$10.75M mansion next to JD Vance's home hits the market

Forget the neighborhood watch - this block has the Secret Service. A historic mansion next to Vice President JD Vance has hit the market for $10.75 million, offering buyers one of Washington DC's most heavily protected and exclusive addresses. Vance moved into the vice president's mansion at No 1 Observatory Circle with his wife, Usha Vance, and their three children soon after he took office in January 2025. And the closest home to the illustrious vice president's mansion - the century-old Heurich-Parks House - is now up for sale. It is owned by Thomas DePasquale, a longtime Democratic donor who has contributed more than $200,000 since the 2000s to candidates including Hillary Clinton and former President Barack Obama, as well as the Democratic National Committee.

DePasquale made sure to preserve the estate's old Spanish-style charm by hiring one of the area's most prominent architects to restore the mansion to its former glory, but with a modern twist. The property sits at the center of a powerful enclave, surrounded by some of the city's most important institutions: the British Embassy on the southern edge of the circle, a row of embassies just beyond it and the vice president as a direct neighbor. Its commanding street presence - and proximity to such influential neighbors - has drawn a wide range of notable buyers to the residence, according to Micah Smith, who is co-listing the property with Robert Hryniewicki, Adam Rackliffe and Christopher Leary of HRLS Partners at TTR Sotheby's International Realty. 'I mean, location next to the vice president, that's definitely desirable, and all the other high-end homes nearby are on Observatory Circle,' Smith told the Daily Mail.

Although Smith (pictured) couldn't answer whether or not Vance would be the type of neighbor to barbecue with, he did say it had to be 'one of the safest places to be'. DePasquale, the chairman of Cerium Pharmaceuticals, has lived at the property since 2016 with his wife and two children. During that time, his neighbors have included Joe Biden at the end of his vice-presidential term, Mike Pence, Kamala Harris and briefly Vance. A prominent Democratic donor, DePasquale contributed $6,300 to Hillary Clinton during her 2016 presidential campaign and to her 2006 re-election campaign for the US Senate in New York. He also donated $4,850 to Obama's presidential campaigns, $23,400 to the DNC Services Corp in 2012 and $100,000 to the Virginia Progress PAC - a Democratic Super PAC formed in early 2014 to support Senator Mark Warner's reelection campaign. 

When DePasquale (pictured) purchased the home, he made it his mission to bring the property to life by doing a full historic restoration and expansion in 2017 with the help of renowned BarnesVanze Architects. Smith noted that some original features of the house remain, including an original bread oven, herringbone floors and antique black steel grates that cover the HVAC vents. 'We purchased the historic Heurich-Parks house, which needed to be completely reimagined,' Depasquale shared with the Daily Mail. 'Location, lot size and parking were all coveted attributes. Our primary goal was to transform this property into a home. The result - a turnkey estate built to be safe and warm.' The 13,900-square-foot mansion sits on nearly half an acre of land - a rarity in a built-up metropolitan area like DC. 

The seven-bedroom historic mansion was built by architect Albert S J Atkinson in 1925 and was once the personal residence of philanthropic businessman Christian Kurich Jr and the 'father of pediatric ophthalmology', Marshall Parks. Smith shared that Parks ran his business out of his house and when they had an broker open event for their colleagues to look at the house, one agent said they used to get their eye exams there. A century later, the backyard is reminiscent of 'resort-style living,' according to Smith, with its flat, well-manicured lawn and sun loungers on the patio. Through the patio is the indoor pool, which is found inside a room with a glass wall that can open up to the backyard, a bar and a Desert Aire dehumidification system designed to keep the humidity down.

Depasquale also preserved the original single-pane windows and added storm windows behind them for extra insulation, and kept the original trim and finishes. 'So whoever is the next buyer, bring your toothbrush because it's in move-in condition. You don't have to touch anything,' Smith explained. On the ground floor of the Spanish-mission-style home are nine-foot ceilings and multiple entertainment spaces, including a spacious living room with detailed wood panels and a fireplace, a smaller dining room next to an alternate staircase that leads out through a curved arch to a closed-in patio and a separate recreation room - perfect for a pool table.

At the main entry way to the right of a grand staircase is a luxurious open kitchen with marble countertops, two islands, a coffee station and a breakfast room that overlooks the private grounds. The house also features seven bedrooms, nine full baths, two half baths, and an elevator. The primary suite upstairs boasts dual walk-in closets and a spa-inspired bathroom with a soaking tub. A spacious lower level features a recreation room, fitness center, wine storage system, sauna, a secure safe room and other spaces for added storage. The lucky owner will also be greeted by a large circular driveway that leads to a detached two-car garage with a guest studio above, designed for hosting family and friends.