For most of us, waves of nostalgia flood our minds when we think of our childhood home.  The natural curiosity to see changes or sameness while recalling memories from youth is a draw for every adult. For one Tampa native, visiting her childhood home became a reality when a historical Seminole Heights home hit the market this month. 

The home will be the most expensive listing in Seminole Heights, besides waterfront properties. The home was built in 1900 by a doctor from the North. Patsy Daniel-White moved into the home in 1939, when she was only 18 months old and lived there with her family until she married. As a child, she ran through the groves of fruit trees on the property, picking pecans, oranges, and guava for the family. She walked down the road to Hillsborough High for school, learned to drive in the back lot of the home and had her first kiss with her husband on the front porch step. 

Married for over 60 years, White walked through the home and was overwhelmed with emotion at the care the new owners took to meticulously bring the home back to life while preserving historical details that are unmatched in new construction. Located at 5111 N. Central Avenue, the home sits on almost one acre of land along the main thoroughfare of Seminole Heights.

Says White, “I have lived in Tampa my whole life and seeing this home restored to its full glory, preserved with a nod to modernization but also a remembrance of tradition, makes me feel appreciative of the evolution I have been blessed to witness in this magnificent city.”

This estate has been completely updated to accommodate the needs of today’s lifestyle while retaining the elegant charm for which this area is beloved. Sitting on nearly an acre of land comprised of two large, individual lots, the main home displays its grandeur with approximately 2,650 square feet of living space. 

Every inch of the home has been updated with the utmost attention to detail. To maintain their authenticity and beauty, the original wood floors were meticulously restored with pieces of flooring from a bedroom where the floors were replaced with plush carpeting. This home features a functioning wine cellar with tasting area, a true rarity in Florida, a downstairs master suite, large open bedrooms, coffered ceilings, a large enclosed front porch, an open gourmet kitchen, and another upstairs suite. At the end of the driveway, there is a carriage house featuring two updated apartment units adding another 1,302 square feet. White recalls a retired doctor from Maine lived in the carriage house apartment which had an elevator. That elevator is still there and fully functioning. 

The home is listed at $922,900 by Smith & Associates Real Estate. To view and download photos of 5111 N. Central Avenue, click here.  

Video tour available at https://vimeo.com/348279411.