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    After Buying Elton John’s Condo, an Art Collector Lists His Spectacular Atlanta Mansion

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    Seven years ago, this particularly lavish Atlanta residence fetched the highest sales price ever in the desirable in-town Ansley Park neighborhood when it traded hands in a $5.4 million deal. Now it’s up for sale again, and this time the asking price is a speck under $8 million, which would mark another milestone in the area if it were to go for anywhere near that amount.

    Though the listing brokerage declined to disclose the seller’s identity, property records show the current owner of the home is Scott Westervelt. Records also indicate that the local art collector and Presbyterian minister, whose longtime wife Josephine Robinson Westervelt passed away in June 2020, was also the mystery buyer who recently paid $7.2 million for Elton John’s condo in Buckhead’s 40-story Park Place high-rise residential tower.

    Records indicate that art collector Scott Westervelt paid just over $7 million for Elton John’s Buckhead condo in November.

    Bartolotti Media/Atlanta Fine Homes Sotheby’s International Realty

    Hidden away behind walls and a canopy of trees, on a double lot overlooking the 10-acre Winn Park, the Ansley Park estate up for sale is secluded amid nearly an acre of land dotted with sculpture. Built way back in 1910, transformed under the direction of local architect James Choate in 2004 and extensively renovated by Westervelt during his tenure, the multi-level structure has five bedrooms and six baths in a little more than 9,300 square feet of living space laced with hand-picked oak floors from France, cathedral ceilings, arched doorways, and naturally, more than enough wall space to accommodate a vast assemblage of art.

    Standing out on the main level are formal living and dining rooms, and a fireside family room sporting a circular vaulted ceiling with dormer windows and floor-to-ceiling walls of glass. An adjacent kitchen is outfitted with granite countertops, a farmhouse sink, an eat-in island, top-tier stainless appliances and a breakfast nook embellished with an elegant matchstick chandelier.

    A spacious fireside family room flaunts a circular vaulted ceiling with dormer windows and floor-to-ceiling walls of glass.

    Chris Nelms/Atlanta Fine Homes Sotheby’s International Realty

    Elsewhere is a sunroom warmed by a fireplace and bookshelf-lined library, as well as a sumptuous upstairs master retreat decked out with a fireplace, sitting area, access to a roof terrace overlooking the city, and a luxe bath equipped with dual vanities, a dressing area and large glass-encased shower; and a stone-clad lower level is spotlighted by a wine cellar, wet bar-equipped lounge area, gym, and per the listing, a giant aquarium that has a viewing window into the property’s pool.

    Outdoors, the manicured grounds are truly a sight to behold with the aforementioned heated saltwater pool boasting underwater speakers and an accompanying spa, along with an extravagant sculpture garden holding the Jim Dine heart, among several other pieces, and numerous spots ideal for al fresco lounging and entertaining while overlooking the city skyline. There’s also a separate carriage house and detached two-car garage.

    The listing is held by Betsy Akers of Atlanta Fine Homes Sotheby’s International.

    Click here for more photos of Scott Westervelt’s Ansley Park house.

    Chris Nelms/Atlanta Fine Homes Sotheby’s International Realty More

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      Late Lynyrd Skynyrd Guitarist Gary Rossington’s Longtime Georgia Home Lists for $12 Million

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      Nine months after his death earlier this year at age 71, the Georgia estate of legendary guitarist Gary Rossington is available for the first time in its three-decade history. Resting in the well-to-do community of Milton, about 30 miles north of Atlanta, the bucolic residence is up for sale at exactly $12 million, as first reported by The Wall Street Journal.

      A founder of the legendary Southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd—and the last surviving original member—Rossington had cheated death more than once, according to Rolling Stone. Not only did he survive a car accident in 1976 in which he drove his Ford Torino into a tree, inspiring the band’s cautionary song That Smell, but he also emerged with two broken arms, a broken leg, and punctured stomach and liver after a 1977 plane crash that killed singer Ronnie Van Zant, guitarist Steve Gaines and backing vocalist Cassie Gaines.

      Rossington went on to have quintuple bypass surgery in 2003, suffered a heart attack in 2015 and then underwent numerous heart surgeries, having left Lynyrd Skynyrd in summer 2021 to recover from one of those procedures.

      A glass-lined great room is spotlighted by a fireplace stretching to the ceiling.

      Mike Smith/Drone Media Solutions for Atlanta Fine Homes Sotheby’s International Realty

      Meanwhile, the musician and his longtime wife Dale pieced together their 80-acre property over several years, purchasing the first 7-acre parcel for just over $1 million in 1997, per WSJ. Built in the early 1990s, and affectionately known as “Free Bird’s Nest,” the since-renovated premises are showcased by a main home and separate guesthouse—for a total of nine bedrooms and an equal number of baths in 7,500 square feet of living space.

