Mercer Island North - Mansions

Berg, Galanti, Dillon, Lytle, Edwards et al. Mansions

Northwest Mercer Island has more, compared to any other LW Map of the Stars^® area, mansion sales, listings and new construction greater than $12 million. These mansions are in this and the 3/11/12 and 3/12/12 posts.

East to West

Two spectacular new mansions, this and the one next door to the west (next paragraph), mark the start of our east to west tour of North Mercer Island. Kurt and Leslie Dammeier purchased this property in 2010 for $4.7 million in 2010. They tore down the previous 5,000 sq ft mansion and built this new mansion. The Dammeiers are the owners of Bennett’s Pure Food Bistro on Mercer Island. They are also the founders of Beecher’s Handmade Cheese. The new mansion is 6,182 sq ft on 0.8 acres with 75 feet of waterfront.

Tony and Janet Williams purchased these two lots in 1993 and 1996 and built this new mansion that was completed in 2006. With 2.2 acres, this is one of larger waterfront properties on North Mercer Island. It has a gated entrance and beautiful landscaping that can be seen from the water and the road. Tony is from England with a PhD from Oxford and a noted Microsoft software architect. The mansion is 9,360 sq ft on 2.2 acres with 225 feet of waterfront.

This home sold 7/23/12 for $4.9 million. It was listed for $5.5 million in 2011, reduced to $5.0 million in 2012. It was listed by Molly Penny, CBBain. From the Listing: “A true work of art! This custom designed home by Lane Williams sits on the north edge of MI. Hidden from street view, the "front" is truly the water & opens to a no-bank, beach like waterfront w/moorage. Built in 2004, this unique home includes a cook's dream kitchen, family rm, office, den, guest suite & rec rm. Integrated technology, texture & small surprises throughout. Enjoy this private special retreat whether entertaining friends or relaxing to the sights and sounds of Lake WA.” The home is 4,760 sq ft on 0.4 acres with 80 feet of waterfront. The sellers were Howard and Lynn Behar. Howard is a former President of Starbucks North America and Starbucks International. He is the author of It’s Not About The Coffee. The buyers were Terry Halverson and Linda Cade. Terry is CEO of the Seattle area Metropolitan Market 6-store chain. Linda is a Seattle based attorney.

This property was listed at $6.4 million in 2012 and lowered to $6.0 million in early 2013 and to $5.6 million in May 2013. It is listed by Susan Gebhardt, Windermere: “Smashing gated waterfront estate with extensive beachfront cabana and a 90 foot dock. Contemporary architectural home surprises you with a twenty first century loggia in Paul Kirk's signature style. Extremely private artistic spaces live as one with nature. Rambling one floor living with an entertaining lower level complete with a 40 foot lap pool and spa. Year round moorage for multiple vessels and water toys plus an entertaining boathouse/cabana including a kitchen and bath. Sandy beach.” The property is owned by Edward M. Sherman. The mansion is 5,470 sq ft on 0.41 acres with 54 ft of waterfront.

This is the former mansion of Darren Berg who was convicted of orchestrating Washington state’s largest Ponzi scheme. The mansion was listed for $8.2 million by Wendy Lister, CBBain. The mansion and or Berg were featured in Seattle Mansions posts on 12/30/10 (home sold), 1/17/11 (Berg history), 5/22/11 (process in court) and 12/30/11 (Berg writing book). Berg was sentenced 2/18/12 to 18 years in prison for defrauding hundreds, some of whom their life savings, of investors of more than $280 million. From the listing: “High strength! Accentuating design ~ accommodating a passion for elegant innovation. Evenings are magic...city spires, fire tables, moonlight on 112' of Lake Washington. Coach house; glass garage doors. A tech’s dream: cameras, Hi-Def audio/video. Motorized media lounge; security includes cameras, microphones. Infinity pool. Heated outdoor living. 4 kitchens (2 in, 2 out); 6 extraordinary hearths (2 in, 4 out). Slate motor court. Bearing authority! Incomparable brilliance. A chorus of blooms.” The mansion is 3,250 sq ft with on 0.5 acres with 112 feet of waterfront.

