2523 Prytania St, New Orleans, LA 70130

Let’s skip the fluff: this is a massive historic mansion in the heart of the Garden District, fully stripped to the studs — over 11,000 square feet of raw potential on a commanding corner lot. Before we go further: yes, the interior is stripped. But here’s why — this house was slated for demolition in 1925; its original floors and finishes were removed nearly a century ago. What’s been taken out more recently was decades of layered drywall and patchwork renovations from the 1960s, ’70s, and ’80s — four layers deep in some rooms. What remains is not neglect — it’s a clean slate. A structure that narrowly escaped total erasure and now, 100 years later, is ready for someone with vision to write its next chapter. Significant structural improvements have already been completed, and active, approved building permits convey with the house, offering a rare opportunity to hit the ground running with your renovation. If you’re looking for turnkey, this isn’t it. If you’re looking to create a generational asset, read on. The bones are historic. The canvas is blank. The location is blue chip. The Lonsdale Mansion — in its current state — is for someone with the resources, taste, and team to execute a complete interior build. Anne Rice and Nicolas Cage both owned this house. And yet, it began with Henry T. Lonsdale, a 19th-century coffee importer who hired renowned architect Henry Howard in 1856 to build what became the tallest residential structure in the neighborhood — so tall it was nicknamed “skyscraper.” Howard, one of Louisiana’s most prolific architects, left an indelible mark on the state’s architectural landscape, designing over 280 buildings, including iconic structures like the Pontalba Buildings in Jackson Square. Nearly 170 years later, it’s ready for its next chapter — waiting for someone with the vision, determination, and grit to carry its legacy forward and elevate this landmark into a defining icon of New Orleans architecture for the next 170 years.