Take a 20th-century Tudor-style estate, throw in a Moroccan king and British businessman Richard Branson, add beets and tomatoes, and you have the makings of a new ultraluxury community in the rolling hills of New Jersey.
Natirar, as it’s called, is a country community based on wellness, sustainable living and connecting with nature. It’s set inside a 500-acre park (think maximum privacy) in the Peapack-Gladstone borough of Somerset County in New Jersey, less than an hour from New York City.
The original mansion will be refreshed as part of the development plan.
When completed, the 90-acre spread will include a refresh of the historic mansion (more on that later), a new Pendry Natirar hotel, an existing highly rated restaurant and cooking school, a working farm and 24 newly built gated residences — two of which are currently on the market for just under $4 million each.
Pendry Estate Residences located at 45 Abby Road and 47 Abby Road were designed to blend in with the countryside. The townhouse residences (there are just 12 in this gated area) have a sleek contemporary exterior made of wood, stone and floor-to-ceiling windows to celebrate the setting and surrounding views.
The townhouses feature elevators and rooftop belvederes.
The four-level homes feature two bedrooms and three bathrooms in more than 5,000 square feet of living space. An elevator connects the lower, main and upper levels. Grand views unfold from the rooftop belvedere, which has indoor space for a yoga studio or office and an outdoor patio for relaxing or entertaining.
The main level consists of the living room, which has a gas-powered stone fireplace and leads to an outdoor terrace; the dining room; and chef’s kitchen, with quartz countertops and top-quality appliances. Bedrooms are located on the upper level, and a large multipurpose room with bathroom is on the lower level. Another dozen residences are planned for the farm area of the development.
The contemporary homes feature center island kitchens.
“Pendry Residences, whether they are in the city or out here, refer to ‘elevated living,’ referring to the services and amenities and quality of construction,” says Ashley Christus of Turpin Realtors. “You can have every service available to you at the hotel at the residences.”
Residents have access to concierge services as well as membership in the private Natirar Club; the new 66-room Pendry Hotel with a spa, health and fitness center, tennis, restaurants and pools (expected to be completed in May 2024); and privileges at the on-site 12-acre farm, such as having fresh produce delivered to your doorstep.
The Naritar Mansion in the Peapack-Gladstone borough dates to 1912.
Ownership also comes with priority status at Ninety Acres Restaurant and the Natirar Culinary School, which opened in 2009, and travel arrangements for hotels in the Pendry-Montage family of hotels and resorts (Pendry Hotels is a division of Montage International).
Among potential buyers may be families living in the area who are downsizing and have multiple homes in other areas but want to keep “a foothold in the community,” Christus says.
The more than 5,000-square-foot residences contain expansive primary suites.
The site dates to 1912 when heiress Kate Macy Ladd and her husband, Walter Ladd, completed the 33,000-square-foot Natirar Mansion, so named as a backward spelling of the nearby Raritan River. At the suggestion of publisher and businessman Malcolm Forbes, the late King Hassan II of Morocco purchased the property in 1983 at a time when his sons attended nearby Princeton University.
After the king’s death, Somerset County bought the property in 2023 for $22 million. Robert and Kim Wojtowicz leased 90 acres of the 400-plus-acre estate to develop a luxury farm-to-table community that’s been in the works for two and a half decades. The Wojtowiczs initially partnered with Branson but moved on to Montage to complete the vision.
The on-site farm can provide homeowners with fresh produce.
The mansion, which has been used as a wedding venue with a large ballroom, will be refreshed and serve as the reception area for the surrounding Pendry Hotel. Toronto-based DesignAgency will handle the hotel’s feel and style.
Residents in Natirar also have access to outdoor activities, such as hiking, biking, horseback riding and birding within the park. The property at 45 Abby Road sells for $3.85 million; 47 Abby Road goes for $3.95 million. Ashley Christus of Turpin Realtors is the listing agent.
The bucolic site offers luxury amenties and room to roam.