The Ennis House is without question a fixer upper in need of extensive rehabbing. The ongoing situation has been tentative for years. An article ran in August 2005 by the New York Times stated that the Ennis House could require as much as $15 million to restore it to its original luster. Subsequently, the foundation reported that phase one of the refurbishing commenced in late 2005 and was completed in 2007. Guided tours of the home were stopped in 2007.
The Ennis House Foundation is a small non-profit organization that simply cannot raise the capital required to keep the structure intact. That is why it wants to sell the sumptuous dwelling to a private party. Without the efforts of the foundation, it is likely that the house would have been lost.
The storied house has been used as a location by numerous filmmakers. It was featured prominently in the apocalyptical Blade Runner (1982), starring Harrison Ford, and the 1959 release of the classic horror film House on Haunted Hill. It has appeared in other noteworthy films such as Rush Hour, The Day of the Locust, Black Rain, and The Replacement Killers. Actress Diane Keaton, who is a board member of the Ennis House Foundation, has played a significant role in the efforts to preserve the house for years.
"The Ennis House deserves to be restored to its original brilliance. The person who undertakes the task will be helping to preserve Frank Lloyd Wright's legacy, and in doing so, will create a legacy of their own which will endure for generations, " said Kay Coughlin, president and CEO of Christie's Great Estates, as posted on Christie's News & Events section of its Web site.
The Ennis House listing is being handled jointly by Hilton & Hyland and Dilbeck Realtors with international marketing services provided by Christie's Great Estates.
For JustLuxe James Rothaar
