The largest private residence in Detroit, the more than 35,000-square-foot historic Bishop's Mansion in Palmer Woods, sold Thursday for a reported figure of more than $2.5 million.

The buyer is a California investor who paid cash in what is believed to be the most expensive residential real estate transaction in the city in at least a decade.

The mansion on Wellesley Drive came fully furnished, said the buyer's agent, Antonio Rodriguez of Re/Max Suburban in Sterling Heights. It has 62 rooms, 10 fireplaces and even a private chapel.

"My investor collects historic homes throughout the country, and he fell in love with it," Rodriguez said.

The seller was Bishop Wayne T. Jackson of Great Faith Ministries International, president and founder of the Impact Network, the largest African-American Christian television network in the country. He bought it in 1995 from Detroit Piston John Salley and used it as both a residence and as offices for his ministry.

Jackson told the Free Press the home is a special, spiritual place that has hosted several high-profile events. Signing the sale papers wasn't easy, he said.

"It's a very valuable and sentimental piece of property ... But I knew that time had run out, and it was time for me to pass the baton to someone else. I hope and pray that the property will continue to shine in the city," he said.

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It took two years for the seven auto baron Fisher brothers to build the mansion near two other Fisher family mansions in Palmer Woods. Completed in 1926, it became the home of Catholic Bishop the Rev. Michael Gallagher.

The brick and limestone house has 13 bedrooms, including five with connecting baths and sitting rooms. There are 14 bathrooms. There's even a Gothic-inspired chapel on the second floor.

The home remained the property of the Catholic Archdiocese of Detroit until it was sold to Salley in 1989. He owned it until it was sold to Great Faith Ministries in 1995.

Because the residence was owned by a church, it has not paid property taxes for years, the Free Press has reported.

Rodriguez said the buyer is in his 70s and owns one of the largest new home construction companies in California's Central Valley. He declined to publicly identify him.

The house is in decent shape but needs work, Rodriguez said. He said the buyer plans to fix it up and could either resell it or turn it into a bed-and-breakfast.

"The first two floors of the home are in incredible condition," Rodriguez said. "It does need some renovating, and the buyer plans to do $1-million plus in renovations."

The house was never publicly listed. Rather, Rodriguez said buyer and seller connected through their agents earlier this year.

Jackson said he was first approached about selling it to the person who bought it shortly after returning home from delivering the benediction at Donald Trump's inauguration in Washington, D.C.

The house has always had a special spiritual feel, he said. Now that his children are older, Jackson said, the house hasn't been used as much.

Upkeep was expensive. Heating bills could run $3,000 a month, Jackson said.

The home's other unique features include plenty of stained glass and Pewabic tile.

Contact Ann Zaniewski: 313-222-6594 or azaniewski@freepress.com. Follow her on Twitter @AnnZaniewski.

