Tampa home that pop star Beyoncé once rented sells for $3.5 million
By Susan Taylor Martin
Tampa Bay Times
Published: Dec 1, 2016

TAMPA - The Davis Islands home were pop star Beyoncé prepared for her world tour this past spring has sold for $3.5 million.

Although the house built in 1969 drew multiple offers, the interest lay more in its striking mid-century design than in its fleeting connection to the performer, listing agent Jeff Shelton said Thursday.

"Every single person who made an offer on the home, their plans were to keep it because of how well-maintained the home was and renovated, and the beautiful views," he said. "I think this should be a real good indicator to builders that some of these mid-century homes do have value in today's market and that you don't necessarily have to tear them down and build a McMansion to capitalize on your investment.''

Originally priced at almost $3.7 million in July, the three-bedroom, 21/2-bath house sits back from Riviera Drive and is surrounded by lush tropical foliage. That seclusion is apparently what appealed to Beyoncé and rapper husband Jay Z when they rented the house as she prepared at Raymond James Stadium for her Formation Tour, which had its second performance April 29 in Tampa.

Over its half-century existence, the house has also had locally well-known owners.

Records show that former Tampa Mayor Sandy Freedman and her husband, Michael, paid $18,500 for the property and lived there from 1969 to 1988. The house sold again in 1997, 2006 and 2010 - that year for $2.6 million to Steven MacDonald and his wife, Lindsay, who hosted WFLA-TV's Daytime show for 10 years.

The deed from the latest transaction has not yet been recorded, but Shelton said the buyer is a doctor.

"This is the third time I've sold this house," he said. "It's been a great house for me."

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