Today's home is a fantastic real estate value provided you are willing to make your way to Stillwater, Minnesota. The Real Estalker reports that Jessica Lange and Sam Shepard first put this home on the market in 2004 for $3.3 million. It seems that the couple became disenchanted with their sleepy little town when it became a bit yuppified. The home in question is a five-bedroom Victorian on 2.5 acres. It dates back to 1892 but has been given a very nice renovation in fact you might have seen it in the pages of Architectural Digest. The woodwork is in top shape and although the style isn't wildly exciting there are cute touches like the dragonfly-tiled shower. The property includes a detached garage and a guest house that is located adjacent to the heated swimming pool. The land also is home to a small fruit orchard and ponds. The home is listed at $1.95 million.
Even in 2006, when we first wrote about the Nicollet, a dramatic condo project planned for Minneapolis, we were a little skeptical. Now given the the current state of the housing market it's not such a big surprise to hear that the NIcollet might never come to pass. The Minneapolis-St. Paul Star Tribune reports that another development partner has bowed out of the Nicollet. Opus Northwest parted ways with Twin Cities developers Pratt Ordway Properties and Hunt Associates. The project has had a complicated history. The project was originally proposed in 2004. In 2005, Pratt and Hunt bought out the the 50 percent interest of Twin Cities architect Jeff McDonell and home builder Ron Johnson. in @006, they recruited HInes Interests to build the project, Hines then dropped out and was replaced by Opus. The condo units are no longer being marketed by Pratt says he is still hopeful that firm plans for the project will materialize within the next year.
A few months ago, I mentioned televangelist Creflo Dollar and his Rolls-Royce. Dollar is far from the only minister who preaches a "prosperity gospel." Another popular pastor, Mac Hammond of Living Word Christian Center in Minnesota is having to give up one of his pricey toys, his own private jet. Hammond is reportedly marketing the Cessna 650 business jet aggressively and plans to reinvest the money in the ministry. The Minnesota Star-Tribune also reports that the Living Word has also cut its hourlong TV show on Sunday mornings in half to save money.The jet has gotten Hammond in trouble before. Last year, the group Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington filed complaints with the IRS saying that Hammond finagled a $2 million loan deal with Living Word and got money from a lease-back deal on the plane. Hammond is also the owner of a stunt plane, a 1995 Flugzeugbau EA-300L. He has used the private plane both to minister in other places and to travel to his homes in Florida. The jet has room for nine passengers and is listed at $3.9 million.
In these days of real estate peril here's a tale on pretty smart investment. The Ivy Tower in Minneapolis was once to be destroyed, now it is part of luxury hotel and condo project. John Laux and his business partner Gary Benson bought the Ivy Tower for $400,000 in 2000 with an eye toward creating boutique-style offices. Later they changed plans, getting financing for the $100 million project in 2005. The original tower is now incorporated into two larger structures the Ivy Hotel +Residence, a 26-story tower for condo units and a 19-story building that along with the original 10-story tower, make up the hotel. The condo units were originally priced from around $250,000 to $2 million. The Ivy is now ready for completion and just five of the original 92 condominiums remain unsold. Some purchasers even bought two units to turn them into one larger space. The first condos will be ready next year and the hotel is to open late next month. The Ivy is part of Starwood Hotel and Resort's Luxury Collection and residents will have access to all hotel amenities.
Another famous blockbuster estate has hit the market and it will most likely be the most expensive sale in Minnesota history. Southways is a huge mansion in the elite area of Brackett's Point in Orono, Minnesota which has served as the summer home for the Pillsbury family. The estate includes seven structures including a caretaker's cottage/greenhouse, garage, pool complex, smoke room and tea house on nearly 13 acres. It sits on Lake Minnetonka and has lovely views but the magic is on the inside on this one, the finishes and details are absolutely flawless. There are nine bedrooms in the 32,400-square-foot-main house. It was designed in 1916-1918 by Harrie T. Lindberg and was used by the Pillsbury family until the early 1990s. It has been lovingly restored by the Jundt family and played host to President Bush last summer. The Pioneer Press reports that according to real estate agent Bruce Birkeland, the family is downsizing. Can the Jundts get their price of $53.5 million? It sounds a bit optimistic but this lovely home will almost certainly be a record breaker.
Larger pictures are in the gallery and definitely worth checking out, especially for the mural in the exercise room/spa and the amazing details on the fireplace.
Today's estate is one for the Frank Lloyd Wright fans. The Don and Virginia Lovness estate in Stillwater, Minnesota sits on 20 acres of lakefront property located 15 minutes east of St. Paul. The home has two bedroom wings separated by the living spaces that include an immense fireplace built of hand-cut Wisconsin stone. A glass window wall faces views of the lake. The property includes both the main house, known as the studio, and a smaller home, the cottage, which is also made of Wisconsin stone. The homes have been maintained by the family since the mid 1950s and the built-in furnishings, designed by Wright for the homes, go with the property. There are also Wright designs for three additional cottages. It is listed at $3.75 million.
Minneapolis is becoming one hot city with a variety of new condo developments planned. Minneapolis takes another big step toward big city land with the opening of their very own Westin. The Westin Minneapolis has opened in the historic Farmers & Mechanics Bank Building in the heart of downtown Minneapolis. The building has a distinctive 34-foot vaulted entryway and lobby and a restored marble staircase. There are 214 guestrooms including a penthouse suite with an outdoor patio and a Bankers Boardroom with floor to ceiling windows. The Bank restaurant has a vaulted ceiling and serves contemporary cuisine. Rates start around $220.
A while back I mentioned Thistledor in Orono, Minnesota as the most expensive property in the area but there is a newer and more lavish property available. This is Dunrovin, an Old-World-styled estate with views of Maxwell Bay, and over 500 feet of lakeshore bordered by 75 acres of protected preserve. The estate has a private marina,a pool with a waterfall, and a golf hole with traps and a water hazard.
Inside the 14,000-square-foot main house there are two elevators, a theater, wine cellar, tasting room, four bedroom suites, a gourmet catering kitchen, plenty of fireplaces and large rooms. The estate was originally for sale for $19.5 million but has been discounted to $16.9 million. After the jump, nothing mini about this place.
Thistledor is most expensive listing in Minnesota. Located on Brackett's Point in Orono, the home is surrounded by Lake Minnetonka. An English Country home designed by Edwin Lunde sits on 5.4 acres that include a pool with twin cabanas, gardens, a clay tennis court, guest cottage and a carriage house-styled garage. The seven-bedroom home is being sold by Henry Reed, wife of the late Martha Sweatt Reed who was the granddaughter of William R. Sweatt, one of the founders of Honeywell. The land had been in her family for many years. The home is listed at $14.9 million. After the jump, a beauty in the fall.
This home is called the "talk of the
town" for good reason. It's the most beautiful and noteworthy home on Minnesota's Lake Minnetonka. The home
includes waterfalls, fountains, indoor and outdoor pools and lake views from a variety of angles. It has a large barrel
vaulted ceiling that is back lit with fiber optic lighting. The home is five bedrooms and has more than 24,000 square
feet of space with a home theater, two offices, media room, home gym and more. The home islisted at $8.9 million.
