Bay View’s Most Valuable House Has New Owner

Bay View‘s most polarizing and valuable house has a new owner. Former Alderman Tony Zielinski sold his three-story house overlooking Lake Michigan for $1.63 million to Shane Zweck.

The sale comes approximately a year after the house, located just south of the intersection of E. Oklahoma Ave. and S. Superior St., was finished. Zielinski lost his bid for mayor at the same time the house was being completed.

The house has 5,901 square feet of living space according to Assessor’s Office records. It sits on the west side of Superior Street, directly across from Bay View Park and Lake Michigan.

The dwelling, including its three bedrooms and four bathrooms, is now the property of Zweck, a co-portfolio manager at Wells Fargo Asset Management.

“Fit and finishes in this home is [sic] spectacular. Straight out of Architectural Digest. This home could be on the water in Miami. Instead it’s in hip Bay View with views of Lake Michigan!” wrote real estate agent Jay Schmidt in a Facebook post announcing the listing. It was originally listed for $2.1 million.

“This contemporary style home ticks all of the boxes for modern luxury living. Incredible first-floor study with fireplace, all-glass stairway railings all the way to the third level, elevator, floor to ceiling windows with remote shades, home gym, and second level Great Room / Kitchen that is absolutely stunning. Entertain in the cooks kitchen with high end appliances, 3 ovens (convection, steam), wine refrigerator and built in coffee/espresso maker. Third-floor Primary suite that features 2 separate closets off the hall, 2nd laundry room, and massive lux bath, with fireplace and Japanese soaking tub and steam shower. Large 2nd floor terrace out back offers the ability to make your own private zen garden. Solar panels, smart house technology and security system offers ultimate privacy,” says the original July 2020 listing.

Zielinski, 60, purchased the property with his wife Annette, a real estate agent, in 2017 for $331,000. The couple then demolished the 1921 home on the 0.12-acre property and began construction of the new house. Including the purchase price of the former home and construction of the new home, the Zielinski’s spent over $1 million on the new property according to city records. It is assessed for $1.71 million.

The 39-foot-tall home was designed by RH Architecture. It became a hot topic in 2019 when Brent Bublitz posted a drone video of the then-unfinished home accompanied by the AC/DC song “Big Balls”.

Zielinski started construction on the house as he was running for mayor. He challenged incumbent mayor Tom Barrett in the spring 2020 election, but finished third behind Barrett and state senator Lena Taylor in the February 2020 primary. Zielinski didn’t run for re-election as alderman as part of his mayoral bid.

The alderman finished out his term as alderman in late April 2020, appearing remotely via video conference from the new home once the pandemic set in. The house was built entirely within existing zoning regulations for the property.

It’s not the only home the politician sold in the past year. Zielinski also sold his long-time residence on the 2400 block of S. Superior St. in September. That 1,563-square-foot property is assessed at approximately $217,000.

The couple, according to real estate records, now lives in Orlando, Florida.

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