I wasn’t a developer, fundraiser, or preservationist. I had no nonprofit experience. But I was determined — and sometimes determination is enough. When I bought the Stirn Mansion in 2009, the 1908 estate was crumbling — overgrown vines choked the façade, the roof gaped with holes, and the terraces were collapsing.
Developers wanted to turn this glorious hilltop estate, with spectacular New York City Harbor views, into luxury homes. I had a different vision: to save the mansion and transform it into a cultural center where people could celebrate Italian heritage and come together as a community.
