Historic church turned luxury mansion in Tarpon Springs lists for $5.9 million
By Breanne Williams
Tampa Bay Business Journal
Published: Aug 17, 2023

A nearly century-old church in Tarpon Springs that was renovated into a luxury home is on the market for $5.9 million.

The 7,041-square-foot home at 160 Read St. was built in 1926 and was the flagship location for First Baptist Church of Tarpon Springs. The church was abandoned in 1993 and was purchased in 2021 by the sellers, who began the extensive renovation from 2022 to 2023 to transform the site into a three-story Mission-style townhome.

Eric Dungy, Jon Fincher and Greg Margliano with Compass Florida are marketing the home for sale. The interiors were designed by Ebb & Flow Design Co. and include white oak flooring and two linear electric fireplaces. The house is being sold fully furnished.

The property features two private homes that are joined by a door on each floor for either connected or separate living, meaning the buyer has the option to rent out half of the property. The ground floor has a 4,000-square-foot garage with space for 12 vehicles and a private elevator that goes to the attic on the fourth floor.

If combined, the estate has five bedrooms. The front unit has three bedrooms and three-and-a-half bathrooms.

Adjacent to the garage is a ground-floor heated lap pool with covered outdoor dining, lounge spaces, a summer kitchen with a 40-inch grill and privacy walls.

Both kitchens include custom millwork and top-of-the-line appliances. Bathrooms include floor-to-ceiling Italian tile.

The original bell tower of the building offers both sunrise and sunset views. The home includes multiple balconies with views of Spring Bayou to the south and the canal to the north. The property also includes a custom brick driveway and motorized gate and is less than a mile from the Sponge Docks and historic downtown.