$6.3 M Mercer Island Mansion Sells in 2 Months – James to Myers

High end Lake Washington waterfront sales are picking up! This mansion sold 11/28/12 for $6.6 million. It sold for close to the listing price and in less than two months after it was listed for $6.9 million by Tere and David Foster, Windermere: “The estate stands proud as you enter the gates to this luxurious residence placed on a shy half acre in one of the most sought after communities on Mercer Island. Soaring ceilings, marble & wrought-iron anchor grand spaces for entertaining. The open floor plan creates a sense of ease for formal or casual gatherings. A grand master suite with large walk-in closet and spacious bath provides an escape. Game and movie nights in the entertainment wing with its’ own kitchen. Waves roll up on the private beach, as you enjoy jewel-tone sunsets & the glow of the city lights from downtown Seattle and Bellevue. Mature lawns host garden parties, with an outdoor kitchen and expansive patio. A perfect spot for Seafair, with an amazing dock & surely one of the best positions on the lake.”

The sellers were Greg and Carol James. Greg is the Founder and CEO of Renton based TOPICS Entertainment. The company is the largest privately held multimedia publisher in the United States. The buyer was Andrew C. Myers. The mansion is 7,730 sq ft on 0.5 acres with 75 feet of waterfront. In 2007 and 2008 the mansion had a famous sign on its dock regarding the mansion under construction next door. More information about the sign and the neighbors, the Justin Graham family, and their architect, Eric Cobb, is in the following 4/23/13 post below.

$9 Million Seattle WF Sale 2011 – Richard Robbins

This Harrison/Denny-Blaine mansion is on page 35 of LW 130 Homes and is 7,060 sq ft on 0.8 acres with 120 feet of waterfront. This is the former home of Richard J. and Bonnie Robbins. The mansion was purchased 7/11/11 for $9 million by LD and LAI LLC whose members are Aileen Dong and Alice Shen.

Richard Robbins was President of Kent-based The Robbins Company from 1958 to 1993 when it was acquired by Sweden-based Atlas Copco AB. The Robbins Company (Richard is now a Director) invents, engineers, develops and produces tunnel boring machines. It now operates as a subsidiary of Atlas. Richard’s father, James S. Robbins, founded The Robbins Company in 1952. Richard took over at the age of 25, two years after earning his engineering degree and upon the untimely death of his father. Richard and the company are noted for innovative designs that have enabled projects such as the English Channel tunnel and many aqueduct and hydro power tunnels. Richard holds 67 U.S. and foreign patents. He is now President of Seattle-based Robbins Group LLC which focuses on research and product development for The Robbins Company. In 2009 he received the Benjamin Franklin Medal in Engineering from the Philadelphia-based Franklin Institute.

The property was listed for sale for $10.8 million (Bob Bennion and Bob Deville, Windermere): “Exquisite 1932 Tudor Revival home with lake and mountain views, privately situated on .9+/- acre lot w/ beach house and 120' waterfront w/ dock. Available for first time in 40 years! Elegant dayrooms with pine-paneled walls; 2005 kitchen designed by Nils Finne and built by Schultz Miller; view terrace; 5 bedrooms; 5 baths; 4 fireplaces; office; rec room; wine cellar; 2-car garage. Beach house with kitchen, fireplace and 2 baths. Lovely grounds with sweeping lawns, mature plantings and tram.”

Up the hill above this home, Kurt Cobain, a famous Seattle musician, rented a house in the 1990s. He committed suicide in the house’s greenhouse April 5, 1994 and afterwards the greenhouse was torn down. A bench in Viretta Park also just above this home, is host to a makeshift shrine to Kurt. Thousands of fans of the music of Cobain’s band, Nirvana, have come here to pay tribute and guidebooks list the park as the “Kurt Cobain Park.”

Bensussen buys Olsons’ Hunts Point Mansion – $11 Million

Hunts Point – “The Bellisima”

The $11 million sale was recorded 1/23/12. The buyer was listed as ERGL LLC whose agent and manager is Eric Bensussen. He is the Co-Founder (with Barry Deutsch) and President of Woodinville based Bensussen Deutsch & Associates, Inc (aka BDA Inc.) The company’s slogan is “Evolving Branded Merchandise.” A 10/15/2000 Puget Sound Business Journal article by Sharon Baker featured the founders and the start of the company. “Eric Bensussen, then 20, and Jay Deutsch, all of 17, launched their Woodinville company by selling Seattle Seahawks sweatshirts in 1984. . . the duo now run an operation that could bring in some $140 million in sales this year, up from $108 million in 1999. . . provides promotional merchandise -- those freebie hats and T-shirts, pens and other merchandise emblazoned with company logos -- as part of an overall promotional strategy for firms such as The Boeing Co., Microsoft Corp., PepsiCo Inc. and Nintendo of America Inc. . . .” The company is now international, revenue exceeded $250 million in 2010 and clients include Coca-Cola, Major League Baseball and GEICO.

This mansion, “The Bellisima,” was featured in a 3/11/11 post when it was listed for $14.1 million. (The listing price was $12.9 million at the time of the sale.) The mansion (page 136 in LW 130 Homes) is near the center of the eastern shore of Fairweather Bay. It was listed by Tere Foster and Becky Gray, Windermere. The sellers, Rodney and Janice Olson, purchased the Hunts Point 2 acre tip on 3/31/11 for $14.8 million (see 6/11/11 post).

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.

Hunts Point Olson Mansion For Sale - $14.1 Million

Rodney D. and Janice Olson have their Hunts Point mansion (LW 130 Homes page 136), named “The Bellisima,” listed for sale for $14.1 million. (Bellisima is Italian for “very beautiful” and was the name of a popular Venezuelan 1990s TV series.) Rodney and three partners founded Seattle-based WestCoast Hotels 1988 with the purchase of three Seattle Hotels, the Camlin, Roosevelt and the Vance. WestCoast grew to 19 hotels in 1999 and was acquired by Spokane-based Red Lion Hotels Corporation. The estate has 9,675 sq ft on 1.07 acres with 80 feet of waterfront, 4 bedrooms and 5 baths.

From the listing by Tere Foster and Becky Gray, Windermere: The Bellisima on Hunts Point. A grand interpretation of a Mediterranean classic characterized by distinctive quality and design. The carefully curate details have been applied individually preserving the character of the estate and carriage house. A tribute to highly sophisticated taste. A complexity & warmth that is seldom seen together. The nobility & beauty of fine materials. Graceful lines, sensitivity to proportion, a waterfront masterpiece. An extraordinary home. Exclusively Hunts Point.