Former Copley family La Jolla estate sells to ex-San Diego U-T publisher Doug Manchester

Foxhill, the eight-acre spread in La Jolla that was once the home of San Diego Union-Tribune publisher Helen Copley, has sold for $17 million. The buyer is hotel and office building developer Doug Manchester, another former Union-Tribune publisher.

The French architecture-inspired manor home, built in 1959, is the center point of the sprawling estate in the moneyed Country Club area. Details include handcrafted woodwork, paneled walls, hand-painted murals and built-in cabinetry.

Including a guest house, a pool pavilion, staff quarters and a fitness/center office, there are about 20,000 square feet of living space, seven bedrooms and 9.5 bathrooms.

A swimming pool, orchards, terraced gardens, lawns and walkways complete the manicured grounds. The property has panoramic ocean and hillside views.

A greenhouse, a garden shed and an entry gatehouse are among other on-site structures. Garage space for a dozen cars includes lifts.

After the publishing matriarch died in 2004 at 81, the estate was owned by her son David C. Copley. Also a Union-Tribune publisher, he died three years ago at age 60.

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Manchester, 73, sold the former Copley Press flagship newspaper this year in an $85-million cash-and-stock deal to Tribune Publishing Co., which also owns the Los Angeles Times. He told the Union-Tribune that he plans to make Foxhill his primary residence.

The property had been listed earlier this year at $25 million and two years ago at $28 million.

Greg Noonan of Greg Noonan & Associates, Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties, was the listing agent.

Twitter: @LATHotProperty

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