How Casa Belvedere, a 1908 Staten Island Italian Renaissance Mansion, was Restored

Located on Staten Island, Casa Belvedere was originally built in 1908. It recently finished a 15-year, $5 million renovation that restored the Italian Renaissance style mansion to its former glory, and it’s now the hub of the Italian Cultural Foundation. Read on for before and after photos, along with details of the restoration.

Situated on a three-acre property on Grymes Hill, Staten Island, the building has sweeping views of New York Harbor—“Casa Belvedere” translates to “House with a Beautiful View.” The mansion has Arts & Crafts detailing and a stuccoed masonry structure. Declared a New York City Landmark in 2006, it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2010.

The structure was built in 1908 by Louis A. and Laura Roebling-Stirn, and the original architect was Kafka & Lindenmeyr. Laura’s grandfather was John Roebling, the Brooklyn Bridge’s designer, and Louis A. was a German immigrant who became a successful importer of luxury textiles. After his death in 1962, their house fell into neglect. 

But in 2008, Gina Biancardi and Luciano Rammairone purchased the building. And in 2010, Biancardi founded the Italian Cultural Foundation and donated the mansion to the organization, ensuring its preservation.

Casa Belvedere’s multi-million dollar renovation was funded by both private and public funds. Among the public funds and grants awarded were the Save America’s Treasures award ($500,000) from the National Park Service. The New York City Department of Cultural Affairs also awarded over $2 million toward the ADA-compliant stair tower and elevator extension. Additional public support came from the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation; the New York State Council on the Arts; and the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

Among the most significant building improvements were ADA accessibility so the mansion can welcome all visitors. Other restoration measures included structural reinforcements to prevent further decay, historic preservation efforts that honor the mansion’s original design, fire and safety compliance measures, and modernized infrastructure.

Casa Belvedere is also set to embark on another $5 million project—this time as a campus expansion to elevate its offerings as a cultural institution. New plans include NYC’s first educational vineyard operated by a nonprofit organization, a 4,000-square-foot open-air terrace with a hydroponic vertical gardens learning lab underneath, a redesigned community garden, a rear cottage, and a teaching pavilion for outdoor classes and events.

Nowadays, Casa Belvedere welcomes around 25,000 annual visitors. Their varied calendar includes indoor and outdoor arts, culinary, and heritage programming.

Year-round offerings include cooking and Italian language classes for children, teens, adults, and seniors; contemporary art exhibits; live music performances and outdoor film screenings; and the annual Italian Festival each October, which draws over 5,000 attendees. Other highlights include a permanent Enrico Caruso Gallery featuring rare memorabilia of the legendary tenor, a volunteer-powered community garden, bocce lessons and tournaments, college scholarships, and more.

Casa Belvedere is supported by a membership program with nearly 700 active members. It also functions as an event venue for celebrations like weddings, birthdays, and corporate gatherings.