The mansion was featured in a Seattle Mansions post on 12/31/11. The sellers were Nassar and Hahid Fazlitt and the buyers were Timothy and Sherie Bernardez. Timothy is the Co-founder and Managing Partner of Evergreen Pacific Partners, a prominent Seattle based private investment firm with $700 million under management. The home was listed at $6.5 million by Betty DeLaurenti and Julia Nordby, JL Scott. From the Listing: “European style home, 6 BR,7BA w/ a large bonus rm, exercise rm and a home office w/ a separate entrance. Extensive use of marble, granite, tile and hardwood throughout. Grand formal spaces and a gourmet kitchen you may never want to leave. All is complemented by graceful manicured gardens, multiple decks, covered outdoor patio and a firepit at waters edge. Approx 104+/- feet of prime North End Lake Washington waterfront is ready for use with a L shaped dock, covered boat lift and a sandy beach.” The mansion is 6,071 sq ft on 0.4 acres with 112 feet of waterfront.

On the northeast point north of Roanoke Landing is the mansion of Richard A. and Barrie Galanti. Richard is Executive Vice President and CFO of Costco. Richard was the recipient of the Puget Sound Business Journal’s CFO of the Year 2010 Lifetime Achievement Award. The mansion has 10,580 sq ft on 1.2 acres with 132 feet of waterfront. It was built in 2001. Two lots and homes were purchased and the old homes were demolished to create the lot for this home.

On the northeast point north of Roanoke Landing is the mansion of Eric E. and Hollis Dillon. Eric is a founding partner of Seattle based Silver Creek Capital Management, LLC. Silver Creek specializes in alternative investment strategies and has over $6 billion under management. Hollis is an attorney. The mansion is 7,960 sq ft on 1.3 acres with 210 feet of waterfront. It was built in 2001. Two lots and homes were purchased and the old homes were demolished to create the lot for this home.

The mansion was listed for $40 million by Wendy Lister, CBBain. The mansion was featured in Seattle Mansions posts on 9/27/10, 5/24/10 and 2/20/10 and on KING 5's Evening Magazine on April 12, 2010. The mansion sold in a June 2010 auction. The buyer was James “Peter” Edwards, the founder and CEO of Video Only. Peter founded Seattle area (Tukwila) based Video Only in 1982. The mansion is 22,800 sq ft on 2.0 acres with 150 feet of waterfront, 5 bedrooms, and 9 baths. Features include a large indoor pool area with marble columns that is reminiscent of Las Vegas’s Caesar’s Palace, two fish ponds, two wine cellars, three kitchens and a mirrored gym. The sellers were Charles and Karen Lytle and are the founders of Leisure Care, one of the largest developers and operators of retirement communities. The Lytles, prior to the auction, moved to their new house in Hunts Point. The new Hunts Point mansion is 10,600 sq ft. Both mansions are in LW 130 Homes (pages 46 and 157).

UW’s Big Dawg was featured in a Seattle Mansions 12/29/11 post and in The New York Times recent article about UW’s Sailgate parties. (Sailgate parties are also featured in a Seattle Mansions 12/28/11 post). The Big Dawg belongs to the Frank and Jeanie Miles family and is moored at the dock of Tim and Lisa (Frank and Jeanie’s daughter) Kittilsby on the north end of Mercer Island. The one acre property includes a 6000 sq ft mansion plus covered and open sports courts. Frank founded Auburn based Miles Sand and Gravel in 1943. Tim and Lisa are now in charge of the company. In the above photo, the Big Dawg is the yacht on the left and the Kittilsby mansion is in the upper right.

This mansion was listed for $21.8 million in 20120 and 2011, lowered to $18.8 million in 2012 and $16.8 million in early 2013. It is listed by Wendy Lister, CBBain: “Dominating the shoreland area of fabled Faben Point! Connect to unobstructed view s as Nana doors and window s fuse the tremendous indoor/outdoor spaces. The alfresco living zone in its horizontal pose spreads its width the span of the sunlit facade. Seamless action at 120’ of lakefront. Silverlight or sunlight… exhilarating! Distinguished great room…for play in a stimulating warm environment. Artisan's kitchen ~ innovative beauty. Loggia to a guest wing. Infinity pool drama. Superb moorage/dock.” The mansion is owned by Douglas Shih, a CBBain Realtor, and is 13,720 sq ft with on 0.9 acres with 120 feet of waterfront.
     (Updated 5/19/13)
Page numbers refer to Lake Washington 130 Homes
Click on Madrona - Mansions for mansions to the northwest.
Click on Mercer Island Northwest - Mansions for mansions to the west and south on Mercer Island.