By Carole Hawkins, [email protected]
Anita Vining represented 2252 River Road San Marco when the home changed hands almost a decade ago.
Its buyer called her back when she was ready to sell. Not just anyone would pick it up.
“You don’t have $5 million buyers running around in the market,” said Vining of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Florida Network Realty.
County records show the deed was signed June 1 by Franklin C. Gatlin III, CEO of Gatlin Development Co., and his wife, Christina.
Gatlin Development is a real estate investment company that specializes in shopping centers. It has 44 developments across five states and, since 1984, has focused on Walmart-anchored centers.
The sale was an early sign that Gatlin’s Fort Lauderdale company would relocate its headquarters to Jacksonville.
Gatlin made news with his move, but the home he and his wife bought is equally noteworthy.
Built in 1931 for John H. Swisher, co-owner of Swisher & Son cigars, both its early occupants and its architecture are a piece of local history.
The distinction is what snagged the home a selling price of $4.2 million and of being one of the area’s top home sales so far this year.
Northeast Florida’s top 10 home sales the first half 2015 unsurprisingly were all waterfront or near-waterfront deals. Six were in the high per-capita-income community of Ponte Vedra Beach.
But as much as $4 million separated the blowout sales from those at the bottom of the list. Showing that even among waterfront homes, there are differentiators.
The top home — a beach house at 1117 Ponte Vedra Blvd. — was never listed.
Jane Chefan of Manormor Sotheby’s International Realty approached the owner because the house has features her buyer was particularly seeking.
It is beautifully renovated, Chefan said, the owners brought in Italian tile. The interior is light and bright, with lots of whites and hardwood flooring. Its lines are clean and modern — a trending style for upscale coastal properties.
The buyers were Ian James Winward McLeod and Kelly Anna Aretas. McLeod, formerly of Australia, was recently named president/CEO of Southeastern Grocers.
The house sold for $6.4 million.
It’s not unusual for Ponte Vedra Beach houses to dominate top sales. Which is why the Swisher home in San Marco stands out. Third on the list for Northeast Florida, it was the top sale for Duval.
The home’s listing reads like a history lesson. It was one of the first houses built in San Marco, and Swisher hosted some of Jacksonville’s largest gatherings there.
Described as “palatial,” its architecture is Mediterranean Revival — a style that draws inspiration heavily from Europe’s seaside palaces and villas. The home still displays much of its original ornamentation, notably intricate tile work and wrought iron details.
It underwent extensive renovation in the 1990s to include amenities typical of a modern lifestyle. At the same time, the owner took pains to maintain its historical integrity, bringing in artisans from California to seamlessly match the original tile work.
Despite its multimillion-dollar price tag, the home sold within a few months of listing, Vining said, and had multiple offers.
“I think people sometimes don’t give Jacksonville enough credit for having people in that luxury price point,” Vining said. “There’s definitely a market for that.”
1117 Ponte Vedra Blvd., Ponte Vedra Beach
The numbers:
8,570 square feet
5 bedrooms
4 1/2 bathrooms
1994 construction
The Realtor: Jane Chefan, Manormor Sotheby’s International Realty
The details: Beautifully renovated 2-story beach house with modern lines and bright interior. Italian tile, hardwood flooring, concrete tile roof.
1001 Ponte Vedra Blvd., Ponte Vedra Beach
The numbers:
10,994 square feet
5 bedrooms
6 1/2 bathrooms
1997 construction
The Realtor: Suzie Connolly, Ponte Vedra Club Realty Inc.
The details: Two-story oceanfront home with gated access on almost 2 acres. Covered lanai and large L-shaped pool w/outdoor kitchen and pool bath with sauna. Two upstairs guest suites and media room plus two additional and separate guest areas, each with sitting room, bedroom and kitchen area. Marble and hardwood floors throughout, four fireplaces, hurricane shutters, four air conditioned garages, cedar closet and storage.
2252 River Road, San Marco
The numbers:
9,001 square feet
4 bedrooms
6 1/2 bathrooms
1931 construction
The Realtor: Anita Vining, Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Florida Network Realty
The details: Originally built for John Swisher of Swisher cigars, this palatial Mediterranean Revival-style home still displays some of the original rich ornamentation. Extensive renovations in 1990 and 2008 maintained original integrity. Situated on a high bluff with views of the St. Johns River. The spacious lanai has hosted some of Jacksonville’s largest gatherings. Outside features include tropical landscaping, a pool and pool house. Covered boathouse and 40-foot wet slip.
