New owners for historic Fauntleroy estate

Editor’s note: We first reported in July 2007 that this historic Fauntleroy home was on the market for $5 million; thanks to Amy for the tip that it just sold for $3,850,000; thanks to Fauntleroy writer and historian Ron Richardson for tracking down the details and providing this report and photos:

By Ron Richardson
Reporting for West Seattle Blog

After being on the market for nearly two years, the Colman-Pierce home in the Laurentide section of Fauntleroy has new owners.

Dr. Jack Pierce has sold the home and 2.5-acre estate to Mr. David Jones and his wife Mary Ann of Preston. Dr. Pierce had received offers from developers but wanted to be sure that the property ended up with someone who appreciated the home, the gardens and would maintain its atmosphere and garden setting:

Fauntleroy neighbors are appreciative and relieved that Dr. Pierce found such a buyer. Mr. Jones was born in England, has been a Microsoft executive and currently lives on a ten-acre farm in Preston. According to Dr. Pierce, Mr. Jones likes the idea of having a home in the city with the serenity one finds at the Colman estate. And he likes gardens.

The home, called Laurentide, was built in 1922 by Laurence Colman and was designed by well-known Seattle architect Arthur Loveless. Seattle pioneer James Colman, an immigrant from Scotland, eventually settled Fauntleroy in 1906, along with fellow members of Seattle’s Plymouth Congregational Church. The Colman family over the years has built and maintained a spectacular garden with dozens of rhododendrons, including new species developed by the Colmans.

Dr. Pierce and his wife Leilia have moved to their other home at Horsehead Bay near Gig Harbor. Older Fauntleroy residents would remember being taken to summer camp at Horsehead Bay by Laurence Colman.

It seems a Fauntleroy and West Seattle historic property has been saved from ‘development’ and will retain its historic sense into the future, thanks to Dr. Jack Pierce and Mr. David Jones.

Read more Fauntleroy history in Ron Richardson’s HistoryLink.org essay.

8 Replies to "New owners for historic Fauntleroy estate "

  • john June 3, 2009 (1:01 pm)

    Nice article to read. I’m glad the house will remain and the property stay untouched.

  • gaga June 3, 2009 (1:18 pm)

    20 years ago when I was going to SSCC for landscaping, we went on a teaching trip to the property, and Dr. Pierce lead us all over the grounds. I hope the eagles are still roosting on the bluff.

  • marianne June 3, 2009 (1:20 pm)

    Happy to hear the good news.

  • miws June 3, 2009 (1:40 pm)

    Yay!

    .

    Thanks to Dr. & Mrs. Pierce, for having the integrity to want to keep this property in it’s historical state. And thanks to Mr. & Mrs. Jones for their intention to continue to do so.

    .

    One thing does have me curious though. Mr. David Jones, originally from England?

    “Hey, hey”……could it be…….? ;)

    .

    Mike

  • cakeitseasy June 3, 2009 (3:14 pm)

    And what a steal for under 5 mil for a place like that in the city!

  • Jerry Gropp Architect AIA June 3, 2009 (4:54 pm)

    West Seattle has long been one of the best places to live in my native city. This Post does much to explain this fact. Jerry

  • Jersey Jill June 3, 2009 (8:18 pm)

    That is fantastic news!!! I have had the pleasure of being a guest several times at this residence and it is as lovely on the inside as it is on the outside. I so wanted to win the lottery so I could purchase this place, oh well I am relieved it wasn’t sold to a developer.

  • Judy June 4, 2009 (8:27 am)

    Thanks, Ron, for tracking down the details. Surely Jack AND Leilia sold the property, not just Jack. Never forget the women!!!

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