This mansion in Greenwood Village is on the market for $9.9 million. (Photos courtesy of Re/Max Masters Millennium)
After 52 years in the same home, Henri Ann Nelson was finally ready to let go.
Last week she placed her 11,055-square-foot mansion, which sits on 11.22 acres at 2500 E. Belleview Ave. in Greenwood Village, on the market for $9.9 million.
“It took me four and a half years to decide I could leave it,” Nelson said. “I’m getting older, and it takes a lot of work to keep up with a yard, a house and all the amenities that go with it, and my kids wanted me to move.”
“It’s hard not having any neighbors at my age, and I just had nobody to wave to or say good morning to, so it was time,” the 88-year-old added.
Nelson and her husband H.W., who went by Bill, bought the home in 1969, she said. Bill was a certified public accountant who owned Hamma & Nelson, the firm his father founded, before retiring and turning to commercial real estate. He passed away in 2017.
One of the seller’s favorite rooms in the home is the kitchen, which has been updated over the years.
“This was Mr. Nelson’s domain,” Nelson said. “He loved living there, and I tried to get him to size down a number of times before he passed away, and he said ‘I’m going to die right here, don’t worry about it.’ But he also said he was going to live to be 110 years old, too.”
The seven-bedroom, six-bathroom home has seen a lot of history and “tender love and care” over the years, she said.
The Realtor who represented them when they bought the property told the couple that the previous owners were avid antique collectors. Nelson said the home’s fireplace was the original wooden model for a marble fireplace that was carved and given to President George Washington by England. The marble fireplace still resides in the Washington’s Mount Vernon home.
The Nelsons were promised original paperwork from the previous sellers for the fireplace, but due to a divorce never received anything.
“Bill and I went to go see it, and it is identical, even down to a nick on the side that the woodcarver made by mistake,” Nelson said.
“I loved my master bedroom,” Henri Nelson said. “I’d get to wake up in the morning and see the mountains.”
There’s also French tiles in the library that date back to the 1780s, as well as wood carvings on the bannister, and crown molding in the living room, dining room, closet doors and hallways from when a Swiss woodworker lived there previously.
Nelson said she will miss Christmas mornings the most. Every year, her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren would spend the night on Christmas Eve and wake up together to celebrate.
“This will be my first Christmas that my three children, their children and their children have not spent the night with me on Christmas Eve,” she said.
“If Mr. Nelson knew I was selling, he’d probably be sick,” she added. “He loved every minute here and especially loved having everyone come home.”
Address: 2500 E. Belleview Ave., Greenwood Village
Listing price: $9.9 million
The residence sits on 3.51 acres with an adjacent 7.71-acre lot that is zoned for possible equestrian use.
Stats: The south end of the home was originally built in 1905, and the north end was built in 1911, Nelson said. In 1952, the two were connected by a breezeway, which has since been converted into a music room.
The home sits on 3.51 acres with a second 7.71-acre parcel that’s zoned for possible equestrian use.
“It’s a wonderful corner lot, and not every place in the city has that much acreage with a view of the mountains,” Nelson said. “I also came across a lot of wildlife, like deer, and I heard bobcats and coyotes.”
“I would hope that a family with children would buy it and put the horse barn back,” she added. “It’s a wonderful place for kids to grow up. We were in our 30s when we moved in, and it was the answer to our prayer.”
Henri Ann and Bill Nelson originally purchased the home in 1969.
The finer things: Over the years, the Nelsons made renovations such as an updated kitchen with leaded glass kitchen cabinets and doors and bay windows with seats.
“I loved it because the grandkids, and now great grandkids, love to lay on the cushions watching the birds,” Nelson said.
They also built a 12-foot brick wall with entrance gates around the home.
“Before cell phones, everyone would come to my door when they had car trouble since we were on the corner,” Nelson said.
Outside, there’s a tennis court and five-car garage.
“Mr. Nelson had a swing out by the tennis court and, after working in the yard all day, he’d sit on the swing and fall asleep with his hat over his face,” Nelson recalled.
