Some houses are expensive because they’re large.
Others are expensive because they’re rare.
And then there are homes like Miramar — where the real story is architectural pedigree.
Perched atop a private hill in Mill Neck with wide-open views across Oyster Bay and Centre Island, the estate at 233 Cleft Road is one of only two known Nassau County homes designed by legendary architect Robert A. M. Stern.
Now listed for $8.3 million with Paul Mateyunas of Douglas Elliman, the property is returning to the market for the first time in nearly 40 years following a major restoration aimed at preserving Stern’s original vision.
And for architecture people, this is the kind of listing that immediately stands out.
Robert A.M. Stern helped define luxury New York architecture
Even people unfamiliar with Stern by name have probably seen his work.
The late architect designed some of the country’s most recognizable residential buildings, including 15 Central Park West and 220 Central Park South — two addresses that effectively became shorthand for modern Manhattan wealth.
But unlike those towering New York condo buildings, Miramar feels quieter and far more personal.
The house sits high above Oyster Bay with sweeping water views
The setting does a lot of the heavy lifting here.
Positioned on more than five acres atop a private hill, the estate looks out across Oyster Bay and Centre Island, with the water remaining visible from major living spaces throughout the house.
It’s the kind of elevated Long Island setting that feels almost cinematic at sunset.
A major restoration focused on preserving Stern’s original intent
The Mill Neck home recently underwent a comprehensive restoration, but importantly, the work wasn’t about modernizing the architecture beyond recognition.
The focus remained on preserving Stern’s original design language while carefully updating the estate for contemporary living.
That distinction matters — especially with architecturally significant homes, where renovations can sometimes erase the very qualities that made the property important in the first place.
The interiors lean classic without feeling overly formal
Inside, the house embraces many of the details Stern became known for.
Cathedral ceilings, crown molding, generous proportions, and traditional architectural detailing all appear throughout the interiors, but the spaces still feel livable rather than museum-like.
There’s elegance here, but not stiffness.
The house quietly balances scale with warmth
At just over 5,200 square feet, Miramar isn’t trying to compete with the oversized mega-estates now flooding parts of the luxury market.
Intentionally scaled interiors, welcoming for families
Instead, the house feels intentionally scaled — large enough for entertaining and family life, but still grounded enough to feel genuinely comfortable.
That restraint actually makes the property more compelling.
The grounds were redesigned with classical symmetry in mind
The landscape redesign came from acclaimed landscape architect Fernando Wong, whose work has become increasingly recognizable across high-end residential properties.
Here, the grounds were reshaped using more formal classical principles, creating outdoor spaces that feel carefully framed rather than overly manicured.
The landscaping gives the property a stronger sense of arrival without competing against the architecture itself.
The architecture feels especially relevant right now
There’s also something interesting about this listing arriving now.
As many luxury buyers begin shifting away from hyper-minimal glass-box architecture, homes with stronger architectural identity and traditional detailing have started feeling newly desirable again.
Stern built an entire career around that balance — historical influence paired with modern functionality — and Miramar reflects exactly that philosophy.
A rare chance to own a private Robert A.M. Stern residence
Private residential work from architects of Stern’s stature rarely changes hands publicly, especially properties that have remained within the same ownership for decades.
That alone makes this listing unusual.
But combined with the restoration, the Fernando Wong grounds, the water views, and the relative scarcity of Stern-designed homes on Long Island, Miramar starts feeling less like another luxury listing and more like a genuinely important architectural estate quietly returning to the market.
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