The former estate of actor Richard Gere in New Canaan, Connecticut, has been demolished to pave the way for a luxury development. The sprawling 32-acre property was sold for $10.75 million in October 2024, shortly before Gere and his wife, Alejandra Gere, relocated to Spain. Plans for the site include the construction of nine high-end residential properties.
Before the demolition began, salvage experts from Hudson Valley House Parts worked diligently to recover valuable architectural elements from the historic home. Founder Reggie Young confirmed the teardown, expressing gratitude that the new owners allowed the team to preserve significant features, including vintage fixtures and intricate woodwork. Young stated, “We recently checked in and the house has been taken down. We are grateful that the buyers allowed us time to salvage and get everything out.”
The estate, originally built in the 1930s, had previously been purchased by Gere from singer Paul Simon and his wife, Edie Brickell, in 2022. Gere initially envisioned transforming the property into a working farm. However, plans changed as the couple opted to move to Spain to be closer to Alejandra’s family.
The demolition has drawn criticism from Lulu Simon, daughter of Paul Simon. She openly condemned Gere’s actions on social media, alleging he had made a promise to preserve her family’s former home. In a pointed Instagram post, she expressed her discontent, stating, “Just in case anyone was wondering if I still hate Richard Gere – I do!” She claimed that Gere had agreed to maintain the land as a condition of his purchase, describing the resale to a developer as a breach of trust. Lulu expressed her sentiments further by saying, “He bought my childhood home. Promised he would take care of the land as a condition of his purchase.”
In a subsequent post, Lulu shared an image of Gere with family pets, adding, “I hope my dead pets buried in that backyard haunt you until you descend into a slow and unrelenting madness.” Her commentary included a meme that read, “Time will put your enemies in the ground,” illustrating her anger over the situation.
The demolition had been scheduled for May, according to reports. Since relocating to Madrid, Richard and Alejandra Gere have been focusing on their family, which includes two sons, Alexander, age six, and James, age five. Alejandra also has an eleven-year-old son, Albert, from a previous marriage. Gere himself is the father of a 25-year-old son, Homer, from his previous marriage to Carey Lowell.
Richard Gere, now 75, discussed the transition in an interview with Vanity Fair Spain in April 2024. He remarked, “She was very generous in giving me six years living in my world, so it is only fair that I give her at least another six living in hers.” This statement underscores the couple’s commitment to balancing family dynamics as they embrace their new life in Spain.
As the luxury development takes shape, the historic legacy of Gere’s former estate will be replaced by modern residential options, marking a significant shift in the landscape of New Canaan.
