Buzz

DAILY DC

USTA

The U.S. Tennis Association’s MidAtlantic division announced Thursday plans to build a 36-court facility in Loudoun County, which would host tournaments and other big events and serve as the organization’s headquarters.

The facility, proposed to open in 2025, would become the largest of its kind in the Mid-Atlantic division. USTA Mid-Atlantic Section, as the division is formally called, currently has the 20-acre property under contract, Lauren Hoffmann, the organization’s spokesperson, told the Washington Business Journal.

The organization has not named the location, except to say it’s along the Dulles Greenway near Leesburg. However, an updated statement of justification for the proposed Village at Clear Springs, a massive, 1,200plus home planned community from developer Hobie Mitchell currently under review by Loudoun planners, appears to include the USTA center. (WBJ)

600 CBR, LLC

BRIDGE IMPROVEMENTS

One buyer has spent more money than Jeff Bezos and Dan Snyder combined on residential real estate in the DC region over the last two years, but their identity is a bit of a mystery. Using the moniker 600 CBR LLC, the buyer has purchased some of the most expensive real estate in the area along McLean’s Gold Coast, starting about two years ago. In January 2020, the buyer made a splashy entrance to the DC housing market by purchasing 600 Chain Bridge Road, owned by late AOL co-founder James V. Kimsey. Listed with TTR Sotheby’s International Realty for the tidy price of $62.95 million in 2018, it ultimately sold for about $43 million, at the time the most expensive residential property sale in the area. Later that year, the same buyer purchased 405 Chain Bridge Road, 407 Chain A rare 18th century home has come up for sale on 33rd St. Listed just under $4 million, 1524 33rd St. is being sold for the first time in over 50 years. And it comes with the history of being a tavern where Thomas Jefferson once stayed. The home is said to be built in 1788, and it occupies a shockingly large plot. The listing includes language from a 1999 walking tour book: Bridge Road and 3915 44th Street for a total of $24 million. Since this purchase, all the properties at these addresses have been razed. And in March, while not on the same price level of the properties above, 3909 44th Street, sold for approximately $4 million, again to 600 CBR LLC. The home is adjacent to the properties above. Property records offer little in the way of help in determining the buyer’s identity and representatives associated with the aforementioned transactions declined to comment to UrbanTurf. However, anecdotally, UrbanTurf has heard that the buyer is from the United Arab Emirates and that settlement documents confirm this. (Urban Turf)

“Traveling in the 1700’s, as described by 18th century English actor John Bernard, ‘A mile’s ride was about the most powerful experiment on one’s anatomy a man can desire.’ Unpaved streets proved impassable after a rainstorm and ‘the Yellow Tavern was the most gracious respite from the difficulties of travel.’ Built in 1788, it was originally two buildings that were joined much later. Normally guests in taverns shared beds with strangers, the ‘privy’ was outside, meals were unreliable, and bathing was done only during holidays. Here, the living was of a higher quality in order to attract the likes of Thomas Jefferson. When George Towne was a leading port, the tavern was a favorite stopping place for travelers and tobacco merchants from ‘Frederick Town’ as well as a popular meeting place of Thomas Jefferson and other notables. Here Mayor John Cox entertained General Lafayette; dinner of reed birds followed by dancing to music from the balcony.” (The Georgetown Metropolitan)