Historic Hickory Hill Gets Large Addition, First Garage, Loses 15 Trees
Former Kennedy home undergoing major changes
The new owner of historic Hickory Hill, where the Kennedy family lived for years, is adding a three-story addition on the west side of the house, building the home's first garage and cutting down 15 trees from the grounds.
That's right, Hickory Hill has no garage. Two are now under construction--- a five-car garage will be built under the new west wing addition plus a separate two story, three-car garage with a balcony on second floor.
When we last visited Hickory Hill, one of America's best known addresses, Alan J. Dabbiere, a McLean resident and Atlanta businessman, had bought it for $8.2 million and gutted it.
Dabbiere declined our request to comment on the extensive expansion project.
Hickory Hill is covered in Kennedy pixie dust. Joseph P. and Rose Kennedy first owned it. Then Jack and Jackie Kennedy moved in. They didn't stay very long. Then Bobby and Ethel Kennedy moved in and raised their 11 children. The address became legendary for its parties, its owners and its family.
Fairfax County recently approved plans that allow the Dabbieres to have a home with 20 bathroom/hand sinks, 10 showers, and 16 toilets.
The three-story addition includes an exercise room, a wine room, a family dining room (formal dining room is in the existing home), a family room and sun room in the back, a craft room, a media room complete with bar and a "bunk room," according to plans filed with Fairfax County
The plans call from removing 15 mature trees, including a Norway Spruce, Willow Oak, Black Locust, two Chinese Elms, Black Walnut, two Red Cedars, a Magnolia, ornamental Cherry trees and Blue Spruce to make room for the new construction.
The existing tennis court, swimming pool, stable and the stone wall along Chain Bridge Road will remain, the plans say. A stone wall to the right of home will be removed. The wall was built in 1931, according to county documents.
Hickory Hill, a 7,850-square-foot Georgian Revival home built in 1870, with a 1931 addition, sits on a 5.6-acre property. It used to contain 13 bedrooms and 10 baths, 9 fireplaces, a tennis court and pool, according to the county tax records.
The interior has been gutted to the exterior walls. No trespassing signs abound.
Since Hickory Hill is a National Historic Landmark, the county's Architectural Review Board had to approve the color of the exterior and the shutters. Benjamin Moore white was approved for the exterior, including windows and cornishes. Benjamin Moore Black Forest Green was approved for the shutters, according to county records.
The new owner, Alan Dabbiere, is the chairman of AirWatch, an Atlanta company specializing in managing mobile devices. He is also the president of AJD, LLC, a privately held investment company, and serves on the board of PrimeRevenue, an Atlanta-based supply chain finance company, according to the AirWatch website. He also serves on the board of McLean's Potomac School.
RL Thompson
4:00 pm on Tuesday, February 7, 2012
The no trespassing signs abound because of the atrociously intrusive earlier story you wrote about the new owners of Hickory Hill. They are not public figures. Facts that you disclosed in that article were an unnecessary invasion into personal privacy. The Patch needs to recognize some boundaries in its "reporting."
Bobbi Bowman
6:42 pm on Tuesday, February 7, 2012
Dear RL, Thank you so much. You have made our day. These are some of the nicest things anyone can say about us.
jules
7:01 pm on Friday, April 26, 2013
What on earth was "atrociously intrusive"? I was able to double check every single fact and detail on my own, no detective hat or cat burglar costume needed.There are plenty of non-public figures who have their privacy intruded on when they lose a loved one in dramatic fashion, or get fired for an unsavory reason. Or ANYTHING that people find interesting or want to know about. This is NOTHING. It's laughable at how many people are fainting in the powder room over this.
Isabel Monteith
4:43 pm on Tuesday, February 7, 2012
So sad. This is a historic home. It should be preserved as it was when the Kennedys lived there.
C.M.
9:22 pm on Tuesday, February 7, 2012
Agreed about it being historic and should have been preserved. Thirteen bedrooms just weren't enough? How can the house be completely altered and still be a historic landmark? It's not the same house and it's not Hickory Hill.
Judy Clark
9:49 am on Wednesday, February 8, 2012
We have plenty of "historic landmarks." Mr. Dabierre paid over eight million dollars for Hickory Hill. I'll admit that it's sad to see it changed, but it's his house, and he can change it as he sees fit!
jules
7:03 pm on Friday, April 26, 2013
I don't care HOW MUCH he paid. Are you saying that as long as you pay out the nose you can do whatever the heck you want?? And are you KIDDING with this logic??? Every other owner of a historic residence has to follow strict rules and are confined to LIMITED renovations, except for THIS GUY? Why, because of money?? Disgusting.
Yaya Jones
9:44 pm on Tuesday, April 24, 2012
I have to wonder, if he had to do this much renovation, especially to such a historic home, why didn't he just build his own from the ground up? Agree it destroys the integrity of the home. Sad.
jules
7:05 pm on Friday, April 26, 2013
So true. It seems as though HH had a special place in the buyers heart, well, a special placfe designated for destruction.
Carolineparker
7:53 pm on Saturday, September 15, 2012
I heard the place was in horrible condition. It seems as if Mr. Dabbiere is seeing to it that his family will enjoy the home for many generations. Good for him. He should be commended!
jules
7:07 pm on Friday, April 26, 2013
There are MANY MANY beautiful and historic homes that are in "horrible condition". They should all be so lucky as to have an influx of cash for renovations that make every property a delight to see. But sadly, because we do not live in a fairytale, that does not happen. And so these places are designated historic, so that they may be owned by people intent and AWARE of the history they must preserve. Renovations to make the home beautiful and livable did would have been easily possible. He is rebuilding it into something else.