Medina – Groat Point Demolition

 Looking West at Groat Point in 2010

The Groat Point Estate in 2011

The Groat Point Estate in late 2012

Bruce McCaw sold, for $15.3 million, his Medina Groat Point estate in January 2011 (Seattle Mansions 2/13/11 post) to a trustee for John E. and Debbie Ellison Bacon. This was the highest priced sale of Lake Washington waterfront property in 2011. The Bacon’s demolished the buildings in 2012 and are scheduled to submit plans for new buildings later this year.

The property was listed for sale in 2009 for $34 million and dropped to $27 million in 2010. The listing agent was Terre Foster, Windermere: “The Grand Point of Medina. A landmark offered for the first time this century. Commanding 527 feet of some of the most coveted waterfront in the world, the Chateau takes its place among the great estates in the Northwest. Regal grounds split into expansive views.” The estate had 13,940 sq ft on 1.89 acres with 527 feet of waterfront, 6 bedrooms and 9 baths.

This is considered one of Lake Washington’s premiere lots with spectacular 300° views that include downtown Bellevue, Mt. Rainier and the Olympics with the top of the Seattle skyline in the foreground. The location is minutes from downtown Bellevue.

Bruce is the oldest of four brothers who were the pioneers of cellular communications. He had been listed by Forbes as one of the wealthiest people in the world but has not been on its recent lists as a result of declining stock market values. He is now involved in large scale commercial real estate investments with his Pistol Creek Financial Co. He is also involved in auto racing as president of Bellevue-based PacWest Racing Group LLC and director of Michigan-based Championship Auto Racing Teams, Inc. Bruce and his wife, Jolene, moved into Craig McCaw’s Hunts Point Castle and hosted a fund raiser for Paul Ryan in 2012 (2/13/13 post).

John E. and Debbie Ellison Bacon established the multimillion dollar Bacon Family Foundation that supports local children and family organizations. John, Thomas Ellison and Ellison’s and Debbie’s father, Bill Ellison (the founder of the company), were the principal owners of Bellevue-based Savers, Inc. The company is an international chain of thrift stores and operates under the name of Value Village in the PNW. In 2000 Bill Ellison and Bacon sold their interest to Boston based Berkshire Partners LLC for $45 million. The Bacons and Thomas Ellison own a mansion about a seventh of a mile to the northeast in Meydenbauer Bay that is for sale for $8.9 million (post in LW Cruising).

More information about the prior mansion and Bruce McCaw is in Lake Washington 130 Homes on pages 88 and 106.

Paul Ryan at McCaw Family’s Hunts Point Compound

Vice Presidential Candidate Paul Ryan attended fund raisers in Hunts Point and Medina on September 10, 2012. The $1,000 per person afternoon reception was at the McCaw family’s compound and hosted by Bruce and Jolene McCaw. The Seattle Times reported the two-hour event was attended by more than 200 people. Ryan gave a speech on economic issues and higher paying guests received photos of themselves with Ryan.

The McCaw family purchased the compound in 1999 from Kenny G (4/30/12 post below) in a private transaction estimated at more than $20 million. The two mansions have 15,810 sq ft on 4.3 acres with 327 feet of waterfront, 8 bedrooms and 10.5 baths. Craig and Susan McCaw and their family were (and maybe still are) living here.

Craig was the leader or the world famous McCaw brothers, Bruce (1946- ), Craig (1949- ), John (1951- ) and Keith (1953-2002). Keith and John formerly lived in Madison Park and Bruce sold his Medina Groat Point estate in 2011 (2/13/11 post) and may have moved here. The brothers were the pioneers of the cellular phone industry and sold their company, McCaw Cellular, for $11.5 billion in 1994.

The evening $25,000 per couple event was at undisclosed location in Medina. An earlier in the year event for Mitt Romney (12/29/12 post) was held at the mansion of Peter Neupert, a former Drugstore.com and Microsoft executive. He hosted a similar event in the 1990s for President George W. Bush. Neupert’s mansion is on Evergreen Point Road south of Bill Gates’ campus but not on the water. The mansion is 8,000 sq ft on 5.4 acres which is one of the largest lots in Medina.