      Other highlights include a double-height entry foyer that flows to a formal dining room and study, as well as a fireside great room that connects to an eat-in kitchen outfitted with top-tier appliances, a workstation and windowed breakfast nook. Another living area has a fireplace and French doors opening to an expansive wood deck, while a main-level master retreat comes complete with a sitting area, mini-bar, and spa-like bath equipped with dual vanities, a dressing area, garden tub and tiled shower.

      A finished terrace level features a seated bar, billiards area, cozy fireplace and full bath.

      Mike Smith/Drone Media Solutions for Atlanta Fine Homes Sotheby’s International Realty

      Three more bedrooms can be found upstairs, including an en-suite one, and two that share a bath; and the terrace level offers plenty of room for relaxing and entertaining guests with a fireplace, built-in bar, billiards area and Rossington’s simple music studio, which consisted of a desk, armchair, CD player and small amplifiers.

      The amenities continue outdoors, where the sprawling grounds host a custom waterfall-fed pool and spa, fire-pit, pair of barns “ready for storage or conversion into animal spaces,” per the listing, and large spring-fed fishing lake sporting two docks, one floating and another with dual boat slips. There’s also a spacious motorcourt flanked by an attached two-car garage out front.

      An inviting backyard pool area is surrounded by grassy lawns and a fishing lake.

      Mike Smith/Drone Media Solutions for Atlanta Fine Homes Sotheby’s International Realty

      In addition to their primary Georgia residence, the couple also maintained a home in the Wyoming city of Jackson Hole. Per WSJ, Rossington’s widow is selling because she is planning to move to Florida where she can be closer to family. “Without Gary, it’s time for us to move on,” she said. “We’ve had our time here.” 

      The listing is held by Cynthia Chandlee of Atlanta Fine Homes Sotheby’s International Realty.

      Click here for more photos of Gary Rossington’s Georgia house.

      Mike Smith/Drone Media Solutions for Atlanta Fine Homes Sotheby’s International Realty More

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      in Luxury

      Just Sold for $8.4 Million, Paula Deen’s Former Savannah Estate Has Set a Local Sales Record for a Second Time

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      Hey y’all! When down-home celebrity chef Paula Deen sold Riverbend, her sprawling Savannah, Georgia, estate, in 2020 for a teaspoonful more than $6.8 million, it pegged a record for the highest amount ever paid for a home in the Hostess City of the South.

      Now, the very same 4.62-acre riverfront compound, about 10 miles southeast of Savannah’s historic district and owned by a family from northern California who renamed it Vila Sacadura, has just been sold for $8.4 million, once again making it the most expensive home ever sold in Savannah.

      Listing agent Ridley Stallings of Corcoran Austin Hill Realty commented, “Vila Sacadura is a truly exceptional property, and the sale record is just a reflection of how special this property is, an iconic piece of coastal Savannah.”

      Altogether, the manicured spread has 14 bedrooms and 13 bathrooms across 28,000 square feet of casually luxurious living space divvied up between the main house, two guest cottages, a dock house, and a customized barn/guest house.

      At the end of a long, gated driveway that passes through verdant gardens is the French Caribbean-style main residence.

      Stephen Snyder of Snyder Film Productions

      At more than 14,000 square feet, the French Caribbean-style main residence, which has six bedrooms and six bathrooms, plus a couple of powder rooms, is nothing short of commodious, with a soaring, wood-clad ceiling in the colossal combination living and dining room that helps with the heat and humidity that blanket Savannah during the late summer months. 

      The centerpiece of the home, unsurprisingly, is the vast kitchen that’s outfitted with professional appliances, back-to-back copper sinks in the double-wide island, and a massive pantry for food, tableware, and culinary equipment storage. Elsewhere are a family room and informal dining area that open to outdoor living and entertaining spaces, a cozy wood-paneled den with a saltwater aquarium, and a spacious, river-view primary suite with two fireplaces, one in the sitting area of the bedroom and the other in the lavish bathroom.

      The huge, open-plan kitchen is at the heart of the 14,000-square-foot home.

      Stephen Snyder of Snyder Film Productions

      A deep loggia spans the back of the house, with an outdoor kitchen and plenty of room to eat and relax out of the sun. The loggia looks over the swimming pool, beyond which a tree-shaded lawn rolls down to the estate’s 300 feet of river frontage. At the end of the private dock is a charming dock house complete with a kitchen and a bathrooms

      The gated, cobblestone driveway passes under a vine-draped pergola that connects a twinned pair of one-bedroom, one-bathroom guest cottages before it arrives at the front of the main house, which sits amid lush, sculpted plantings.

      Arched windows in the primary bedroom frame views of the river.

