A mansion in the Columbus, Ohio, suburb of New Albany is distinguished not just by its Georgian-style brick design but by its surroundings. Rather than stand isolated as luxury homes sometimes do, this house embraces its neighbors. It's a relatively unusual feature that the listing agent is using as a selling point.
The 11,132-square-foot house at 15 Highgrove fits within a large master-planned development created by the New Albany Co. beginning in the 1990s as a so-called new urbanist project. It’s characterized by streets with sidewalks, 40 miles of paved walking trails, a golf course and a nearby town center that all enhance a sense of community. The house, situated on an acre, and three of its neighbors sit on a roundabout that ties them together with a small park and gazebo at its center.
These features are a lure for buyers looking to live in luxury houses who seek socialization as well as privacy, according to Rob Riddle, the listing agent for 15 Highgrove.
“Unlike most country club communities where homes surround the golf course leaving the view only for the homeowner to enjoy, the beauty of the course is shared with the entire community with the walking paths running along it," he said.
The architectural style and materials used for the house built in 2014, now listed for nearly $4.6 million, and its neighbors' properties are also distinctive. The developers went to Alexandria, Virginia, founded in the 1700s, to find inspiration for the houses’ Georgian design, Riddle said. Each house on the roundabout has the same white brick walls and slate roof, though the homes are all custom designed. The four houses connected by the roundabout are somewhat older than the other upscale homes in the immediate area.
“Because there was this single, central developer, there’s a lot of continuity in the architectural design,” he said. “The homes on the [roundabout] were kind of the showcase or tone-setters that a builder should consider if they were going to build out there.”
However, not everyone loves the conformity of the Georgian design.
“I think the Georgian architecture is a bit of a love/hate thing for a lot of buyers,” Riddle said. “They love the fact that the architectural standards are so high but some wish there was a bit more variety.”
The New Albany Co.’s founder was Leslie Wexner, who previously launched L Brands, a Columbus, Ohio-based retailer that at one point owned The Limited, Victoria’s Secret, Bath and Body Works and other store chains. The house at 15 Highgrove was built by Steve Tuckerman, a former optometrist who Riddle said had a role in founding the glasses chain LensCrafters.
“His second act after selling his business to LensCrafters was building these large, executive-style homes,” Riddle said.
Another selling point for this particular house is that it's in "turnkey" condition, Riddle said, with no need for upgrades to meet contemporary tastes or significant repairs.
Inside, 15 Highgrove includes a two-story entryway, a grand staircase to the second floor and a coffered ceiling over the living room. The builder included custom cabinetry built on-site, from the kitchen cabinets to the bathroom vanities, according to Riddle.
Along with the house, residents inherit what Riddle described as a high-end golf cart they can use to travel to and from the nearby New Albany Country Club. The neighborhood also includes a playground for kids within a short walk.
“It was a great family home, with plenty of room for entertaining,” Riddle said.
The monthly payment on the house, with a 20% down payment, would be $30,864 on a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage at the current interest rate, according to Homes.com.