Washington’s strong real estate market prevailed during the last quarter of 1999. Breaking a ten-yearrecord, more than 40 properties were sold in the metro-politan area for over $1,000,000. Among them was astone Colonial on fashionable Tracy Place in Kalorama, across from Senator and Mrs. TedKennedy, which sold for $1,200,000. The purchaser was Greg Busch, Vice President of the Bankof America, who intends to renovate the five-bedroom, four-bath residence. He was represented by BillMoody and Patrick Chauvin of Sotheby’s Washington Fine Properties. The seller, Washingtonradiologist Dr. Alan Neff, was represented by Diane Heine of Pardoe ERA and SusanKoehler of Washington Fine Properties.

It seems some of the Washington media crowd has managed to get into a game of “musical properties” ofsorts, if you can follow this: Eileen O’Connor (CNN correspondent) and her husband, John Bilotta(ABC producer) sold their home at 4327 Hawthorne Street, N.W., in Wesley Heights (formerly thehome of Art and Ann Buchwald), for $1,625,000. The renovated seven-bedroom home has a largepool and cabana area, and is set on a quiet cul-de-sac with towering trees. Listing agents were AnneHatfield Weir and Heidi Hatfield of Pardoe ERA. The purchaser, Wiley Buchanan, wasrepresented by Carol Chapin of Arnold, Bradley, Davy, Sargent, and Chew. Eileen and John then purchased another house, at 6 Primrose Street in the lovely section of ChevyChase Village, for $1,125,000. The listing agent for that property was Ellen Morrell of Sotheby’sWashington Fine Properties. When renowned columnist Art Buchwald moved to the Regency Hotel inNew York (where he admits he loves the pampering), he sold his 2200-sq.-ft. apartment at the Westbridge, 2555 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., for $750,000 to old pals and political correspon-dents, Marianne Means and her husband columnist James Kilpatrick. With panoramic views ofGeorgetown, Virginia, and north to the National Cathedral, it took only two weeks to close the sale. Thelisting agent was Polly Driscoll of Weichert; Gigi Winston of Winston & Winston represented thebuyers.

The timelessly grand stone house at 4801 Indian Lane in Spring Valley was recently sold by Elizabeth and Greg Earls to Mr. and Mrs. Peskowitz for $3,550,000. Situatedon a corner lot, this manor home on one acre of park-line land, includes a heated swimming pool. Listingagents were Merrielou Symes of the Hagner Company and Diane Fentress of Pardoe ERA. Theselling agent was Joyce Sargent of Arnold, Bradley, Davy, Sargent, and Chew.

On Capitol Hill, veteran agent Judi Seiden, associate broker of Prudential Carruthers, listed andsold a one-of-a-kind sprawling turn-of-this-past-century home at 150 12 th Street, N.E. The“Sun-Dazzler” features 42 windows and skylights, and was painstakingly renovated by master craftsmen inthe 1980s. Purchasers Margaret Vining and Bart Hacker, both curators at the Smithsonian,found the right house for their collection of 22,000 books, and will no doubt delight in the shortcommute to their offices at the museum. Sellers John Emmert and Tony MacDonald simplifiedtheir lives, as one of the first buyers at “The Berret School Lofts,” a restored schoolhouse in the LoganCircle area. Their 1700-sq.-ft. penthouse condominium, purchased for $385,000, and features soaring 14-ft. ceilings, 9-ft. windows and fantastic city views.

Have you taken notice of the dramatic light-brick structure hovering above M Street at the foot of theKey Bridge? Fascinating drivers since 1988, this magnificent brick and concrete structure has been thehome of Arthur Cotton Moore, one of Washington’s leading architects (he designed the WashingtonHarbor complex), and wife Patricia. The house includes a lap pool built into the terrace, whichlooms over Georgetown, with unparalleled sunset views of the Kennedy Center, Rosslyn, and the WashingtonMonument. Listed by Judy Cochran of Begg, Long, and Foster, the five-unit building sold for$2,750,000 to Mr. and Mrs. Michael Woods. The couple intend to occupy the lavishthree-story penthouse, which includes a circular living room with 15-ft. walls of glass. The other fourresidential units will accommodate other family members. Ellen Rodin from Evers and Companyrepresented the purchasers. The Moores are building a unique waterfront home of “stainless steel” on theEastern Shore, which they promise will have a Georgetown feel to it.

Victor Hasson, founder and Chairman of City Bird, a Belgian Airline, bought 5289 PartridgeLane, N.W. from Ramzi Dalloul of London in 1996. Mr. Hasson, who previously sold EuroBelgianAirlines to Virgin Atlantic’s Richard Branson, had the distinct pleasure of recently selling thehouse back to Mr. Dalloul for $1,199,500. The magnificent 10,000- sq.-ft. residence, with panoramic riverand Virginia views, has every comfort and amenity from billiard and media rooms, to an in-ground pool,deck, and terraces. Suzanne Goldstein of Long and Foster was the listing agent. Kari Wilner and Mo Snowden of Long and Foster represented Mr. Dalloul.

