Historic Straub Home Hits the Market for $1.895 Million
By Post
Tampa Bay Newswire
Published: Oct 5, 2023

St. Petersburg, Fla., (October 5, 2023) – A piece of St. Petersburg’s rich history, the iconic Straub Home, a Mediterranean-style gem built in 1920, is for sale. This historic residence, located at 143 13th Avenue N, in the coveted Old Northeast neighborhood, is steeped in local history and offers an exceptional opportunity to own a piece of the city’s past.

Listed by Cynthia Serra and Dan Casper of Smith & Associates Real Estate, the 3,198 square foot home was built by William (W.L) Straub. Straub served as the editor of the St. Petersburg Times, now known as the Tampa Bay Times, for 38 years and was a prominent civic figure in the city’s history. He crusaded to convert St. Pete’s waterfront into a public park, which is now named in his honor, and was known as a positive champion for the region. Straub is credited with helping to establish Pinellas County in 1912.

More recently, the Straub family was involved in the restoration of the Vinoy Hotel in the late 1990s. The Vinoy Hotel, originally opened in 1925, had faced a period of severe decline but was restored to its former glory through significant renovations and efforts led by the Straub family. The restoration project was completed in 1992.

W.L. Straub’s historic home has four bedrooms, each with a walk-in closet. The home has three bathrooms, two that are ensuite. Additional features include a detached oversized two-car garage accessible from the alley, with room for a workshop. Above the garage, there is a walk-up income-producing efficiency apartment, currently leased.

In 2022, a large deck with low-maintenance TREX composite boards was built, providing an inviting outdoor space for gatherings along with several other outdoor living areas, including the welcoming front porch, a side porch off the dining room, and private balconies off the upstairs bedrooms.

The kitchen, featuring butcher block counters and a spacious gathering table, overlooks the backyard and opens to a casual living space with one of the home’s two wood-burning fireplaces.

Throughout the home, period lighting, original Cuban tile, and heart of pine floors evoke a sense of a bygone era. Serra describes the home as “modern with an ode to one of St. Pete’s original trailblazers.”