Belleair house sells for record $10.25-million

Bigger homes have changed hands in the Tampa Bay area, but last week's $10.25-million sale of Clearwater yacht dealer Bill McGill's Belleair estate set a local record for price.

Fetching a higher price than even palaces owned by names like DeBartolo, Gruden and Glazer, the 12,900-square-foot French-English country mansion on the Intracoastal Waterway sold to orthopedic surgeon James St. Louis, founder of Tampa's Laser Spine Institute.

What does $10-million get you? Perched on a 2-acre bluff, the house is crammed with 6 miles of wood trim among its five bedroom suites and eight bathrooms. It overlooks a 240,000-gallon swimming pool fashioned into a rocky lagoon fed by a waterfall.

Japanese carp glide through a lily-padded pond. If St. Louis needs advice on inflicting rather than healing spine damage, his neighbor two doors down is Terry Bollea, a.k.a. retired professional wrestler Hulk Hogan.

"The lagoon pool is nicer than the pool at most resorts," said agent Frank Malowany of Smith & Associates Real Estate. "I showed the house to more than one person. I didn't have anyone who didn't leave there in awe."

McGill, chairman and president of MarineMax, the nation's largest boat and yacht dealer, built the house out of hurricane-resistant steel and concrete in 2001. He's been trying to sell it for years and listed it most recently for $16-million.

His asking price was second only to the $19.9-million demanded by ex-basketball player Matt Geiger for his 28,000-square-foot Tarpon Springs spread. Geiger's house is still on the market.

The McGill transaction bests the previous price record set by another Belleair Bluffs sale in 2001.

"I did not find anything higher than the $7.8-million from that 2001 sale," chief deputy property appraiser Pam Dubov said. "It's not a market for the average buyer."

While McGill's was the most expensive sale in the Tampa Bay area, his wasn't the biggest house ever sold. Corporate raider Paul Bilzerian's 28,263-square-foot pile in Tampa's Avila holds that honor. Investors snapped it up for $5.55-million in a bankruptcy sale in 2006.

More luxury Pinellas waterfront homes with celebrity appeal have hit the market this year. Tampa Bay Buccaneers fullback Mike Alstott recently listed his Yacht Club Estates home for $3.45-million.

Comments on this article

by AJ	Jun 6, 2008 1:18 PM
So many people green with envy. I still believe we chart our own futures. Any of us could have found a way to better ourselves if we tried. Don't envy others, do something constructive to better your own lot in life.

by Angela	Jun 6, 2008 1:18 PM
Good for him! This is a positive and inspiring story. I am tired of hearing about people being broke and high gas. You're life if what you make of it. And you are the only person who can change who you are! If you are not happy- do soething about it!

by Rosie	Jun 6, 2008 1:18 PM
Jim, Your eighth grade English teacher would also have spelled "per cent" as, the correct, "percent". You're close to a D- grade on your comments. Joe, you should have caught that!

by Andrewd	Jun 6, 2008 1:18 PM
Good luck Dr, if you help others why not help yourself. Work hard, stick your neck out, take the risks and eventually reap the rewards. Nice pool for a staff party! Live it up and enjoy, life is finite!

by dave	Jun 5, 2008 7:03 PM
lame,lame,lame...............i think we all need to keep things in perspective!you can't take none of this with you!lol

by Caryn	Jun 5, 2008 4:57 PM
Hell...I help people, why don't I have this kinda house...thats what's wrong with society ..the scales don't balance equally!! People think they are more deserving than others, we all deserve this kinda house, but that will never happen!!

by Funny	Jun 5, 2008 4:35 PM
I guess some below feel a boat builder (former owner) or wrestler (neighbor) are more deserving then a Surgeon who actually helps people.

by fj	Jun 5, 2008 11:46 AM
I don't know about this DR. ....But my Dr. is a Complete Idiot!!

by Ted	Jun 5, 2008 8:36 AM
Doctor's dedicate their lives to helping people and they sacrifice years of their life in schooling, being on-call, and being away from their family. In my opinion this doctor is much more deserving than athletes or business people.

by Joe	Jun 4, 2008 4:19 PM
Jim, You should capitalize the first letter in your name

by jim	Jun 4, 2008 2:20 PM
My eighth grade english teacher would mark grammatical, spelling, punctuation, or capitalization errors in about ninety per cent of these comments.

