It's called Casa Belvedere, or house with a beautiful view:

The vista is sweeping: New York Harbor and the Verrazzano Bridge:

The city landmark was built in 1908. "You walk through these halls, and if the walls could talk and tell the stories of these fascinating people that lived here," Casa Belvedere Founder Gina Biancardi said.

The mansion is one of 20 sites in an annual competition called Partners in Preservation, sponsored by National Geographic and American Express. Ten finalists will each receive a $150,000 grant.

"This community deserves it," said Democratic State Sen. Diane Savino of Staten Island.

To honor the 100th anniversary of women's suffrage, this year's competition is highlighting properties rich in women's history.

Casa Belvedere has that, too, for the pioneering women who lived there, including Laura Roebling-Methfessel-Stirn, granddaughter of Brooklyn Bridge architect John Roebling. Her aunt, Emily Warren-Roebling, is credited with helping to make sure the bridge's construction continued after her husband Washington, the project's chief architect, withdrew because of illness.

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"Imagine that this is 1830, 1840, and she would go to the site every day and make sure that her father-in-law's vision and her husband's drawings were being followed," Biancardi said. "She was there for the remainder of the project, until completion. So here's another pioneer."

Casa Belvedere is now home to the Staten Island Italian Cultural Center. It suffered wind and water damage during Hurricane Sandy that has yet to be repaired:

If the mansion lands the grant, the second and third floors will finally be restored.

You can vote for Casa Belvedere five times a day, now through October 29.

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