In Potomac, Maryland, 9909 Avenel Farm Drive was recently sold by Shelly Kay Melrod to Jin Hyun Ahn for $2,000,000. The four-years-young Bell-built custom home is situated on 2 acresand includes a pool with magnificent landscaping. Lois Robbins of Long and Foster was the listingagent. Nancy Shahin Itteilag and Mark McFadden of Pardoe represented the buyers. That teamalso listed 1406 Grady Randall Court in Chain Bridge Forest in McLean for Drs.Kuperschmidt, who sold it to Mary Garver and Tim Curry for $675,000. The buyers wererepresented by Sue Huckaby of Weichert Realtors.

One of Washington’s finest homes in Wesley Heights changed hands in September. Colisted with Pardoe ERAand Sotheby’s Washington Fine Properties, the fieldstone Colonial at 2930 44th Street, N.W. ownedby William A. Miller, sold for $4,068,000 to Mr. and Mrs. Paul Zevnik. With morethan 18,600-ft. of living space, this superb residence is situated on half an acre and includes ninebedrooms and ten full baths. Karen Nicholson of Washington Fine Properties represented the buyers. Bill Moody and Patrick Chauvin of Washington Fine Properties sold the Zevnik’s priorresidence on Tracy Place in Kalorama for $1,275,000.

A premium apartment at Watergate South with incredible river views recently sold for $1,100,000. GigiWinston of Winston & Winston represented the seller, and Leslie Riggs of Pardoe Erarepresented the buyer. The three-bedroom, four-bath unit had been renovated with a wonderful new kitchen,custom cabinetry, and redesigned closets.

In Georgetown, a wonderful Federal at 3122 O Street, N.W. was sold for $867,000 by ARD Germantelevision correspondent Tom Buhrow and his family, who had lived in the home for five years,prior to his transfer to Paris. Doda DeWolf of Begg, Long, and Foster listed the property, and John Taylor of Tutt, Rankin and Taylor represented the buyers.

Robert Gray recently purchased 1726 34th Street, N.W. for $357,355. Mr. Gray, along withGeorgetown resident Marc Allespach, are the principals of Banker’s Fidelity, a mortgage brokeragefirm. Mr. Gray’s retriever Hank will certainly enjoy the home’s proximity to the parks. GlenSutcliffe of Coldwell Banker Stevens represented Mr. Gray.

The talk about town for months has been the new owner of “Merrywood,” the McLean child-hood home of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis. As reported in last month’s issue, real-estate developer Alan andDianne Kay had sold it for an undisclosed amount to a buyer who preferred to remain anonymous.Nevertheless, the word has gotten out. Sotheby’s Washington Fine Properties listed and sold the estatewith a team of agents for just above $15,000,000. However, it took The Wall Street Journal and People magazine to break the identity of the new owner, who is William Conway, ManagingDirector of the Carlyle Group, a Washington investment firm. The seven-acre waterfront estate was ownedby Jackie’s mother and stepfather, Janet Bouvier Auchincloss and Hugh Auchincloss. Built inthe 1920s, the nine-bedroom home was extensively renovated and refurbished by Washington designer Victor Shargai. Merrywood features an indoor basketball court, a 5,000-sq. ft. pool house, and atennis court.

The metropolitan Washington area now exceeds Silicon Valley in computer and Internet-related jobs. Morethan 450,000 workers are engaged throughout the area and are finding their large salaries can reward themwith fine homes (and great tax breaks). On the AOL front, Christopher Johnson, a programmingdirector for communications products, recently purchased a historic townhouse in the West Village ofGeorgetown at 3421 O Street, N.W. The Federal home had been completely renovated to perfection byits owners, Jonathan and Susan Dyke. In need of more living space, the Dykes had purchaseda home at 1723 Hoban Road, N.W., a very suburban neighborhood less than one mile from Georgetown,for a little over $800,000. William F. X. Moody and Patrick Chauvin of Washington FineProperties were the listing and selling agents.

A luxurious West End condominium at 2301 N Street, N.W. recently changed hands. Bruce Rashbaum,M.D. was the seller. Richard and Baroline Bienia were the lucky buyers of thespectacular window-wrapped end unit, built by the original developer for his personal residence. Largewindows span the entire west end of the building, with panoramic views from an 800-sq. ft. privatebalcony. The listing agent for the property was Jonathan Taylor of Tutt, Taylor & Rankin RealEstate. The sale was represented by the team of Mary Jane Molik and Dan Melman of PardoeReal Estate ERA.