Controversial Sonoma County developer Ken Mattson has his Piedmont mansion up for sale as allegations from his business partner that he defrauded investors unfold.
The six-bedroom, 8.5-bath Bay Area home was posted for sale online by real estate brokerage Grubb Co. for $9.9 million on Thursday, a development reported by the San Francisco Chronicle on Sunday. The day after the home went on the market, the FBI conducted a morning raid of another Mattson home northeast of the city of Sonoma, as first reported by The Press Democrat Friday.
Neither Mattson nor two Realtors associated with the Piedmont real estate listing responded to requests for comment on Monday afternoon. But on Monday night, Randy Sue Pollock, an attorney representing Mattson wrote a Press Democrat reporter saying “your facts are wrong about my client putting his Piedmont house for sale now. It’s been on the market for over two years.”
Pollock emailed again Tuesday, adding, “Just to clarify about Mr. Mattson’s house, he moved out appx. 2 years ago and contacted a local realtor in January of this year to put it on the market. They signed a contract in March. He did not want it posted in the multiples…that was the realtor’s decision.”
Regardless of the timing of the listing, the FBI’s action followed recent emails sent by Mattson’s longtime business partner Tim LeFever to investors detailing alleged improper transactions, which LeFever wrote he’d flagged for the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the federal Securities and Exchange Commission. No one was arrested as part of the FBI raid, and authorities declined to comment about why they were there.
Mattson and his companies’ sprawling real estate portfolio have long drawn scrutiny and suspicion from residents in Sonoma Valley who say the developer had let some of the more than 100 properties fall into disrepair.
Mattson has also yet to publicly respond to any of LeFever’s allegations.
“Meticulously restored over a decade, this exquisite home integrates timeless grandeur with contemporary comforts,” states the listing for the nearly 12,000-square-foot home in Piedmont, a wealthy enclave completely surrounded by the city of Oakland. “Known as Harrow Manor, this landmark residence sits on almost an acre of beautifully landscaped grounds, including a glamorous pool, spa, putting green and multiple outdoor entertaining areas.”
The mansion, designed by famed California architect Julia Morgan, has drawn scrutiny from both Mattson’s neighbors and city leaders, The Press Democrat revealed last year as part of a larger investigation into Mattson’s real estate holdings.
In January 2009, Mattson and his wife, Stacy, requested demolition of an existing carport and terrace at one side of their historic, Julia Morgan-designed mansion on Farragut Avenue there, and to build a three-story, 2,300-square-foot addition in its place.
Four neighbors addressed the Piedmont Planning Commission at a meeting and “voiced their frustration over the 12 years of construction activity that has occurred at the property, the applicant’s flagrant disregard of planning approvals and conditions in the past, and their concern that Mr. Mattson will fail to abide by any new conditions or timelines imposed by the Commission,” according to minutes of the meeting.
The commission approved the project, but mandated several conditions, including a construction management plan and completion schedule.
Three years later, the Mattsons were back before the Piedmont Planning Commission, requesting to make numerous other modifications to the house. The commission approved that one, too, but “voiced its disappointment that many of the proposed improvements have already been constructed without prior design review approval,” the minutes read.
Staff Writer Phil Barber contributed to this report.
Editor’s note: This story was updated at 8 p.m. Monday, and again at 5 p.m. Tuesday, to reflect comments from Mattson’s attorney.
You can reach “In Your Corner” Columnist Marisa Endicott at 707-521-5470 or [email protected]. On X (formerly Twitter) @InYourCornerTPD and Facebook @InYourCornerTPD.
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