Real Estate News

with Mary Mewborn

THE DISTRICT
The former home of the late legendary hostess Evangeline Bell Bruce and the late David K. E. Bruce, the millionaire diplomat who served as U.S. ambassador to Britain, France, Germany and China, is under contract with an asking price of $6.2 million. The Bruces' home played a central role in Georgetown society and world affairs as a meeting place for Frank and Polly Wisner, George Kennan, Dean Acheson, Joseph and Susan Mary Alsop, Katharine and Philip Graham, Clark Clifford, Pamela and Averill Harriman and Allen W. Dulles. Located at 1405 34th Street N.W. in Georgetown's West Village, the home is one of the great Federal brick mansions built circa 1800. The property was meticulously renovated in 1998 and has eight bedrooms, six full and two half baths, a thirty-four-foot ballroom, lap pool, guest cottage, greenhouse, smoke house, large tiered garden designed by Rose Greely, a nineroom storage bunker with two wine cellars, and multi-car parking.

Clockwise– 1405 34th Street, N.W., in Georgetown's West Village is under contract with an asking price of $6.2 million.

The current owners of the historic residence are writers Clara Bingham and David Michaelis who now live in New York City and Nantucket. The couple listed their Georgetown property with Washington Fine Properties' agents Jamie Peva and Michael Sullivan and sold it to Deborah and Curtin Winsor, III, the founder of the Bank of Georgetown.

Investment guru and NetAssets CEO Steve Lockshin and his wife Allison Lockshin are moving from their much-admired five-bedroom corner property at 1315 31st Street NW The elegant house is often referred to as one of The District's "Grand Old Dames" and features beautiful vistas, a gourmet kitchen, fabulous formal living and dining rooms and an interior garage. It is currently under contract with a price tag of $5,495,000. The Lockshins are members and supporters of the Mythic Imagination Institute, the purpose of which is, "to connect people to the accumulated wisdom of humankind that lives in stories and mythology."

Number 3725 Winfield Lane in the treelined Cloisters community of Georgetown has sold for $1.3 million thanks to listing agent Nancy Itteilag of Long and Foster's Foxhall office. The seller is John C. Donnelly, senior VP of J. Lee Donnelly & Sons, one of the Washington area's oldest and best-known commercial and residential real estate appraisal companies. Highlights of the three-bedroom townhouse include an open floor plan, a marble fireplace flanked by double windows in the living room, a large kitchen with stainless steel appliances, and a lower level office with a brick fireplace and French doors leading to a flagstone terrace. The New York buyer, who wishes to remain anonymous, has placed the deed in the name of John Loeb Trust. Philanthropist banker John Loeb was widely regarded as a leader in the investment community and for decades the Loeb family was active in many charitable enterprises in New York City and served on the boards of schools, museums, and hospitals. Loeb and his wife were also avid collectors of French Impressionist paintings. The Loeb heirs include John L. Loeb Jr., Arthur L. Loeb, Judith Loeb Chiara, Ann Loeb Bronfman, Deborah Loeb Brice and Alexandra Loeb Driscoll.

Inside view of Dennis Lee's Adams Morgan rowhouse located at 2424 18th Street, N.W.

Dennis Lee, president of Capital Design Group has received $2,445,000 for the 3,000 square-foot loft he constructed in the 1917 Adams Morgan rowhouse located at 2424 18th Street NW Unit number R3 was listed for $2,245,000 by Jonathan Taylor and Michael Rankin partners in Tutt, Taylor and Rankin Sotheby's International Realty. It sold to P.J. Braden, president and owner of Gryphon Technologies. Features of the unique condominium, with its top-of-the-line finishes, include twenty-two foot ceilings, a fireplace, private elevator, private rooftop deck and garage parking.

The luxurious mansion that Myrna Haft inherited from her late husband retail magnate Herbert H. Haft, who died at age 84 in 2004 has sold for $15 million. The seven-bedroom home with eleven and a half bathrooms sits on less than an acre at 2501 30th Streeet, N.W., and is the highest priced listing in our area to date for a house on comparabale acreage. The home was assessed at $8 million in 2005 and boasts Italian marble floors and fireplaces and a chandelier from the Paris Opera House. Long & Foster realtor, Maggie Shannon, facilitated the sale.

MARYLAND
The home belonging to philanthropist Lee Mills Petty at 37 West Lenox Street in Chevy Chase is under contract with a price tag of $2,995,000. Petty has been a supporter of the Democratic Party and of EngenderHealth which provides worldwide reproductive health assistance. The Chevy Chase address made real estate news in June of 1938 when John F. Maury, a prominent Washington realtor and president of the firm of Maury & Mohler, was found dead from carbon monoxide poisoning in the garage. Washington Fine Properties' agent Joan Bond is helping facilitate the sale.

Dennis Lee received $2,445,000 for the 3,000 square-foot loft he constructed in this 1917 Adams Morgan rowhouse - it was listed for $2,245,000.

VIRGINIA
Historian and architectural restorationist William Seale is selling the Reardon House which sits on a double lot at 805 and 807 Prince Street in Old Town Alexandria. The semi-detached brick Victorian townhouse has large rooms with high ceilings and wood floors, five bedrooms, three and a half baths, four fireplaces, a new kitchen, two off-street parking spaces and a large private garden with an historical easement. In 1900, the property was home to William M. Reardon who was president of the Mutual Ice Company until his death in 1919 when his wife Nora took over the business. Nora lived in the family home until her death in 1955. Among Seale's restoration projects are national landmarks Stratford Hall in Virginia, the George Eastman House in Rochester, N.Y., and Rosedown Plantation in St. Francisville, L.a. The prospective buyer is expected to pay $1,795,000 for his piece of Americana.

Washington Fine Properties agent Ted Gossett has helped sell 1545 22nd Street North a townhouse in Palisades Park in Arlington. The sellers were Allan and Deborah Creel who purchased it in 2004 for $949,000 for their daughter Heidi. The Creels asked $1,350,000 for the property which has a view of the Potomac River. Gossett was instrumental in the previous sale as well.

William Seale is selling the Reardon House in Old Town Alexandria for an estimated $1,795,000.	Allan and Deborah Creel purchased 1545 22nd Street, N.W., in 2004 for $949,000 and received $1,350,000 for the property.

The home of philanthropist Lee Mills Petty at 37 West Lenox Street in Chevy Chase is under contract for $2,995,000.

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