Emerald city: Jerry Schwartz’s neighbours reach boiling point

Jerry Schwartz has raised the ire of some of his neighbours over renovations to his $25 million mansion.

Boiling point

Real estate mogul Jerry Schwartz, the nation’s largest private owner of hotels, has raised the ire of some of his eastern suburbs neighbours over renovations to his $25 million mansion, which covers more than 2000sq m on Vaucluse Bay and is billed as one of Sydney’s 10 most expensive homes. Schwartz, also a cosmetic surgeon, has been renovating the property for about a year, including carpeting the mansion’s stone floors, which were quarried from a 14th century convent in France by Burgundian monks. Now the three-level lift Schwartz has installed has raised the ire of some neighbours with one lodging an objection to the roof, alleging it was blocking views. That objection delayed the construction of the lift, which cost up to $400,000, by about three months. Schwartz denies speculation he plans to build a rooftop garden and says the roof will remain flat. “I could watch the fireworks from my house but I will be at the Sofitel Hotel,” he adds.

Treading water

Leon Kamenev, the Ukrainian-born founder of online takeaway delivery service Menulog, has asked that his plans for a seven- bedroom, 41m wide mansion built across four adjoining waterfront blocks be referred to the Sydney Planning Panel for assessment. The plans for the four adjoining waterfront houses, which he bought for $80m last year, were lodged with Woollahra Council last December. Council says they are still under assessment and declined to comment on neighbours’ claims that the proposed setback of the mansion breaches the planning code. Meanwhile, Kamenev is said to be residing in one of the four Vaucluse houses — the one that he bought from tech executive David Shein. Kamenev would not respond: “I do not want to talk; this is very private stuff.”

Looking to downsize

Financial services lawyer Terry Brigden, a partner with Lander & Rogers, has listed his Manhattan-style townhouse in Sydney’s Elizabeth Bay with price hopes of more than $3m. Brigden bought the Greenknowe Avenue, Elizabeth Bay property, which features limestone bathrooms and a top floor entertainer’s retreat, wet bar and powder room, for about $2.152m in 2013. He is planning to downsize and is keen on staying in the Elizabeth Bay area. Clint Ballard and Patrick O’Brien,of Ballard Property Group, are handling the marketing of the three-bedroom property which will be auctioned on May 23.