chestnut hill

15% of Chestnut Hill Home Sale Profits Will Go to Charity

Mark Andrus, who made his fortune selling Stacy's Pita Chips to Frito-Lay, is giving back. He's listed an historic Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts estate that he recently renovated at $12.5 million and will donate 15% of the profits from the sale to to the Boston Food Bank. With this home, Andrus is launching RH Design and Development, his new real estate development company devoted to helping people in need.

We think he couldn't have picked a better time and hopefully more millionaires and billionaires will join in the "give back" drumbeat.

For the 45-year-old Andrus, giving back has been a way of life. Both his parents gave generously despite their own struggles. His dad, a physician, lost his eyesight to diabetes and went back to school to become a psychologist, a path that Andrus himself pursued. Even when the company he co-founded with his ex-wife Stacy was a struggling upstart, it offered free English as a Second Language classes to the community.

"When we sold, I wanted there to be an aspect of my life where I could continue giving back to the community. For this new company -- where we're building high-end homes -- it only feels right to be to be giving back to those in need. Yes, we build great beautiful things, but you can't forget about or ignore those who are struggling and can't partake in this," he said.

Andrus bought the 1929 brick Balemore estate for $3.5 million and spent $7 million and 2.5 years renovating it. He always intended to sell the 6-bedroom, 5-bath home, which has 12,000 square feet and sits on 2.2 acres, although he celebrated Thanksgiving in the house with his family both to "do a test run" and to inaugurate the company's first project.

The Georgian Revival mansion, a stunner, is fused with modern resort-like features, including a spa garden with a plunge pool, indoor-outdoor living areas, a wine cellar and state-of-the-art Crestron audio-visual system. There are two laundry rooms, a library and a studio apartment with a small kitchen. There are stone terraces and formal gardens.

Andrus, who lives in Boston, sold Stacy's Pita Chips in 2005 to Frito-Lay.

Allison Mazer of Sotheby's International Realty has the listing.

Tags: boston real estate, chestnut hill, estate of the day, massachusetts real estate

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Crefeld Street, Estate of the Day

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Estates

Today's home is another grand Pennsylvania manor. This home in Chestnut Hill, Pennsylvania was built in the 1930s in the Norman style. It sits on nearly five acres. The home has been restored and updated but includes many older details some that date from before the home was built like the wood paneling in the great room which was taken from a 1650 hunting lodge of King James II. The home's features include a formal dining room, game room, 'speakeasy' bar, bowling alley, country kitchen and eight bedrooms. The master suite has a fireplace and a sitting room with another fireplace. There are also his and hers offices and a conference room. The property includes a four car garage, a three-bedroom cottage and a pool. It is listed for $4.75 million.

Gallery: Crefeld Street