Downtown's priciest house back up for sale

An elegant King Street estate that broke downtown Charleston's real estate record last summer is back on the market.

The Patrick O'Donnell House at 21 King St. carries a price tag of $7,895,000. That's $695,000 more than its June sale price of $7.2 million, making it the most-expensive home ever sold in the South of Broad community.

If the property sells at the new list price, it would set another record price for historic residential properties in the downtown area.

Real estate agent Douglas Berlinsky, who is listing the property, said that since buying the home in June, its Boston-based owners haven't made any major changes to the property. Despite that, he called the price "very realistic."

"It has been well maintained and continues to be so," said Berlinsky, who works for Disher Hamrick & Myers.

The 9,700-square-foot property's main house dates to the 1850s. It has seven bedrooms, six full bathrooms and all the high-end amenities you'd expect for such a high price: a three-car garage, a heated pool and a guest house.

Current owner Jim Pallotta, a hedge fund operator and part owner of the Boston Celtics, outbid another willing buyer in June, pushing the property's price beyond its $7.1 million listing price.

He bought the property from Ted Dintersmith, a venture capitalist from the same town. Under his ownership, the property underwent an exhaustive restoration.

Taking over

The Charleston Trident Home Builders Association welcomed new leadership last month.

Travis McCory now leads the association's board of directors as president. A former Beazer Homes employee, he recently decided to start his own land development company.

During his one-year term, McCory said, he wants to focus on improving government relationships and creating several strategies to help residential builders cope with the current housing slowdown, according to an association statement. He replaces Wally Seinsheimer III of Tidewater Homes, who will stay on as a board member.

Other executive board members are vice president Tori Martindale of Atlantic Builders, secretary Jackson Bender of First Coast Homes, treasurer Mike Futeral of G&S Home Remodeling and associate vice president Andy Barber of HD Supply Lumber and Building Materials.

The board's rookies are Jeff Meyer, division president for KB Home, and Mark Lipsmeyer, president of the I'On Group. They join returning members Steve Kendrick of Structures Building Co. , John Templeton of Special Properties, Gordon Hay of Legareville Land Co. , Anne Svetlik of 2-10 Home Buyers Warranty, Steve Wray of Lord & Evans Paints, Dave Wachter of Construction Week Magazine, Jan Clouse of Carolina Lanterns and Brenda Jaicks of The Post and Courier.

Reach Katy Stech at 937-5549 or kstech@postandcourier.com.