Billionaire Ken Griffin just moved his hedge fund Citadel to Miami and one of his first orders of business was to ask the city to remove the former home of historic statesman William Jennings Bryan from his property.
Villa Serena, the home of the three-time presidential candidate, who served in the House of Representatives from 1891 to 1895 and as the Secretary of State under Woodrow Wilson, is one of two homes located on the estate Griffin, 54, paid a Miami record $106 million for in September, the Miami Herald reported.
He purchased the four-acre waterfront property in Coconut Grove from philanthropist Adrienne Arsht.
Arsht, who is known in Miami for her $30 million contribution to the city’s performing arts center, spent a significant amount renovating the home, which she used as a guest house and for social gatherings.
Griffin, who is worth over $31 billion, has a city agency looking into accepting the compound as a donation and relocating it.
However, historians and preservationists from the area say that such a move will not only devalue the 1913 mansion, but also put it in danger of damage or collapse.
Citadel spokesman Zia Ahmed told the outlet that Griffin wants the property to one day be opened for public use for the first time in its history.
“This is just an idea in the very early stages right now,” Ahmed said. “Ken’s team is exploring potential options wherein the general public would for the first time be able to visit and see this historic home at a different location.”
The post Billionaire Ken Griffin seeks to move 109-year-old William Jennings Bryan home appeared first on New York Post.
