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Paul Simon and Edie Brickell’s daughter, Lulu Simon, criticized Richard Gere in July 2025 over the sale and planned subdivision of the family’s former 32-acre estate in New Canaan, Connecticut. She said Gere had promised to care for the land when he bought it. That promise is her allegation; the reporting available does not establish it as a written or legally binding condition. The estate’s main house was demolished by September 2025, after some architectural features were salvaged.
Why was Lulu Simon angry at Richard Gere?
On July 8, 2025, musician Lulu Simon posted on Instagram Stories that Gere had bought her childhood home, promised to care for its land, never moved in, and then sold it to a developer to be divided into nine plots. Her post read: “He bought my childhood home. Promised he would take care of the land as condition of his purchase. Proceeded to never actually move in & just sold it to a developer as nine separate plots :).” CT Insider reported her post and allegation.
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Simon’s account explains her criticism, but the available reporting does not independently verify a preservation promise or establish that it was part of the purchase contract. No purchase agreement or recorded preservation covenant is cited in the reporting. Gere’s motive or the legal terms of the sale should not be inferred from Simon’s post.
What property was sold?
The property was the former Simon-Brickell estate at 82 Brookwood Lane in New Canaan, Connecticut. Gere and his wife bought it from Paul Simon and Edie Brickell in 2022. In 2024, Gere sold the 32-acre property to a developer associated with SBP Homes for a reported $10.75 million, according to Realtor.com’s account of the sale and demolition. Reports vary on whether the transaction occurred in October or November, so the year is the more reliable summary without a separately checked deed record.
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What happened to the house and land?
The site was approved for nine lots
On April 10, 2025, New Canaan’s Planning and Zoning and Inland Wetlands commissions approved a subdivision plan for nine lots on the property. The Connecticut Post reported the approval. SBP Homes project manager Adam Sherer said, “We’re very excited about this project. From the beginning, our goal was to thoughtfully accommodate a wide range of interests in how the property would be developed.” That is the developer’s description of its approach, not an independent assessment of the project.
Architectural features were salvaged before demolition
In May 2025, reporting said a salvage firm was recovering architectural elements ahead of demolition. By September, the main house had been taken down. Reggie Young, founder of Hudson Valley House Parts, told Realtor.com: “We recently checked in, and the house has been taken down.” The demolition therefore concerns the main house; it does not mean every architectural feature was discarded.
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The developer describes a nine-homesite project
SBP Homes describes the property as a nine-homesite project on 32 acres. In November 2025, two of the nine resulting lots were reported listed for sale; that listing count is a dated snapshot, not a guarantee of present availability. The developer’s project page provides its description of the site.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Timeline
| When | What happened |
|---|---|
| 2022 | Richard Gere and his wife bought the estate from Paul Simon and Edie Brickell. |
| 2024 | Gere sold the 32-acre property to a developer associated with SBP Homes for a reported $10.75 million. |
| April 10, 2025 | Local commissions approved a nine-lot subdivision plan. |
| May 2025 | A salvage firm was reported to be recovering architectural elements before demolition. |
| July 8, 2025 | Lulu Simon posted her criticism and alleged a promise to care for the land. |
| September 2025 | The main house had been demolished. |
| November 2025 | Two of the nine lots were reported listed for sale. |
The sale timing and price were reported by Realtor.com; subdivision approval by The Connecticut Post; Simon’s post by CT Insider; and demolition and the November lot listings by Realtor.com and CT Insider, respectively.
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