1239 Gerbing Road, Amelia Island
The numbers:
6,810 square feet
4 bathrooms
5 1/2 bathrooms
2007 construction
The Realtor: Claudia Watts, Coldwell Banker - The Amelia Group
The details: Custom home with 188-foot frontage on the Intracoastal Waterway. Complete with generator, elevator, boat dock, lap pool, hardwood and custom marble floors, summer kitchen with outdoor seating area and extras. Private detached office studio, lush landscaping, outdoor living space and waterfront views from nearly every room.
2093 Beach Ave., Atlantic Beach
The numbers:
5,474 square feet
4 bedrooms
3 1/2 bathrooms
1988 construction
The Realtor: Jan Shields, Watson Realty Corp.
The details: Oceanfront home with one-of-a-kind features. Imported antique custom designed marble and stone inside and out, Brazilian cherry floors upstairs, gourmet kitchen, state-of-the-art entertainment/sound system. Master suite includes evening deck, fireplace and morning room. Oceanside pool, newer walkway to ocean, small deck for panoramic viewing. Three-car garage, generator, security system with cameras.
342 Ponte Vedra Blvd., Ponte Vedra
The numbers:
5,312 square feet
5 bedrooms
5 1/2 bathrooms
1996 construction
The Realtor: Missy Dekay, Watson Realty Corp.
The details:
Classic Ponte Vedra cottage on prime lot with golf view and beach access. Complete renovation/remodel in 2001 including reconfiguration of much of the original structure, second story addition of a master suite and study, pool and guest house.
344 Ponte Vedra Blvd., Ponte Vedra
The numbers:
4,597 square feet
4 bedrooms
5 bathrooms
2005 construction
The Realtor: Kim Martin-Fisher, Coldwell Banker Vanguard Realty
The details: Home is walking distance from the Ponte Vedra Inn & Club and on the third fairway of the Ocean Course, with beach access directly across the street. Special features include a 500-bottle wine cellar, koi pond, greenhouse, generator, separate 413-square-foot guest house and an outdoor living area/pool/fireplace that is secluded from the golf course. A detached three-car garage and attached one-car garage, both air conditioned.
24633 Harbour View Drive, Ponte Vedra Beach
The details: 6,669 square feet
5 bedrooms
5 bathrooms
2 half-bathrooms
2005 construction
The Realtor: Allison Newberry, Benchmark Homes Realty Inc.
The details: Custom estate home with 2,400-square-foot outdoor living space that includes a covered summer kitchen, gas fireplace, dining areas, gazebo and heated pool with Jacuzzi hot tub and view of yacht basin and open waterway. The family, kitchen and living rooms open to the outside area using “disappearing” Pella windows. Fifty-foot dock. Upstairs game room with wet bar and four TVs for multi-game viewing.
2535 Spreading Oaks Lane, Mandarin
The numbers:
6,876 square feet
4 bedrooms
4 bathrooms
2 half-bathrooms
2005 construction
The Realtor: H. William Landay, Re/Max Specialists
The details: Custom riverfront Tuscany-style estate gated with manicured gardens and courtyard with four-car garage and rotunda. Large lanai features a vanishing edge pool, pergola, summer kitchen and cabana bath. House features stained walnut flooring and Italian Travertine throughout and walnut-arched doors. Custom kitchen features burnished-edge maple cabinetry, large center prep island and professional Thermador range. A downstairs theater room features B&W speakers and a 10-foot screen.
67 San Juan Drive, Ponte Vedra Beach
The numbers:
5,118 square feet
5 bedrooms
4 bathrooms
3 half-bathrooms
2011 construction
The Realtor: Sally Sergeant, Ponte Vedra Club Realty Inc.
The details: Built by GBN Construction, home features a concrete barrel tile roof, high ceilings, open design and infinity-edged pool complemented by a view of the 16th green on the Ponte Vedra Inn & Club’s Ocean Course. Beach and the club are within walking distance. Preferred membership initiation fee pricing for the club and the lodge is available to the purchaser.