Mastro In and Out of French Jail

The Seattle Times and Puget Sound Business Journal had numerous 2012 articles about Michael and Linda Mastro’s flee from justice and their capture in October. The saga was one of the top stories of 2012. The Mastro’s were captured in France after 16 months on the lam. At the end of the year they were still reported to be in France but out of jail under house arrest. They were released from jail in early December. Michael is 87 and Linda is 63. They are wearing electronic monitoring devices and their movement outside of their apartment in Annecy is very restricted. In the US they face 43 counts of money laundering and bankruptcy fraud.

Michael Mastro and his wife disappeared in the summer of 2011. The US issued warrants for their arrest and court orders that they turn over jewelry valued at $1.4 million. The courts confiscated items left behind and sold them at an auction. Unpaid debts are listed at more than $270 million.

Their former mansion sold 12/6/10 for $9.1 million by the bankruptcy court. There are a series of attorneys listed as the buyers: Robert Bruce Johnston, LCY LLC Series Homes, and James F. Rigby Jr. that were used to sign the documents to keep the real buyers’ identity off the official records. Mastro paid $15 million for the mansion in 2006. The Mastro bankruptcy, with original debts of $570 million, is the largest in Washington state’s history. Many “family and friends” lost their fortunes when his commercial real estate investment funds failed. More information about Mastro and his former Medina Mansion is in Seattle Mansions posts on 2/26/11, 4/6/11, 11/10/10, 10/11/10 and 11/12/09.

The listing was by Lisa Whittaker, Coldwell Banker Bain: “A property of significance and glamour. A brilliant pedigree; combining contemporary architecture with classic proportion. Over an acre of manicured, ultra-private grounds; 176' of west-facing waterfront with substantial moorage, boatlift & sandy beach. Magnificent Great Room with soaring 18’ ceilings, luminous wall of windows, soft graphite Venetian plaster. Caterer’s kitchen; wood-paneled library, separate MIL/Staff quarters. A rare offering designed for entertaining, art and the art of living.”

Mitt Romney at Wayne Perry’s Medina Mansion

Presidential Candidate Mitt Romney attended fund raisers in Medina on June 4, 2012. The evening $25,000 per person event was at the waterfront mansion of Wayne and Christine Perry. More information, including a video, is in KING-5 news.

Wayne is National President of the Boy Scouts of America and former President of McCaw Cellular and a co-founder of the Seattle-based Monroe & Perry law firm which evolved into the prominent Stokes Lawrence firm. He was a Cub Scout as a young boy and has been involved with the Boy Scouts of America ever since. Previous Boy Scouts positions include president of the Chief Seattle Council and president of the Western Region. He was named International Commissioner in 2006 and National President in 2012. He also has an ownership interest in the Seattle Mariners. The mansion is 9,450 sq ft on 0.7 acres with 92 feet of waterfront.

An earlier in the day event was held at the mansion of Peter Neupert, a former Drugstore.com and Microsoft executive. He hosted a similar event in the 1990s for President George W. Bush. Neupert’s mansion is north of Perry’s and on Evergreen Point Road but not on the water. The mansion is 8,000 sq ft on 5.4 acres which is one of the largest lots in Medina. Both mansions are south of Bill Gates’ campus.

President Obama – Bill Gates

Bill Gates supported President Obama with his attendance at the fundraising lunch at the mansion of Jeff and Susan Brotman on February 17, 2012. This event was reported today in The Seattle Times. The Times reported the $17,900 per plate brunch was attended by approximately 70 people. Natalie Cole performed and the lunch was prepared by renowned chef, Tom Douglas. An earlier post has more information on the event.

Gates and Brotman are Medina neighbors with Jeff Bezos’ mansions in between. The Brotman mansion is in the exclusive cove of Medina that includes Nathan Myhrvold’s T-Rex house, Charles Simonyi’s Windows 2000 house and Gary Reed’s former estate. Cruising, boating and viewing this area is featured in Lake Washington Cruising blog posts (5/8/11 and 5/4/11).

Jeff is the Chairman and co-founder of Costco. The mansion, as reported in the New York Times and my earlier post, is known as “Their Art House.”

The A through F letters in the above picture of Gates’ mansion and convention center refer to a “Guide For Viewing Gates’ Mansion From the Water.” The page number on all the above mansion pictures refer to Lake Washington 130 Homes.

