Advertisement

Tampa's priciest estate hits market at nearly $14 million

 
A century-old historic estate nestled on 2.6 acres in a prime location on Tampa's prestigious Bayshore Boulevard is for sale for $13.9 million.
(Courtesy of Coldwell Banker)
A century-old historic estate nestled on 2.6 acres in a prime location on Tampa's prestigious Bayshore Boulevard is for sale for $13.9 million. (Courtesy of Coldwell Banker)
Published May 6, 2015

TAMPA — For $13.9 million, you can own the largest estate opposite the world's longest unbroken stretch of sidewalk.

The historic Stovall-Lee House on Bayshore Boulevard in Tampa just hit the market at the highest price of any current listing in Hillsborough County and the second highest in the bay area.

Situated on 2.6 acres overlooking Hillsborough Bay, the six-bedroom, nine-bath home with 8,000 square feet of living space boasts antique chandeliers, the original mahogany and cypress moldings, and some of the original leaded glass windows.

Among the more modern features: a wine cellar for 1,400 bottles, and chef's kitchen with Miele and Sub-Zero appliances.

In addition to the main house, the property comes with a guest house, conservatory, koi and lily pond with gazebo, a fitness building and the pavilion, which opens to a pool area with wood-burning fireplace and full-service bar, the Coldwell Banker listing says.

Built around 1909 by the general manager of the Florida Brewing Co. in Ybor City, the property is named for former owner Wallace Stovall, the founding publisher of the Tampa Tribune.

He sold the house in 1943 to William E. Lee, whose family had it added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1974.

The current owner, Henry E. Teasley Jr., a retired senior executive of the Coca-Cola Co., bought the estate in 1991 and has made substantial upgrades and additions.

"The continuity of design and flow of the rooms is very harmonious," Teasley said in a statement, which also notes that the house is positioned so it can't be seen by the legions of cars, joggers and cyclists on Bayshore.

Now in his 70s, Teasley is a man who likes his privacy. Several years ago, he created a stir when he rebuffed the city's plans to put a sidewalk in front of his mansion, which he had lavishly landscaped with view-blocking shrubs and palms.

In 2012, he relented — somewhat — when he agreed to trim back the bushes so it would be easier for pedestrians to get by.

Only one other bay area property now on the market is priced higher: a Tarpon Springs mansion with private "village," including movie theater, ice cream parlor and cigar shop, listed at $14.3 million.

The Stovall-Lee House is not the only mansion for sale with a link to bay area newspaper history. Just under $6 million will buy the 5-acre estate on Boca Ciega Bay that Nelson Poynter, former editor of the St. Petersburg Times (now the Tampa Bay Times), once called home.

Contact Susan Taylor Martin at smartin@tampabay.com or (727) 893-8642. Follow @susanskate.