      Near the front of the property is a fully customized, 10,000-square-foot barn that, in addition to garage space and a huge entertainment lounge with a wet bar, has five bedrooms and two bathrooms. There are magnificent live oak trees that drip with Spanish moss across the estate, which also includes groomed gardens and a half-acre stocked pond.

      The buyer was represented by Taavo Roos at Seabolt Realty. Vila Sacadura was listed with Ridley Stallings and Melissa Hall Rowan of Corcoran Austin Hill Realty, the same dynamic duo who represented the buyer in another recent, record-breaking transaction, the $6.167 million sale of a downtown mansion that marked the highest sum ever paid for a private home in Savannah’s historic district.

      Click here for more photos of Savannah’s Vila Sacadura. More

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      in Luxury

      Amid Divorce, Kim Zolciak and Kroy Biermann List Their Extravagant Georgia Estate for $6 Million

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      Don’t be tardy for this fire sale! Kim Zolciak-Biermann and Kroy Biermann have officially listed their marital home amid a messy divorce and financial struggles.

      As first reported by TMZ, “The Real Housewives of Atlanta” alum and former NFL player’s elaborate stone and brick mansion in a gated community within the suburban city of Milton, about 30 miles north of Atlanta, just hit the market for exactly $6 million. Originally offered for $3.2 million earlier this month, the property was purchased by the estranged couple for a mere $880,000 back in 2012, about a year after they were married.

      Per TMZ, the home was set to enter foreclosure next month—“so Kim and Kroy are getting ahead of the auction in attempting to sell it themselves.” The outlet also said Kroy Biermann had previously filed documents asking a judge to allow the sale of the home to help pay off the pair’s various debts.

      Built in 2008, the two-story structure rests on almost 2 acres of gated land overlooking a lake and the 18th fairway of The Manor Golf & Country Club, and features seven bedrooms and 11 baths in roughly 9,000 square feet of living space on two levels tricked out with soaring ceilings, designer chandeliers and lots of other bling-bling. There’s also a porte-cochère and six-car garage with room for lifts to store up to eight vehicles, plus a separate area atop the garage sporting a two-station salon and bath.

      In addition to a double-height entry foyer displaying a curving staircase lined with elaborate ironwork, the main level also hosts a wood-paneled study spotlighted by a coffered ceiling and fireplace flanked by custom built-ins, and the family room adjoins a gourmet kitchen outfitted with custom cabinetry, an eat-in island, Wolf and Sub-Zero appliances, and a circular breakfast nook.

      Other highlights include a wet bar-equipped entertainment space, formal living and dining rooms, and a primary bedroom suite flaunting a fireplace, sitting area, two-story walk-in closet, and luxe bath with dual vanities and a soaking tub.

      Four more en-suite bedrooms, a landing-area bonus room, playroom and domed circular sitting area can be found upstairs; and relaxation is the name of the game on the terrace level, where you’ll find another family room, as well as a movie theater, 500-bottle wine cellar and gym, along with dedicated billiard, arcade and massage rooms. An in-law suite on this floor has its own kitchen and sitting area; and outdoors, the grounds come complete with a covered veranda overlooking a vanishing-edge pool and spa, sport court and an in-ground trampoline.

      Lastly, if they have a lot of spare change in their pocket, the new owners can also enjoy private member-only access to The Manor, which includes a variety of dining options, an 18-hole Tom Watson championship golf course, and swim and tennis facilities.

      During her time on RHOA, on and off from 2008 to 2012, 45-year-old Zolciak was reportedly hauling in around $2 million per season, ranking her among the highest paid of Bravo’s housewives. She’s also appeared in another spinoff reality show, Don’t Be Tardy (previously Don’t Be Tardy for the Wedding), and was a contestant on Season 21 of Dancing With the Stars.

      As for Biermann, 38, he was drafted by the Atlanta Falcons in the fifth round of the 2008 NFL draft and played as an outside linebacker with the team from 2009 until 2015.

      The listing is held by Jenny Doyle of Atlanta Fine Homes Sotheby’s International. More

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      in Luxury

      Elton John Is Rocketing Out of His Longtime Atlanta Condo

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      He’s saying goodbye to Peachtree Road! After a little more than three decades of ownership, Sir Elton John has decided to let go of his Atlanta home in Buckhead’s 40-story Park Place high-rise residential tower. Records show the legendary English musician is asking a speck under $5 million for the condo, which is listed by Chase Mizell of Atlanta Fine Homes Sotheby’s International Realty.

      According to The Wall Street Journal and Buckhead.com, which first reported the story, John initially paid $925,000 for a roughly 2,500-square-foot duplex on the 36th floor of the building in the early 1990s. He subsequently picked up neighboring units to accommodate his vast photography collection, eventually laying claim to six combined units spanning two levels.

