Frank Lloyd Wright Home in Michigan Relists for $2.1 Million After Failed Package Deal
The Eppstein House, part of a unique enclave, is now on the market individually following the sale of its neighboring property.
A Frank Lloyd Wright-designed home in Galesburg, Michigan, has returned to the market for $2.1 million. This marks a new chapter for the Samuel and Dorothy Eppstein House after a previous attempt to sell it as part of a bundled package with its neighboring property failed to attract a buyer.
The 1953 Usonian residence, located within The Acres, a 70-acre community of Wright-designed homes near Kalamazoo, is constructed from approximately 3,000 hand-cast concrete blocks. The property sits on two acres and is part of an enclave listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
In the fall of 2023, the Eppstein House was offered alongside the Eric and Pat Pratt House as a $4.5 million package, marketed as the first time two adjoining Wright homes were sold together. However, no buyer emerged for the combined offering. The Pratt House was subsequently sold in June 2024 for $1.8 million, prompting the Eppstein House to be listed independently.
Marika Broere, a co-owner of the Eppstein House, stated that the strategy of bundling the properties may have limited the buyer pool. Broere and her partner, Tony Hillebrandt, purchased the previously deteriorating home in 2016 and completed a significant restoration the following year. Broere indicated that this restoration addresses common concerns regarding the upkeep of Wright-designed homes, noting that the roof, plumbing, electrical systems, heating and cooling, drainage, glazing, and woodwork have all been renovated, leaving no immediate restoration projects for the next owner.
Despite the extensive renovations, the home's location in Galesburg, a small city approximately two hours from Detroit, and its price point present potential challenges. The listing acknowledges the difficulty in pricing the property due to the scarcity of comparable sales for architecturally significant homes of this nature.
Broere anticipates that the eventual buyer will be an individual seeking a significant piece of American architectural history rather than a conventional residence. The 2,500-square-foot home features three bedrooms and two bathrooms. It is also noted as being used part-time as a profitable short-term rental, generating income through platforms like Airbnb from enthusiasts globally.
Broere expressed optimism that the current listing with Sotheby’s International Realty will attract broader international attention. She referenced the Shavin House in Chattanooga, Tennessee, which sold for $4 million after being listed at $1.6 million, as an example of how exceptional Wright homes can significantly outperform initial expectations, though she noted that sale was driven by unique circumstances including a court-supervised process. Broere believes this demonstrates a viable market for distinctive Wright properties when they connect with the right buyer.
"For Tony and me, selling the house is bittersweet," Broere said. "We have always regarded ourselves as its custodians."