A Cornell alumnus has purchased the University’s historic “Robin Hill” property for $2.785 million according to Bloomberg.
The property was originally listed on Zillow in May amid what top University administrators are calling “profound financial challenges” following the Trump administration’s move to freeze $1 billion in federal funds for Cornell.
“We have been using institutional resources to try to plug these funding holes in the short term, but these interim measures are not sustainable,” University administrators wrote in a June statement.
According to the Zillow listing, the house was purchased on July 23. In a statement to Bloomberg, a University spokesperson said that a “devoted Cornell alumnus” purchased the home and wishes to remain anonymous.
“The buyer … intends to preserve this historically significant Ithaca property, honor its rich legacy, and maintain the residence with care and respect,” the University statement to Bloomberg read. “The home was purchased through a limited-liability company that was registered in New York in early July, according to local property records.”
Robin Hill was built in 1923 and purchased by the University in 1963 by former Cornell President James Perkins. Since then, six Cornell presidents have lived at Robin Hill. Former Cornell President Martha Pollack was the last to reside in the house prior to her retirement and the end of the 2023-2024 academic year.
According to a University spokesperson, the residence was posted for sale to maintain “Cornell’s commitment to responsible stewardship of university assets.” The spokesperson also stated that since the home has been unoccupied for several years, the University hopes to “save on the costs associated with regular maintenance and upkeep” of the home.
The house contains seven bedrooms, eight bathrooms, a fully equipped gym, a gardener's cottage and several fireplaces with 8,730 square feet and three acres of lot area.
The University did not previously pay taxes on the house. Now that it’s been sold, it will generate nearly $70,000 in annual property taxes, to be shared by Tompkins County, the Town of Ithaca, the Village of Cayuga Heights and the Ithaca City School District.
Zeinab Faraj is a member of the class of 2028 in the College of Arts and Sciences. She is the features editor on the 143rd Editorial Board and was the assistant sports editor of the 143rd Editorial Board. You can reach her at zfaraj@cornellsun.com.
