$26.8 m for East Mercer waterfront estate

A mansion on Butterworth road took four years to build and has a 280-foot waterfront and moorage, eight-car garage and sports pavilion.

Down a narrow lane off East Mercer Way, an expanse of white stone appears suddenly — glowing through the trees.

An Island mansion built by Dr. Marty Rosa, a dentist, and his wife, Janet Primm Rosa, an educator, came on the market in October for $26.8 million.

The grand 15,000 s.f. home was built for entertaining and relaxing and enjoying Lake Washington and views east and south toward Mt. Rainier.

There are more than a few such homes on Mercer Island. But while location and size and abundant amenities are key, it is the attention to detail and quality that makes a home stand out, said co-listing agent, Christie Clark.

The waterfront home took four years to complete. Walls are covered in custom cherry wood in various colors and finishes throughout the house. Workmen spent months on the details and made sure there were no seams or nail holes visible on everything from support columns to wainscoting to tight corners, Clark said.

The main hall measures 80 feet long and contains an enormous chandelier visible through the carved glass, two-story plus entry. It is made of Austrian crystal, one of a matched set of three.

A 114-page digital listing book illustrates the desired effect.

“The south wing is a space for relaxing and entertaining. Besides the movie theater, a billiards room, there is tap bar room, ‘chef domain,’ [and] scone and tea room reminiscent of Breakfast at Tiffany’s overlooking the putting green,” according to the book.

There are 10 sitting rooms, including the gazebo, a breakfast nook, family room, great room, master bedroom sitting area, solarium, art room and an area by the bar and aquarium. The master suite, which includes a bedroom, two offices and a large, luxurious bathroom, also has beautiful view of Lake Washington and on clear days looking south, Mount Rainier.

“There are some wonderful rooms designed for enjoyment while sitting such as the theatre; and watching the world go by from the end of the dock in the summer and from the warmth of your home when the Christmas ships come and stop the parade for a while as they linger by our home,” the Rosas said.

The Rosas married in 1967, and were among the major shareholders of once family-owned Primadonna Resorts in Nevada and California, before the hotel and casino company was sold to MGM Grand Inc. in 1998 for $590 million. The Rosas currently reside near Las Vegas.

There are five bedrooms and 9.5 bathrooms. The frames of the seven fireplaces on the main floor are gold plated.

Materials incorporated into the home design, including travertine flooring, a Vermont slate roof and hand-painted Portuguese tile on the countertops in the main kitchen, the auxiliary kitchen and barbecue area. The plush white carpets throughout the house were carved by Tammi Rodriquez of Carpets by Design.

In the basement, there’s a wine cellar that holds 2,500 bottles. While the wine collection will be taken by the owner, the home is being sold as furnished.

Art is everywhere. Many pieces were done just for the house. Some of the art can be purchased with the home. Sport fish caught by Mr. Rosa such as marlin and a yellow fin adorn the walls in the billiards room.

The grounds are almost more impressive than the living quarters. There is a full sports pavilion, with an outdoor tennis court and spa, and a squash court with windows for spectators. The court also accommodates racquetball, volleyball, pickleball, badminton and half-court basketball. There are soaking tubs both indoors and out, with a large jetted tub in the master suite as well.

The house has had a full-time house manager that also serves as groundskeeper. Two independent contract gardeners are currently employed to take care of the landscaping on a schedule. There are 80 different types of Rhododendrons on the grounds, as well as apple and plum trees, irises, Asian pears, lavender bushes, white birches, hydrangeas, Japanese maples, roses and an English herb garden.

There’s also an elevator and an eight-car garage.

The 280-foot waterfront and moorage fits the Rosa’s 85-foot yacht, but can accommodate two major vessels, one up to 150 feet.

Property taxes for 2014 were $88,760.

Coldwell Banker Bain’s Wendy Lister and Christi Clark are the listing agents.  The digital book can be found on Lister’s website, http://wendysgonedigital.com.


Notable Mercer Island mansions

•  Lytle Mansion on Roanoke Way orginally listed at $40 million, sold for $12 million at auction in 2010.

• Brick waterfront mansion at Proctor Landing listed at $39.5 million, sold for $15.5 million in 2008.

• Sandwith House on Boulevard Place originally listed for $32 million sold for $13.25 million in 2012.

• Coval home on 84th Avenue S.E. originally listed for $10 million, did not sell and is to be be dismantled.

• House on Faben Point on S.E. 22nd Street listed for $28 million is priced now at $16.5 million. It remains on the market.