Obama – Brotman Brunch

President Obama will return to the Brotmans for a fundraising brunch on February 17, 2012. This was reported in the Seattle Times in an Associated Press article on February 1. The $17,900 per plate brunch will be at the mansion of Jeff and Susan Brotman. The funds will be used for Obama’s reelection campaign and to support the Democratic National Committee. The Brotmans previously hosted a $7,500 per plate Democratic fundraising lunch with Michelle Obama on October 25, 2010. The mansion is in the exclusive cove of Medina that includes Nathan Myhrvold’s T-Rex house, Charles Simonyi’s Window 2000 house and Gary Reed’s former estate. The mansion is on page 98 in Lake Washington 130 Homes.

Jeff is the Chairman and co-founder of Costco. The mansion, as reported in the New York Times, is known as “Their Art House” that includes monumental pieces by Richard Serra and James Turrell. The house was designed by Olson Sundberg Kundig Allen Architects who are known for designing art-galleries-cum-residences. The louvers on the front (water side) and roof of the house adjust to provide the optimum natural light on the extensive art collection.

Obama Shirley Fundraiser

A major Seattle fund raising brunch for President Obama was held at the Medina mansion of former Microsoft President, Jon Shirley on September 25, 2011. More information is in a Seattle Times article that reported about 65 guests paid $35,800 per couple and listened to Obama blast the GOP.

Jon was President and COO of Microsoft from 1983 to 1990 when he retired.  He remains as a director of the company and is also a director of Seattle-based Manzanita Capital, a financial services company. Jon and his wife, Mary, are major donors to and supporters of local charities and the arts. Jon is Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Seattle Art Museum and on the Chairman’s Council of New York City’s Museum of Modern Art. The couple collects art and vintage racing Ferraris.

The home is two houses north of Bill Gates’ property which has multiple buildings with more than 60,000 sq ft. The Shirley’s mansion has 27,255 sq ft with only two bedrooms. Much of the mansion’s space is for the art and automobile collections. The value of these collections is estimated to be worth more than the $40 million estimated value of the property. The property is on 4.35 acres with 244 feet of waterfront. It is on page 120 of Lake Washington 130 Homes.

Simonyi’s Windows 2000 House

Charles Simonyi is a Hungarian-born former Microsoft executive. He was the man once behind constructing Microsoft Office's Word and Excel software. His Medina mansion is one of the most picturesque and must-see places on Lake Washington (LW 130 Homes pages 4 and 94). The mansion is 19,000 sq ft on 1.3 acres with 300 feet of waterfront. The home is known locally as the “Windows 2000 House” and “Villa Simonyi.” It got the Windows 2000 name when Microsoft introduced Windows 2000. The rumor is a few windows were added to the house to bring the total to 2,000.

His former girl-friend, from the 1980s until 2008, was Martha Stewart. He picked her up with his personal jet when she got out of jail in 2005. He had a sudden infatuation with a new girlfriend Lisa Persdotter a Swedish socialite. They got engaged in St. Tropez, France on 08/08/08, the same day as 2008 Beijing Olympics opening ceremony. He was 60 and she was 28 at the time. They were married in Gothenburg, Sweden, on November 22, 2008, following three days of celebrations whose attendees included neighbor Bill Gates.

Simonyi was one of the initial commercial astronauts. He paid $25 million for a 2007 two-week International Space Station roundtrip aboard the Russian Soyuz space shuttles. He paid $35 million for a similar trip in 2009.

Liddell’s Mansion Sold – $4.5M to Chandan Chauhan

Christopher P. and Patricia Liddell sold their Medina mansion in March 2011 for $4.5 million to Chandan Chauhan.  Christopher had been CFO for Microsoft and GM (see 3/12/11 post).  Chandan is a co-founder and Sr VP for Bellevue based Intelius.  The company was founded in 2003 and specializes in searches of Internet records for background checks and personal and business protection services.  Intelius’s primary co-founder, President and CEO is Naveen Jain (page 95 in LW 130 Homes).

