‘Coastal masterpiece’: St. Augustine civic leader’s historic waterfront estate hits the market

It’s the type or real estate listing that halts a casual Zillow scroller in their tracks.

But this spellbinding waterfront St. Augustine estate perched within cannon shot distance of the Castillo de San Marcos National Monument is no ordinary residence.

“This is one of the  most spectacular properties in all of St. Augustine, and perhaps in all of Florida,” Berkshire Hathaway agent Danielle Fraser told The Citizen.

Designed by prominent architect Fred Henderich in 1905, Miramar is set on 1.73 dizzyingly scenic acres, with commanding views of the Atlantic Ocean, the Intracoastal Waterway, and the Old City’s signature attraction.

“It’s a tabula rasa, a blank slate, where you can combine the history of the old original wood work — the original millwork is still in place — but modernize it to one’s taste and appeal,” Fraser said.

The Frame-Vernacular-style home is owned by Constance Foiou Gaitanis, whose civic-minded parents helped establish the St. Photios Greek Orthodox National Shrine in 1982.

Gaitanis, now 88, remained a vital supporter of the famed holy site for decades and has been recognized as a tireless advocate for a range of local causes.

Miramar has been in her family for more than a half-century, but Gaitanis is now planning to downsize, Fraser said.

The 5 bed, 3.5 bath home — spanning 5,566 square feet — brims with evocative architectural elements from a bygone era, including diamond-paned sash windows, beadboard detailing and broad verandas.

Listed at $4.8 million, the estate includes a private boat ramp, with the potential for a dock, along with a waterfront pool.

But it’s the estate’s peerless positioning directly across from one of Florida’s most beloved landmarks that vaults it into a category of one.

“This is more than a home,” the listing states. “It’s a legacy.”

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