      The Park Place on Peachtree luxury high-rise building is sited on Peachtree Road in the sought-after Buckhead neighborhood of Atlanta.

      Bartolotti Media for Atlanta Fine Homes Sotheby’s International Realty

      Altogether, the four-bedroom, seven-bath dwelling features a little more than 13,300 square feet of living space highlighted by a spacious living room that can easily accommodate a grand piano, per the listing, plus a formal dining room topped by a gallery space, wood-paneled office/lounge area and grand salon boasting floor-to-ceiling windows. There’s also a sumptuous master retreat outfitted with an adjoining seating area, a luxe onyx-clad bath and ample closet space; and elsewhere is a gym and spa/massage room.

      The star’s unit also comes with numerous amenities courtesy of a $7,851 monthly HOA fee, including nine reserved parking spaces, six private storage units and five dedicated wine storage units.

      Clad in wall-to-wall wood, this spacious room hosts an office and lounge area with skyline views.

      Bartolotti Media for Atlanta Fine Homes Sotheby’s International Realty

      John, 76, told the WSJ he is selling because he no longer needs a touring base in the U.S. now that he has completed his farewell tour. He, husband David Furnish and their two sons make their primary residence at a centuries-old estate in Windsor, England, just west of London. They also own a home in Nice, France. 

      During his final concert in Atlanta last September, the singer and pianist addressed the crowd about having spent time in his adopted Southern city: “I’ve lived here for 30 years, and I’ve loved every single minute,” he said. “So, I will take you with me in my heart, in my soul, and I’ll never forget you.”

      Click here for more photos of Elton John’s Atlanta condo.

      Bartolotti Media for Atlanta Fine Homes Sotheby’s International Realty More

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      in Luxury

      Rock Ross Just Bought Meek Mill’s Atlanta Mansion for $4.2 Million in Cash

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      After two years on the market, Meek Mill finally found a buyer for his Atlanta mansion, and it’s none other than fellow Maybach Music member and real estate mogul Rick Ross.  

      Rozay splashed out a cool $4.2 million in cash for the Buckhead estate, TMZ reported. However, Meek shared on his Instagram story that he didn’t know the Teflon Don was the new owner. In an effort to speed up the sale, the “Dreams & Nightmares” rapper posted a video of the house on social media back in March, mentioning that he’s only had it for a few years and never actually moved in. It’s possible he was taking a page from Ross’s playbook and just wanted a residence to ride by every day.

      I sold that house that quick …. It was forsale for like 2 years… i knew it would soon as I posted too!— MeekMill (@MeekMill) April 10, 2023

      Naturally, the eight-bedroom, nine-bathroom spread comes with a bevy of amenities. Think a tennis court, a movie theater, a sauna, and a swimming pool. There’s also a Jacuzzi, a playground, and twin garages. ATL broker Alisha Gillooly, who represented Ross, told TMZ that she’s “been working to make an impact in the luxury market, and this did just that.” 

      Rick Ross (left) just bought an Atlanta manse from fellow rapper Meek Mill (in orange) for $4.2 million.

      Shareif Ziyadat/Getty Images

      This isn’t the first time Ross has scooped up a property with celeb pedigree. The hip-hop artist doled out $3.5 million in all cash for Amar’e Stoudemire’s gated estate in Florida, setting a record for the fast-closing deal in Southwest Ranches. He also famously bought boxer Evander Holyfield’s 109-room mega-manse in Georgia, which he renamed “the Promise Land.”

      The palatial compound in Fayetteville sits on an epic 235 acres and measures a whopping 45,000 square feet. Inside, there are 12 lavish bedrooms, 21 bathrooms, a 135-person movie theatre, and a recording studio. Plus, the sprawling grounds hold a 350,000-gallon swimming pool, as well as a herd of buffalo. The digs are so impressive, they even had a starring role in Eddie Murphy’s Coming 2 America. Nothing but the best for Da Boss. More

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      Inside Rick Ross’ Georgia Mega Home (PHOTOS)

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      Mix of old & recent pics from over the years
      Some photography by Quantrell D. Colbert
      This is the home of rapper Rick Ross. It is located at 794 Evander Holyfield Highway in Fayetteville, Georgia and is situated on over 100 acres of land. It is the former home of former professional boxer Evander Holyfield. Holyfield had to sell the home due to foreclosure for $7.5 million. It then went back on the market for $8.2 million and eventually sold to Ross at auction for $5.879 million in 2014.
      The 109-room home features over 44,000 square feet of living space with 12 bedrooms, 21 bathrooms, home theater, bowling alley, gym, recording studio, indoor pool and much more. There is also a 4,000 square foot guest home on the property.
      Outdoor features include gated entrances, ponds, terraces/patios, 7-stall horse barn, outbuildings and one of the largest residential swimming pools in the country. More