying the property as early as 2008 before the council bought it.

Even though they were unsuccessful in their bid, they continued to hold out hope of one day owning the mansion, which has been left vacant since the council purchase.

Last month, the home at 3602-3608 Mount Lindesay Highway, Park Ridge, which was zoned rural residential, went on the market with a new “for sale” sign showing the land size had more than halved.

A spokesman for Logan City Council said council did not divide the property but said the boundary was realigned to increase the area of the Boronia Bushland Reserve which is an ecogolical corridor.

The online listing showed only photos of the house exterior but the description painted a less than impressive picture.

Not to be deterred by the outside cosmetic blemishes and smaller land size, Mrs Evans went along to the open home thinking it may be her chance to buy.

$1 A WEEK FOR THE FIRST 8 WEEKS. Min. cost $4

On arrival, she was met by a real estate agent who told her she could not enter the house as it was deemed too dangerous but she could walk around the outside.

The agent advised her the house was to be sold “as is”.

Mrs Evans was told that the council was looking for a quick sale and the property was being sold as a “partial house” and land.

The agent also said it was likely insurance claims had already been made for the damage but no one had been charged with vandalism and no security cameras had been installed.

To her horror and dismay, she found the inside of the property had been gutted.

The inside of the once beautiful mansion has been destroyed with all power points ripped out of the walls. PHOTO 9 News

Glass was strewn across all floors, all power points pulled from the walls, every window smashed, faeces wiped across walls, with baths, fireplaces and all fittings ripped out.

Neighbours said all the taps were turned on and left to run for days.

“At the start of this year, I noticed something was going on at the property,” Mrs Evans said. “There were padlocks on the gates and temporary fencing had been put up around the front fence.

“Over time, the lawn became overgrown, vandals had smashed the garage and exterior windows of the home.

“It was such a disappointment to see such a beautiful home that sold for $1.7 million back in 2007 and $1.5 million in 2009, could be left to ruin.

“As a resident for 49 years and a ratepayer of Logan, I’m looking for answers.

“The council must answer for this. The magnificent landmark is now destroyed forever.”

Logan City Council did not have security cameras on the once luxurious two-storey home. Picture: 9 News

The council declined to answer questions about claims it deliberately ran down the site so the house could not be salvaged leaving the way for the land to ultimately be rezoned so it could be subdivided.

A council spokesman said council did not divide the property. They said the boundary was realigned to increase the area of the Boronia Bushland Reserve.

Broken windows at the property. Picture: AAP/Jono Searle

It also refused to answer questions about returns on the investment at the property or say why it did not rent it out or sell to interested buyers back in 2010.

It is the second known multimillion-dollar property council owns that has been left vacant for more than 10 years with no return on investment after the former Antiques Market building was bought for $2 million in 2008 and is still vacant after being vandalised.

“Council has been made aware of extensive damage and vandalism to one of its properties,” a press release said.

“Several steps to improve security of the premises resulted in the theft of temporary fencing. “Council has reported the theft and vandalism to police.

“Further temporary fencing to secure the site has been installed.

“Council purchased the property in 2009 for future environmental purposes.”

The property goes to auction on October 12.