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Dominican Sisters regain control of historic Elkins Estate

After a three-year legal battle, the Dominican Sisters of St. Catherine de Ricci have regained control of the historic Elkins Estate in Cheltenham.

Exterior of Elstowe Manor house, built by 19th century industrialist William Elkins and most recently used by the Dominican Sisters as a retreat. The non-profit Food for All, a Hare Krisha operated charity that feeds the homeless, is on the verge of purchasing the 64,000 square foot mansion and other buildings situated on 42 acres in the heart of Elkins Park and turning the old estate into a retreat. (Photo by Clem Murray / Inquirer) EDITORS NOTE: SEstate12-c 9/10/2008 A mammoth estate in Elkins Park, which for 75 years was a nuns' retreat, is now on the cusp of coming back into active use. Cheltenham officials, who deflected two prior developers' attempts to revive the Dominican Retreat, are on the cusp of allowing -- with many reservations -- a Hare Krisha-operated charity that feeds the homeless to move into the 64,000 square foot, Italian Renaissance style Elstowe Manor house. 3 of 8 Reporter is Derrick Nunnaly.
Exterior of Elstowe Manor house, built by 19th century industrialist William Elkins and most recently used by the Dominican Sisters as a retreat. The non-profit Food for All, a Hare Krisha operated charity that feeds the homeless, is on the verge of purchasing the 64,000 square foot mansion and other buildings situated on 42 acres in the heart of Elkins Park and turning the old estate into a retreat. (Photo by Clem Murray / Inquirer) EDITORS NOTE: SEstate12-c 9/10/2008 A mammoth estate in Elkins Park, which for 75 years was a nuns' retreat, is now on the cusp of coming back into active use. Cheltenham officials, who deflected two prior developers' attempts to revive the Dominican Retreat, are on the cusp of allowing -- with many reservations -- a Hare Krisha-operated charity that feeds the homeless to move into the 64,000 square foot, Italian Renaissance style Elstowe Manor house. 3 of 8 Reporter is Derrick Nunnaly.Read moreClem Murray
    by Jessica Parks, Inquirer Staff Writer
    Published 

After a three-year legal battle, the Dominican Sisters of St. Catherine de Ricci have regained control of the historic Elkins Estate in Cheltenham.

In 2009, the sisters sold the 42-acre Gilded Age estate to the Land Conservancy of Elkins Park. But the conservancy almost immediately defaulted on its payments, the sisters said. They reclaimed the deed in November 2010, on the day the conservancy declared bankruptcy.

For the last year, the estate has been in limbo - the sisters owned it, but the conservancy could not be evicted because of the bankruptcy protections.

Under a settlement approved Thursday in Montgomery County Court, the sisters immediately took over the utilities and other costs for the estate, and the conservancy has until noon Wednesday to vacate.

Sister Anne Lythgoe, president of the Dominican Sisters, said her immediate concern was determining the extent of the disrepair. She said the lawns and gardens are overgrown, trees felled by Hurricane Sandy have yet to be cleared away, and the heat has been kept so low that the interior paint is peeling and the pipes are in danger of bursting.

"We want to get over there right away," Lythgoe said after the hearing.

The 2009 purchase was orchestrated by David Dobson, a 58-year-old follower of the Hare Krishna movement. He created the Land Conservancy to purchase the estate, but the $1.5 million down payment came from Dobson's unrelated charity, Food for All. The sisters gave him a mortgage for the remaining $6.9 million, and he began renting out the estate for weddings, film and commercial shoots, and yoga retreats.

Before Dobson took over, the sisters had also used the facility as a retreat house, hosting as many as 10,000 visitors a year.

The estate, originally owned by trolley magnate William Lukens Elkins, includes the tudor-style Chelten House mansion and the Italian Renaissance palace dubbed Elstowe Park.

"Our goal all along has been preservation for cultural use, but it also needs a sustainable economic model," Lythgoe said.

Lythgoe said the sisters were considering partnerships, donations and other options for the site, but she was "not prepared to talk about those plans yet."

Calls to Dobson and his attorneys were not returned.