Check out this massive Florida estate up for auction near Jacksonville
A 12,000-square-foot home equipped with seven bedrooms and a riverfront dock is heading to auction along Florida’s First Coast.
The auction market for luxury homes is picking up along the First Coast, and a sprawling mansion on the shores of the St. Johns River is the latest property that will soon go to the highest bidder.
Situated on 15 acres in the Switzerland area (south of Fruit Cove), the home at 2180 Eventide Ave. in Saint Johns is scheduled for auction Saturday at 6 p.m. With seven bedrooms, six full bathrooms and two half-baths, the floor plan measures just over 12,000 square feet. The sale will be hosted by Platinum Luxury Auctions.
It was built in 1994 for local philanthropist Duane Ottenstroer, former chairman of the Florida Prepaid College Board, and his wife, Susan.
At first glance, the home resembles an historic Southern estate, like something you might see along the Gulf Coast. According to listing agent Anita Vining of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Florida Network Realty, that’s exactly what the couple intended when they commissioned late New Orleans architect Barry Fox.
“They spoke to a few local architects, but their tastes are very traditional,” said Vining, who represents the Ottenstroers. “There’s a book about his work and I believe they had seen it, so they sought him out.”
Fox, who died in 2019, was celebrated as much for his passion for historic preservation as he was for building new homes that maintained the air of the Old South. That passion is on full display throughout the beautifully manicured property.
Boasting roughly 100 mature live oaks, the home is positioned on a 22-foot elevation, with 600 feet of river frontage. The main house is highlighted by quoins (contrasting masonry bricks at the corners) and pillars of Indiana limestone.
Vining has shown the home to several interested parties who have expressed amazement at the way the home is positioned to capture the river views.
A park-like setting
“It sits at one of the widest points of the river,” she said, “and if you look at one of the aerial views, you can see that not one of those trees is close to the roofline.”
Comparing the property to Central Park, Vining added that the Ottenstroers employ a caretaker who previously worked at major golf courses. That expertise is no doubt responsible for the lush green lawns on the rolling property.
That thick carpet of grass extends roughly 300 feet from the back of the home to the waterfront, where a private, deep-water dock with lift stretches 1,100 feet into the waterway. Adding to the home’s park-like setting are multiple ponds, brick walkways, a large, Roman-style pool and spacious patio.
The main house features a guest wing with three large bedrooms, gathering room and private courtyard while the property also includes a detached 1,774-square-foot cottage with two bedrooms and two full baths.
Paused by the pandemic
Vining had worked with the…
Read More: Stunning St. Johns County estate, mansion goes to auction
