A lifelong Dream Fulfilled
“Nina Schmidbaur, 31, a social worker who became a local hero when she bought a crumbling Victorian mansion on Route 9W called Clovelea that she had vowed to own since childhood, though it had been ravaged by fire and two decades of neglect.”
— New York Times, 2021
After 30 years, Nina Schmidbaur restored this piece of history
2021
Purchased as a derelict mansion that was crumbling after four men purchased the building with hopes of renovations that never came to fruition.
2023
With dreams of opening a holistic health center, Nina worked tirelessly to obtain the building permit in 2022. Nina navigated many public hearings, planning board meetings, historic review board meetings, county and state agencies. Revising the architectural plans over and over again to make use of the more historically significant parts of the building to highlight these pieces in each office. Prices of lumber and construction crew shortages due to the COVID pandemic could not stop her!
Owner and General Contractor
sweat equity made dreams a reality
Nina Schmidbaur bought the building in 2021, and after many hurdles, has brought it back to life after 30 years! Built in 1882, for Sheffield Jr., who owned the paper mill in the village with his father. Similarly, Nina renovated Clovelea with her father for over a year, after battling the red tape that caused the building to stand vacant for so long. This historic structure has played an important part of Saugerties history.
Nina, a somatic play therapist, poured her heart and soul into this space, knowing all along she hoped to house her practice here. She is engaged in the Saugerties community in many other ways —- including serving as chair of the Arts Commission, vice president of the Saugerties Library Board, TV 23 committee, volunteering for Kiwanis Club, and renting out the hand-made carnival that is part of the yearly Library Streetfair and Farmer’s Market.