Lakeside mansion up for auction at $15 million

A Mediterranean-inspired 22,800-square-foot waterfront estate at 1631 Roanoke Way is being offered for sale in a sealed bid auction. Previously listed at $40 million, the minimum bid for the North-end mansion is set at $15 million.

The property is owned by Charles and Karen Lytle. The Lytles are the founders of Leisure Care, a Bellevue-based retirement community management firm that they sold in 2003. They still operate Lytle Enterprises, which builds and owns more than two dozen upscale communities in nine states that Leisure Care manages. They have moved to another house in the Bellevue area.

When the Mercer Island property was first listed for sale, several newspapers wrote about the immense and lavish estate, including the Reporter.

The three-story building lies on two manicured acres. The property includes a multitude of formal and informal living spaces, including two master suites, four additional guest rooms, a sumptuous master bath salon, three kitchens, a personal workout gym, two wine cellars and an indoor 66-foot salt water pool, according to listing information.

The auction announcement describes the home in the following way: The interiors are defined by the finest natural materials and meticulous attention to detail, from gold leaf cove ceilings and silk wall treatments to Italian marble and hardwood floors. The grandeur of the living space is exemplified by its centerpiece, a one-of-a-kind 12-foot Chihuly chandelier in the grand entry.

The sprawling, lush grounds at the Mercer Island home, designed by R. David Adams, feature a sizeable greenhouse, formal outdoor pool with fountains, meandering walking path leading to the lakefront, a stocked trout pond, and a deep water dock that previously accommodated a 140-foot yacht.

A bidder’s information packet priced at $75 is a requirement for bidding, as well as a certified or cashier’s check totaling five percent of the total bid.

For more information, contact Sheldon Good & Company at (800) 315-2199 or visit ­http://www.sheldongood.com/mercerisland.php

Contact Mercer Island Reporter Staff Reporter Staff at editor@mi-reporter.com.

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