by Joe	Jun 4, 2008 11:50 AM
who really cares about some rich guy spending 10 mil on a House. I mean common, is this all the news you can come up with. How about our crappy economy, high fuel prices, ect. Find something that the average family can relate to. this is a joke

by Richard	Jun 4, 2008 10:58 AM
For all you pessimists out there,He own's his own business,just like Bill Gates,and he is obviously a good doctor,so why would you get help from a good doctor?Take your chances with your next door neighbor if you feel like it!Conspicuous consumption?

by frankie	Jun 4, 2008 10:55 AM
Who says unnecessary surgery doesn't pay?$$$$$$$$$$$$$

by katie the Realtor	Jun 4, 2008 10:10 AM
I fell flat on my back when I saw this home.Ride the Real Estate Renaissance.

by JAE	Jun 4, 2008 10:09 AM
Health Care Reform

by cindi	Jun 4, 2008 10:05 AM
"WHO CARES" Your elitist newspaper lost its mission.The future of real news will not be found in print journalism,not yours any way. What happened to investigative journalism? "Only little people pay taxes" :Leona Helmsley RIP

by Times Reader	Jun 4, 2008 9:53 AM
"I didn't have anyone who didn't leave there in awe." ... Yet there is no mention of architect in the article.

by wendy	Jun 4, 2008 9:52 AM
Hopefully the private market insurance is available on this bungalow. If not and they have to go with Citizens, be prepared for assessments if this house gets blown away or damaged big time. You and I end up paying for coastal lifestyles,folks.

by cia	Jun 4, 2008 9:32 AM
Good for you, Doc! You obviously worked hard and saved,(or you have an awesome accountant)!

by Roberto	Jun 4, 2008 9:31 AM
I see light at the end of the real estate tunnel!!! This guy saw the bottom and jumped. Smart man and probably great doctor.

by Meghan	Jun 4, 2008 9:27 AM
It's an absolutely exquisite piece of real estate, for sure. P.S- it's really NOT the dr.'s faults that health care costs are so high!! It's the multi-multi million $ insurance co.'s that are making out like bandits!

by Cathy	Jun 4, 2008 9:26 AM
Best wishes to new owner and seller, who have achieved the Amer. Dream! If we're ALL equal, there will no longer be an American Dream. Stop & smell YOUR roses, which wilt as you envy others'!!

by Marcus	Jun 4, 2008 9:24 AM
LOL. People always mad at others for what they have instead of doing something to improve themselves. Stay in school, don't have kids too early, and stay out of jail. I have seen what Dr's do & have sacrificed. They are UNDERPAID!

by TJ	Jun 4, 2008 9:23 AM
Property taxes will easily be between one and two hundred thousand dollars a year. That's being conservative.

by Do	Jun 3, 2008 6:26 PM
I just did some quick research on the LSI website. Based on the testimonials from MANY patients, it sounds like this Surgeon has helped a lot of people with CHRONIC back pain. Perhaps, he is deserving of this reward. At least he helps people, enjoy!

by Steve	Jun 3, 2008 6:22 PM
I'm happy for the doc. What's up doc?

by Willy	Jun 3, 2008 6:17 PM
I'm rich, so I think this is neat!

by County Commission	Jun 3, 2008 5:00 PM
"It's not a market for the average buyer" Go sick 'em for the tax roll future county appraiser

by Albert	Jun 3, 2008 4:02 PM
That's why you will allways be poor....

by Max	Jun 3, 2008 2:59 PM
ur taxes can be "estimated" by multiplying the purchase price by 2% and that will give U a rough est. thank the big boys when you get ur trim notice. w/o them, we would be hit a little harder!

by John	Jun 3, 2008 2:59 PM
Millions of people can't afford health care and doctors are buying millions dollars homes.

by Dan	Jun 3, 2008 2:59 PM
And we wonder why Healthcare is so expensive. This is right there in YOUR FACE discusting.

by Ted	Jun 3, 2008 2:52 PM
Sure hope I dont need my spine worked on...not really interested in helping this DOC feed $$$$ his obviously large ego...

by TinMan	Jun 3, 2008 2:34 PM
More power to them both. The Seller only got 64% of his asking price, proof the market has affected all ends. Hope the Buyer enjoys the lovely new home & hope I someday have the means to build my own dream house on the water to enjoy.