The District · Maryland · Virginia

BY MARY K. MEWBORN

THE DISTRICT

Treasury Secretary Henry Merritt "Hank" Paulson Jr. has reportedly purchased the Massachusetts Avenue Heights property known as "The Villa" for $4.3 million. A prominent Wall Street insider, Paulson served as CEO and chairman of Goldman Sachs prior to his confirmation last June. In one of his first public appearances as secretary, Paulson triggered the "Inequality Debate of 2006" by listing the gap between America’s rich and poor as one of this country’s top four long-term economic concerns. Paulson’s own net worth has been estimated at more than $700 million. He was born in Palm Beach, Fla., and raised on an estate in Barrington Hills, Ill.,where he still owns a home. In 1970, he received an M.B.A from Harvard. In 1968 he earned his B.A. in English Literature from Dartmouth, where he met his wife Wendy during his senior year. The couple’s new five-bedroom, four-bath home is spacious and light filled with an open floor plan that allows guests to flow easily through the reception hall and living room onto a stone terrace that adjoins a scenic and serene park. Paulson, who has been described as an avid nature lover, apparently purchased the property located at 2750 32nd St. N.W., from Rampa R. Hormel, president of the Global Environment Project Institute and a recipient of the United Nations Environment Program Global 500 Award.

Marvin Hamlisch and his wife Terre Blair have sold their Georgetown pied à terre for $1.75 million. Although the couple’s primary residence is in New York, Blair bought the 2817 Q St. N.W. property four years ago, and with Hamlisch conducting the National Symphony Orchestra Pops, it had been a convenient abode. Now the couple has decided that hotels are even more convenient. A testament to Blair’s talent and taste, the 1910 Federalstyle home has been meticulously renovated with a richness and refinement one rarely finds in modern times. There are exquisite window treatments, fabric wall coverings, and an unusual copper canopy shading a portion of the private terraced garden. The threebedroom townhouse with three and a half marble baths boasts eleven-foot ceilings with impressive moldings and recessed lighting, oak floors, mahogany built-ins, four fireplaces, gourmet kitchen, paneled master study, an au-pair suite and a media room with a highdefinition audio/visual system. The new owner is C. R. Milano Partnership. Long and Foster’s Terry Robinson helped facilitate the sale.

Robinson was also the listing agent for 2238 49th St. N.W., representing seller Pat Mitchell, the former head of PBS who has moved to New York to oversee the Museum of Television and Radio. The buyers paid $1.85 million for the four-level, six-bedroom home with a fabulous contemporary three-story glass addition, five fireplaces and a secluded heated swimming pool with a wooden deck backing Battery Kemball Park. Long and Foster’s Rember Burthey was the selling agent.

MARYLAND

The spectacularly situated property located just one mile north of the District border at 6699 MacArthur Blvd. in Bethesda has sold for $4.1 million. Set high on a hill, the 1.93-acre property has a sweeping 180- degree view of the Potomac River at Little Falls and is the site of a Fort Sumner outpost known as Battery Alexander, where a Civil War trench remains as yet unexcavated. The seller is the estate of journalist Chalmers M. Roberts, the famous chief diplomatic correspondent for the Washington Post. Roberts, who died last April, acquired the property in 1945 and built the house in 1951. The new owner, who currently resides in Georgetown, apparently plans to raze the existing two-level brick flat-roofed house and build a new home overlooking the falls. Washington Fine Properties agents William F. X. Moody and Joanne Pinover listed the property for $4,650,000. The selling agent was Washington Fine Properties’ Carr ill McKenzie.

VIRGINIA

By press time, 921 Towlston Rd. in McLean is expected to have gone to settlement for $3.1 million. Built in 1986 by renowned local builder Eugene Cullinane, this elegantly appointed brick Colonial sits on 3.65 wooded acres with a stream, yet is just minutes from the District. Featuring exquisite craftsmanship and attention to detail, there are hardwood floors on the two upper levels and beautiful wall moldings throughout. Brickwork adds a touch of Old World charm to the large center island kitchen, as do the five fireplaces and six sets of French door leading to the patio, pool and flagstone terrace. There are four bedrooms and four and a half baths, including the master suite and luxurious marble bath. There is also a formal dining room, a large living room, a richly paneled study with built-in shelves, a sunlit family room, gym and media room. The sellers are Peter and Mary Hayes. Peter Hayes is a former vice president of Microsoft. The buyers are Timothy and Kimberly Riffe. Weichert’s Penny Yerks was instrumental in facilitating the sale.

In Great Falls, 627 Innsbruck Av. has sold for $3.625 million. The impressive five-acre estate with rolling hills, mature trees and professional landscaping overlooks the lake at Innsbruck. The house features a marble foyer with a floating staircase, a newly constructed four-car garage and a recently remodeled lower level with a second kitchen complete with custom cabinetry, granite counters and topof- the-line appliances. The buyer is Anthony S. Piszel. The seller was David W. Black. Weichert’s Sue Huckaby was the listing agent. Susan Koehler was the selling agent.

Peter and Mary Hayes have sold 921 Towlston Rd. in McLean for $3.1 million to Timothy and Kimberly Riffe	The 180-degree view of the Potomac River at Little Falls from 6699 MacArthur Blvd. in Bethesda, which recently sold for $4,100,000. The property belonged to journalist Chalmers M. Roberts, the famous chief diplomatic correspondent for the Washington Post

David W. Black sold 627 Innsbruck Ave. in Great Falls to Anthony S. Piszel for $3.625 million	Pat Mitchell, former head of PBS, sold 2238 49th St., N.W. for $1.85 million