The estate has 7,365 sq ft on 0.63 acres with 134 feet of waterfront, 5 bedrooms and 5 baths. It is near the tip of Evergreen Point, facing west and about 120 yards north of Michael Mastro’s former mansion. The Liddells purchased the mansion in 2005 for $7 million. This home features a prime view, lush landscaping with a brook and pond, a large game room with a second kitchen, and two docks.  More information is in Lake Washington 130 Homes on page 127.

Medina West Coast Home For Sale - $8.8 Million

Waterfront home with tram up to garage

From Windermere’s (Rondi Egenes) and Big Dog Realty’s (Bruce Gunnels) MLS listing: (includes numerous photos): “A masterpiece in construction, design, and finished detail. 130 front feet facing due west. 3200 square foot garage. State-of-the-art tram down to exquisite home, featuring 180 degree views of lake, mountains and Seattle Skyline. Augercast pilings at every bearing point under all structures. Invisible retaining walls, natural springs and waterfalls. Georgian heart pine floors and beamed ceilings, river rock fireplaces. Custom built by commercial contractor. The ultimate in privacy and solitude.”

Most of the homes in this area are on the bluff with a tram to the waterfront and dock. This home is on the waterfront level with a tram up to the garage. The home is 4,540 sq ft on 1.0 acres with 130 feet of waterfront. This home is below and to the immediate north of the LW 130 Homes page 107 Gaudette home (for whom the Fancis J. Gaudette Theater in Issaquah is named). The Gaudette home is on the bluff with a tram down to the waterfront.

Michael Mastro in the News

Mastro’s Former Medina Mansion Sold for $9.1 Million

Michael Mastro is back in the news. The Seattle Times 4/6/11 article stated, “Judge Marc Barreca turned down a bid by the guardian for the now-incapacitated Mastro to pay her, and her lawyer, from funds administered by Mastro's chief adversary, court-appointed trustee James Rigby.” Further details are in the article. The Mastro bankruptcy, with debts of $570 million, is the largest in Washington state’s history. Many “family and friends” lost their fortunes when his commercial real estate investment funds failed. Mastro was incapacitated following a head injury from a fall in his Palm Springs home two months ago. More information about Mastro and his former Medina Mansion is in previous posts on 11/10/11, 10/11/10 and 11/12/09 and Lake Washington 130 Homes on page 126.

Mastro and Russo Top The 2010 Most Expensive Home Sales

 Michael Mastro’s Former Medina Mansion

Ray Russo’s Former Hunts Point Mansion

Estately.com has a cool web site and published “The 10 most expensive homes sold in King County, Washington in 2010.”

Russo’s Hunts Point mansion, $11.3 million sale, (posted here 5/13/10) was number one on the list. Mastro’s Medina mansion, $9.1 million sale, (posted here 11/10/10) was number two on the list. Number ten on the list was a Yarrow Point mansion which sold for $5.7 million. Five out of the ten were Lake Washington waterfront homes, which are covered by this blog and were in Lake Washington 130 Homes. Three were in Seattle’s new high rise condo buildings.

Liddell’s Medina Mansion – Resigns From GM

This home is owned by Christopher P. and Patricia Liddell. Christopher, born in New Zealand, had been with Microsoft as Senior Vice President and CFO from 2005 to 2009. He came to Microsoft from International Paper where he was Sr. VP & CFO. He left Microsoft in December 2009 and moved in 2010 to Detroit to take the CFO position with GM. His base starting salary with GM was $750,000 per year and it was publicized he could get up to $5.45 million in stock. (Go to Seattle Times December 24, 2009, article.) The Medina home was listed for sale at $8.8 million in May 2009 but did not sell.

The national press and the Seattle Times announced on March 10, 2011, Chris was resigning from GM after being passed up for the top job. He had been recognized as doing an outstanding job as GM’s CFO.

The estate has 7,365 sq ft on 0.63 acres with 134 feet of waterfront, 5 bedrooms and 5 baths. It is near the tip of Evergreen Point, facing west and about 120 yards north of Michael Mastro’s former mansion. The Liddells purchased the mansion in 2005 for $7 million. This home features a prime view, lush landscaping with a brook and pond, a large game room with a second kitchen, and two docks. More information is in Lake Washington 130 Homes on page 127.