Seller: Henri Ann Nelson
Listing agent: Dann Degen with Re/Max Masters Millennium
This mansion in Greenwood Village is on the market for $9.9 million. (Photos courtesy of Re/Max Masters Millennium)
After 52 years in the same home, Henri Ann Nelson was finally ready to let go.
Last week she placed her 11,055-square-foot mansion, which sits on 11.22 acres at 2500 E. Belleview Ave. in Greenwood Village, on the market for $9.9 million.
“It took me four and a half years to decide I could leave it,” Nelson said. “I’m getting older, and it takes a lot of work to keep up with a yard, a house and all the amenities that go with it, and my kids wanted me to move.”
“It’s hard not having any neighbors at my age, and I just had nobody to wave to or say good morning to, so it was time,” the 88-year-old added.
Nelson and her husband H.W., who went by Bill, bought the home in 1969, she said. Bill was a certified public accountant who owned Hamma & Nelson, the firm his father founded, before retiring and turning to commercial real estate. He passed away in 2017.
One of the seller’s favorite rooms in the home is the kitchen, which has been updated over the years.
“This was Mr. Nelson’s domain,” Nelson said. “He loved living there, and I tried to get him to size down a number of times before he passed away, and he said ‘I’m going to die right here, don’t worry about it.’ But he also said he was going to live to be 110 years old, too.”
The seven-bedroom, six-bathroom home has seen a lot of history and “tender love and care” over the years, she said.
The Realtor who represented them when they bought the property told the couple that the previous owners were avid antique collectors. Nelson said the home’s fireplace was the original wooden model for a marble fireplace that was carved and given to President George Washington by England. The marble fireplace still resides in the Washington’s Mount Vernon home.
The Nelsons were promised original paperwork from the previous sellers for the fireplace, but due to a divorce never received anything.
“Bill and I went to go see it, and it is identical, even down to a nick on the side that the woodcarver made by mistake,” Nelson said.
“I loved my master bedroom,” Henri Nelson said. “I’d get to wake up in the morning and see the mountains.”
There’s also French tiles in the library that date back to the 1780s, as well as wood carvings on the bannister, and crown molding in the living room, dining room, closet doors and hallways from when a Swiss woodworker lived there previously.
Nelson said she will miss Christmas mornings the most. Every year, her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren would spend the night on Christmas Eve and wake up together to celebrate.
“This will be my first Christmas that my three children, their children and their children have not spent the night with me on Christmas Eve,” she said.
“If Mr. Nelson knew I was selling, he’d probably be sick,” she added. “He loved every minute here and especially loved having everyone come home.”
Address: 2500 E. Belleview Ave., Greenwood Village
Listing price: $9.9 million
The residence sits on 3.51 acres with an adjacent 7.71-acre lot that is zoned for possible equestrian use.
Stats: The south end of the home was originally built in 1905, and the north end was built in 1911, Nelson said. In 1952, the two were connected by a breezeway, which has since been converted into a music room.
The home sits on 3.51 acres with a second 7.71-acre parcel that’s zoned for possible equestrian use.
“It’s a wonderful corner lot, and not every place in the city has that much acreage with a view of the mountains,” Nelson said. “I also came across a lot of wildlife, like deer, and I heard bobcats and coyotes.”
“I would hope that a family with children would buy it and put the horse barn back,” she added. “It’s a wonderful place for kids to grow up. We were in our 30s when we moved in, and it was the answer to our prayer.”
Henri Ann and Bill Nelson originally purchased the home in 1969.
The finer things: Over the years, the Nelsons made renovations such as an updated kitchen with leaded glass kitchen cabinets and doors and bay windows with seats.
“I loved it because the grandkids, and now great grandkids, love to lay on the cushions watching the birds,” Nelson said.
They also built a 12-foot brick wall with entrance gates around the home.
“Before cell phones, everyone would come to my door when they had car trouble since we were on the corner,” Nelson said.
Outside, there’s a tennis court and five-car garage.
“Mr. Nelson had a swing out by the tennis court and, after working in the yard all day, he’d sit on the swing and fall asleep with his hat over his face,” Nelson recalled.
Seller: Henri Ann Nelson
Listing agent: Dann Degen with Re/Max Masters Millennium
