Boston Real Estate for Sale

By Kimberly Blanton, Globe Staff

It is not yet built, will have no ocean view, and it will sit across from a Trader Joe’s and a Hollywood Video. But Boston’s rich and famous can’t wait to move in.

Maids will turn off the vacuum cleaner when penthouse owners walks by. Residents will be able to order raw steaks, prepped for grilling, and have them delivered to their private, rooftop terraces. Upon arriving home from out-of-town trips, they will be greeted with fresh orchids, crisp sheets, and Perrier on the nightstand.

The man behind this over-the-top living is hotelier extraordinaire Robin Brown. During 14 years as general manager of the Four Seasons Hotel Boston, he transformed it into the city’s first five-star hotel and restaurant as he pampered power brokers, celebrities, and dignitaries. Today, he is parlaying his reputation — and the connections he made at the Four Seasons — into a top-flight hotel and condominium project, The Residences at Mandarin Oriental, Boston.

”What Robin does is to make anything possible,” said Herb Chambers, who owns 27 car dealerships and has agreed to buy one of the Mandarin condos, which start at $2 million and run as high as $12 million.

With no advertising whatsoever, Brown and his partners, Boston developers Stephen Weiner and Julian Cohen, have sold 44 of the 50 Mandarin condos since January 2004. Among the corporate titans moving into the $240 million project: Chad Gifford, former chief executive of FleetBoston Financial Corp.; Democratic fund-raisers Gerry and Elaine Schuster; David Mugar, the man who brought Fourth of July fireworks to the Esplanade; and Robert Epstein, one of the owners of the Boston Celtics.

Complete article: The lure of luxury leads to Boylston St.

 

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