Richard DiCerchio Costco Mansion For Sale - $11.3 million

Richard DiCerchio’s Medina Groat Point Mansion

Costco’s Richard DiCerchio’s Medina Groat Point Mansion is for sale for $11.3 million. From the listing agent’s (Wendy Lister, CBB) summary: “Gold Coast Royalty! Standing ovation spectacles...Olympic peaks, Seattle's spires, incomparable Mt. Rainier cone. A Demetriou signature: a fusion of home, lake and R David Adams' symphony of blooms. An early greatroom inspiration for your circle of friends...tremendous, sleek overscale cuisine center. The Nano wall at waterside level a Malibu inspiration opening the brilliant fireside Nutron lit pool for fresh air moonlight/sunshine swims. Astonishing! Movies, sport bar. Deep water dock.”

The estate has 9,000 sq ft on 0.65 acres with 118 feet of waterfront, 4 bedrooms and 5.25 baths. DiCerchio is Senior Executive Vice President and COO of Issaquah-based Costco. He joined the company in 1983 as VP, Operations. He was appointed Executive VP in 1986, COO – Western Region in 1992, and his current position in 1997.

More information is in Lake Washington 130 Homes on page 90.

Bruce McCaw Sells Medina Mansion

Looking West at Groat Point

The Groat Point Estate

Bruce McCaw sold, for $15.3 million, his Medina Groat Point estate in January 2011 to to a trustee for John E. and Debbie Ellison Bacon. This was the highest priced sale of Lake Washington waterfront property in 2011. The property was listed for sale in 2009 for $34 million and dropped to $27 million in 2010. The listing agent was Terre Foster, Windermere – “The Grand Point of Medina. A landmark offered for the first time this century. Commanding 527 feet of some of the most coveted waterfront in the world, the Chateau takes its place among the great estates in the Northwest. Regal grounds split into expansive views.” The estate has 13,940 sq ft on 1.89 acres with 527 feet of waterfront, 6 bedrooms and 9 baths.

This is considered Lake Washington’s premiere lot (see earlier post) with spectacular 300° views that include downtown Bellevue, Mt. Rainier and the Olympics with the top of the Seattle skyline in the foreground. The location is minutes from downtown Bellevue.

Bruce is the oldest of four brothers who were the pioneers of cellular communications. He had been listed by Forbes as one of the wealthiest people in the world but has not been on its recent lists as a result of declining stock market values. He is now involved in large scale commercial real estate investments with his Pistol Creek Financial Co. He is also involved in auto racing as president of Bellevue-based PacWest Racing Group LLC and director of Michigan-based Championship Auto Racing Teams, Inc.

More information about the mansion and the McCaw family is in Lake Washington 130 Homes on pages 88 and 106.

John Bacon, Thomas Ellison and Ellison’s and Debbie’s father, Bill Ellison (the founder of the company), were the principal owners of Bellevue-based Savers, Inc. The company is an international chain of thrift stores and operates under the name of Value Village in the PNW. The Bacons and Thomas Ellison own a mansion about a seventh of a mile to the northeast in Meydenbauer Bay that is for sale for $8.9 million.

(Revised 2/21/13)

Groat Point Medina

J. Lennox Scott’s Mansion

Looking across tip of Groat Point east towards Bellevue

Groat Point marks the Medina entrance to Meydenbauer Bay. This has been the site of many famous mansions. The first (McGilvra) house was built in the 1800s. In 1928 Miller Freeman purchased and moved into a 14 room mansion on this site. Miller was the owner of a Seattle publishing house and several journals. He was instrumental in getting the Lake Washington Ship Canal built in 1916. He is the father of Kemper Freeman and grandfather of Kemper Freeman, Jr. The Kempers have been responsible for major development of Bellevue. Kemper Jr. founded Kemper Development Company which is the major developer of downtown Bellevue.

The Point was subdivided into multiple lots. The property and mansion on the southwest corner of the Point is owned by J. Lennox Scott. Lennox is Chairman and CEO of John L. Scott Real Estate. The company was founded in 1931 by his grandfather and has become one of the largest and most successful regional real estate companies in the nation.

The next lot to the northwest is for sale for $11.3 million (2/15 post). It belongs to Richard DiCerchio, Senior Executive Vice President and COO of Issaquah-based Costco.

