House of the Week: Set on 39 acres, custom-built Pompey home is like a visit to the country – syracuse.com

POMPEY, N.Y. In 1978, Bob Manikheim and his wife, Joyce, were living in a development in Fayetteville.

It seemed like the houses were just two feet apart, he joked. We wanted more space.

He found it.

He bought two acres of property out on Cazenovia Road in Pompey and then, through what Manikheim calls happenstance, he acquired eight more contiguous lots around it for a grand total of 60 acres.

He called the land there rough and bad and likened it to a swamp with many dead trees.

But he was more than up to the task, joking that the work allowed to relieve stress on the weekends.

It took a long time to coral all the water and open it up, he said.

He dug several crystal-clear ponds, built a gazebo, and planted hundreds of new spruce trees.

His family gathered around him, occupying three homes on his property. He called it his family compound.

But things change.

In 2008, and some family moving on, he wanted to build a new home there. One that was quiet and private and took advantage of the beautiful countryside.

His new three-bedroom, three-bathroom house is at the end of a 2,000-foot driveway.

It is not really a driveway, he joked. It is a street!

Manikheim modestly says the home was meant to be functional and to look pretty good.

The home was built to be open and easy to move around in. He says he and his wife can live easily on just the ground floor.

The floor plan is open, and the home has high ceilings and many windows.

We went overboard with windows, he said, adding that there was no sense to do all this work outdoors and not enjoy it.

The kitchen is a special favorite for him.

He enjoys having breakfast in the dining area and looking out at the wildlife, like deer, raccoon, foxes and every bird you can think of.

Everyday someone new walks by, he said.

The kitchen, great room, with its many windows and beautiful gas fireplace, and master bedroom all have access to the deck which runs the entire length of the front of the house.

The property is an outdoors lovers paradise.

It feels like you are in the country there, Manikheim said. You think you are someplace else when you visit.

Hiking, snowshoeing, skiing, and ATV riding are all possible there.

The swimmers pond has been stocked with bass, has its own private beach, and is grated for both young and more experienced swimmers. A pond house with a bathroom, sink and refrigerator is where his children had parties while growing up.

A wildlife pond is stocked with minnows, which attract birds like blue heron and are used to feed the bass in the other pond.

After all these years there, he feels the property is too much for someone his age.

Manikheim says it is bittersweet to leave the property after all the work he has done there.

Anyone moving in will have the knowledge of knowing we did things right.

He and his wife plan to remain in the area and help their children with the new breweries they are opening, Seneca Street Brewery and Erie Canal Brewing Company.

(NOTE: Manikheim is selling the home and the entire 39 acres for one price but is willing to sell the house and just 13 acres for a lower price.)

For more information about this property, please contact realtors Sophia Sorrentino Benjamin, of Weichert Realtors of the Bollinger Group, or Allen Olmsted, of Canaan Realty. Their information is below.

THE DETAILS

Address: 8417 Cazenovia Road, Manlius, N.Y. 13104

Price: $1,100,000 (This price is for the house and all 39 acres. The owners will sell the house and 13 acres the home is on for $965,000. The mortgage figure is for 39-acre option.)

Size: 4,723 square feet

Acreage: 39 acres

Monthly Mortgage: $3,714 (based on this weeks national average rate of 3.01 percent, according to Freddie Mac, for a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage with a 20 percent down payment. Fees and points not included.)

Taxes: $21,447 (Based on assessed value of $529,400)

Built: 2008

School District: Fayetteville-Manlius

Kitchen: The kitchen is really big and really open. It features plenty natural all hickory cabinets, oak flooring and granite counter and splashboard. It has a large island, two ovens, a six-burner stove with griddle and a large refrigerator. Bob and Joyce Manikheim enjoy breakfast in the dining area surrounded by windows which looks out onto the gazebo and gardens. They watch the wildlife from there.

Living areas: The home was built to be open and functional. Visitors arrive in the large front foyer which has built-in display shelves, recessed and decorative lighting and two large closets. The living room has high cathedral ceilings and a large stone fireplace with gas logs. The large floor-to-ceiling windows let in tons of natural light and has views of the Mickey Mouse pond and waterfall. There is a den/office which could be made into a fourth bedroom. A downstairs living area has a second stone gas fireplace and built-in bookshelves. It is mainly used as a Television room. It has radiant heated floors. There is a convenient laundry room.

Master bedroom: The master bedroom has all oak flooring and recessed lighting. It has a huge walk-in closet with built-in shelves and center island dresser. It has many windows and access to the deck. There three bedrooms in the house.

Master bathroom: The master bath has two sinks and granite counters. There is a small hair and makeup studio for Joyce. The tile floor has radiant heat in it. The very large shower unit has extra jets. The two other full bathrooms have bathtubs.

Outdoors: The home is located on 39 acres of property set well off the road. Visitors arrive at a 2,000-foot driveway. Manikheim has done over 38 years of landscaping there, including grooming trails, opening fields, planting spruce trees, and digging several ponds. There are hiking and cross-country ski trails. The Swimming Pond is stocked with bass and has its own beach. It was grated for young and old swimmers. It is about 13 feet deep at its deepest point. The children would have parties there with a cute pond house there with air-conditioning, refrigerator, microwave, and bathroom. The area is private and has security lighting. The property also includes two metal pole barns and a three-bay attached garage. A breezeway to the garage is heated and has air-conditioning.

Location: The owner likes to say that the property is like a trip to the country but centrally located. It is two miles from the village of Manlius, four miles to Fayetteville and 13 to Syracuse. Owner says he is a half-mile away from bank, shopping, food, and Urgent Care.

Agent: Sophia Sorrentino Benjamin

Weichert Realtors, The Bollinger Group

Address: 7137 East Genesee Street, Fayetteville, N.Y. 13066

Phone: (315) 657-4466

Email: sophia@thebollingergroup.net

Agent: Allen Olmsted

Canaan Realty

Address: 8645 East Seneca Turnpike, Manlius, N.Y. 13104

Phone: (315) 682-4500

Email: Allen@nyland.forsale

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House of the Week: Set on 39 acres, custom-built Pompey home is like a visit to the country - syracuse.com