Michigan brothers bought 1861 Gilbert Mansion for $1 in 1986; restored property now asks $1.13M

Two Michigan builder brothers bought Ypsilanti’s crumbling 1861 Gilbert Mansion for just $1 in 1986 (Image Credit: Christopher White via Realtor.com) A historic mansion in Ypsilanti, Michigan, that once appeared headed for demolition has taken a remarkable turn over the past four decades. Christopher and Steve White, two builders who had previously renovated historic properties in Ypsilanti, bought the deteriorating Gilbert Mansion for just $1 in 1986 after the city struggled for years to find someone willing to take on the property. Speaking to Realtor.com, Christopher White recalled that the brothers spent the next 14 months rebuilding the neglected structure and converting it into apartments. Now, about 40 years after their purchase, the restored 1861 mansion has been transformed into a seven-unit residential property being offered for $1.13 million.A mansion that had fallen into disrepairThe Gilbert Mansion, at 227 N. Grove Street, was built in 1861 for John Gilbert and is an example of the Second Empire style. Its design includes two square towers, ornate exterior details and a distinctive mansard roof. But by the 1980s, the grand house had become a very different sight. The b...