The property and mansion on the southwest corner of the Point was owned by Bruce McCaw and sold in January 2011 (2/13 post) to Michael V. Griffith, Trustee, for an undisclosed buyer for $15.3 million. Last year I received a rumor that J. Lennox Scott was negotiating to buy the property for investment purposes and to consolidate the tip of the Point and use part of the site for income-producing lavish events. This is a spectacular event site with 300° views that include downtown Bellevue, Mt. Rainier and the Olympics with the top of the Seattle skyline in the foreground. The location is only minutes from downtown Bellevue.

More information is in Lake Washington 130 Homes on pages 88 to 90.

Mastro Mansion Sells for $9.1 Million

The Seattle Times reported Michael Mastro’s Mansion sold for $9.1 million by the bankruptcy court. The buyers used an attorney to sign the documents to keep their identity off the official records.

My previous blogs below, dated 10/11/10 and 11/12/09, provide additional information on the Mastro bankruptcy and “family and friends” investors. The photograph above is from page 126 in my book, Lake Washington 130 Homes.

Seattle Times article:  Click here

More in formation is in previous posts on 10/11/10 and 11/12/09.

Jeff Brotman Hosts Michelle Obama

Jeff and Susan Brotman hosted lunch with Michelle Obama at their Medina mansion on October 25, 2010. The lunch was a fundraiser for US Senator Patty Murray’s (Democrat Washington) reelection. Table captains pledged $7500 each. The mansion is in the exclusive cove of Medina that includes Nathan Myhrvold’s T-Rex house, Charles Simonyi’s Window 2000 house and Gary Reed’s former estate. The mansion is on page 98 in Lake Washington 130 Homes.

Jeff is the Chairman and co-founder of Costco. The mansion is also known as “their Art House” that includes monumental pieces by Richard Serra and James Turrell. The house was designed by Olson Sundberg Kundig Allen Architects who are known for designing art-galleries-cum-residences (http://www.nytimes.com/2003/04/13/magazine/footnotes-100439.html?pagewanted=2). The louvers on the front (water side) and roof of the house adjust to provide the opitimun natural light on the extensive art collection.

Mastro Mansion $9.9 Million Selling Price

The Seattle Times and Puget Sound Business Journal have reported Michael Mastro’s Mansion will soon be listed for sale by the bankruptcy court for $9.9 million. The Business Journal article includes numerous pictures of the interior. It has taken over a year for the bankruptcy court to take over the house and offer it for sale to provide some of the partial payment to creditors. The Mastros tried to set up and claim it as property not subject to the bankruptcy.

My previous blog below, dated 11/12/09, provides additional information on his bankruptcy and “family and friends” investors. The photograph above is from page 126 in my book, Lake Washington 130 Homes, http://www.hundredhomes.net/. I remember many times going by the Mastros’ mansion by boat and seeing a large parties (for family & friends?) with a band and waiters and waitresses in formal attire. The Evergreen-Point mansion is 7,050 square feet with 176 feet of waterfront. The Mastros paid $15 million for the mansion in July 2006.

Seattle Times article

Puget Sound Business Journal article with 16 pictures

(More in formation is in a previous post on 11/12/09 and an update is in an 11/10/10 post.)

Gary Reed Moves into Madison Park Mansion

William G. “Gary” Jr. and Victoria Reed moved from their Medina home (see earlier blog below) late last year. The new home has 7,700 sq ft on 0.7 acres with 60 feet of waterfront. It is three houses south of the Reed Estate homes (pages 19 through 22 in Lake Washington 130 Homes, http://www.hundredhomes.net/). The southern home (page 22) in the Reed Estate is owned by Furman Moseley and his wife and Gary’s sister, Martha Reed Moseley. I’ve been told Furman and Martha live elsewhere and their son, Colin Moseley and his family live in that house. Colin is the current Chairman of Simpson Investment.

The 8 acre Reed Estate is where Gary and Martha grew up. It was established in the early 1900s by their grandfather, Mark E. Reed. It was that era’s version of the current Gates and Allen estates. It was subdivided in the 1940s into a private gated community of nine homes. Howard Schultz owns the most prominent of the current homes (page 21). His property has a gate inside the gate.

(Information on his previous Medina home is below.)