The chosen site for the house, nine miles from Bowling Green, was bounded by the present St. Nicholas and Tenth Avenues and 141st and 145th streets. The coach from New York to Albany afforded regular transportation to the spot, though, of course, Hamilton had his own equipage. When he planned the house he thought his income of $12,000 would be ample to care for the property. Accordingly he felt justified in offering L800 for sixteen acres, one-half of which was to be paid in cash, the balance within a year. The architect chosen was John McComb, the designer of New York's old City Hall. Hamilton and his father-in-law, General Schuyler, had a hand in the development of the plans. In a letter to Hamilton, written August 25, 1800, General Schuyler said: "If the house is boarded on the outside, and the clapboards put on, and filled on the inside with brick, I am persuaded no water will pass to the brick. If the clapboards are well painted, and filling in with brick will be little if any more expensive than lath and plaister, the former will prevent the nuisance occasioned by rats and mice, to which you will be eternally exposed if lath and plaister is made use of instead of brick." The mason's specifications, quoted by Allan MacLane Hamilton, were as follows: "Proposal for finishing General Hamilton's Country House--Viz. To build two Stacks of Chimneys to contain eight fire-places, exclusive of those in Cellar Story. To fill in with brick all the outside walls of the 1st and 2nd stories, also all the interior walls that Separate the two Octagon Rooms--and the two rooms over them--from the Hall and other Rooms in both Stories. To lath and plaster the side walls of 1st and 2nd stories with two coats & set in white. To plaster the interior walls which separate the Octagon Room in both Stories, to be finished white, or as General Hamilton may chose. To lath and plaster all the other partitions in both stories. To lath and plaster the Ceiling of the Cellar Story throughout. To plaster the Sidewalls of Kitchen, Drawing Room, Hall & passage, & to point & whitewash the Stone and brick walls of the other part of Cellar Story. To Point outside walls of Cellar Story and to fill in under the Sills. To lay both Kitchen hearths with brick, placed edge ways. To put a Strong Iron back in the Kitchen fire-place, five feet long by 2-1/2 9" high. To Put another Iron back in the Drawing Room 3'--6" by 2'--9". To place two Iron Cranes in the Kitchen fire Place--& an Iron door for the oven mouth. The Rooms, Hall and Passage of the first Story to have neat Stocco Cornices--Those of Octagon Rooms of Best Kind (but not inriched).