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Parren Mitchell’s home to be sold at auction

September 29, 2009 at 10:49 pm 2

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Former home of Parren Mitchell at 828 N. Carrollton St. in west Baltimore.

Six bedrooms and a whole lot of history for sale at 828 N. Carrollton St. in west Baltimore.

The stately, historic home once owned by the late Parren J. Mitchell is headed for the auction block.

Although the former congressman hasn’t lived there in years, auctioneers are promoting the house as the “Mitchell Mansion.” The legacy of its former owner, the first African-American elected to Congress from Maryland, may appeal to some bidders, but the 6-bedroom house on Lafayette Square Park has enough period touches and decorative flourishes to entice any avid reader of “This Old House” or Architectural Digest.

The red brick, Federal-style town home boasts gold leaf Victorian mirrors, 10 wood-burning fireplaces with marble mantels, two original Latrobe stoves, polished wood floors, crown molding and other architectural accents, according to Fox Residential Auctions, which is handling the October 7 sale.

Original Latrobe stove and gilt mirror, Mitchell house interior.

Original Latrobe stove and gilt mirror, Mitchell house interior.

The house, built in 1880, is available in “as is” condition. But that doesn’t mean it’s a grande dame in need of a facelift. The present owner, listed in court records as Lily T. Tsui of North Potomac, Md., has pumped about $200,000 in improvements to the property. That’s $50,000 more than she paid for it in 2004.

The photos of the “gourmet” kitchen (that means granite counter tops, folks) and sprawling master bedroom suite (with a free-standing claw-foot tub) suggest this 19th century gem has been outfitted with many of the modern conveniences needed to woo the discerning urban homesteader.

parren mitchell kitchen1

Parren Mitchell bought the house in January 1986, according to court records. That was the same year the West Baltimore congressman decided he wouldn’t seek reelection, ending his 15 years in the House of Representatives.

It was in this house that Steve Sachs and Mitchell met to plan campaign events for their 1986 run for governor and lieutenant governor, respectively.
A decade after buying it, Mitchell transferred ownership of the home to a trust for which he and his nephew, Michael B. Mitchell, were trustees.

As his health declined, he eventually went to live at the Keswick Multi-Care Center in Roland Park. In 2002, published reports in The Baltimore Sun detailed a list of unpaid bills in the name of Mr. Mitchell, whose finances were being handled by his nephew Michael. It was an embarassing footnote to a distinguished career.

The Lafayette Square house was sold in 2004. The owner, Ms. Tsui, could not be reached for comment about the auction.

Bidding for 828 N. Carrollton Avenue begins at 11 a.m. on October 7 on the sidewalk outside the house.

- by ANN LOLORDO

Ann LoLordo was a longtime reporter and editor for The Baltimore Sun.

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  • http://anteropietila.com Antero Pietila

    I found Ann Lolordo’s interesting because years ago I talked to Lily Tsui, the owner quoted in the article. A member of a family that owns a number of Chinese restaurant in the Md-D.C.-Va. areas, she got lost in Baltimore one day and ended up driving up and down Druid Hill Avenue. She couldn’t not believe what a gem it was, even in its tarnished condition. But she also decided that pricea there were unrealistically high.
    When she returned to Baltimore, she began looking at more compelling price alternatives. The first house she bought was on Auchentolory Terrace and overlooked Druid Hill Park. She renovated it and turned it into a rental. I have no idea what happened; her idea of a luxury rental surely was ahead of its time.
    She then bought the Mitchell House and installed a live-in watchman on the premises the minute she gained control. I am surprised that all that period stuff actually is still inside because when I drove by recently the house seemed to be boarded up.
    Two comments: Like many Washington area investors, Ms. Tsui misread the Baltimore market.Gentrification in Baltimore takes a long time, often several decades, if it occurs at all. Washington, of course, is an entirely different story, although gentrification has taken decades even in Adams Morgan, particularly toward Howard University.
    Baltimore’s Lafayette Square is a particularly tough challenge. Some foolhardy soul has always believed that money can be made on the square. Most have failed, losing lots of money in the process. One reason is that unless a property is protected 24 hours a day, everything of value disappears from pipes to windows.
    This is really sad. Because from the work I saw, Ms. Tsui was excatly the kind of respectful investor that Baltimore needs.

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