After an extensive renovation and enlargement, a decades-old Jacksonville Beach mansion is ready for its closeup.
Built in 1940 and currently selling for $17 million, the home at 3815 Duval Drive had an initial footprint of just under 4,000 square feet and stayed that way until the current owners purchased the property in 2018. Perched on a 0.48-acre oceanfront lot, the floor plan has nearly doubled in size, thanks to a pair of additions.
Left intact is the home's original main entry in a soaring light-filled turret with a custom winding staircase. It's noted in the listing description as "one of the home's most distinctive architectural moments."
"I love so many different features in this house, but especially that turret entry," said listing
agent Jennifer White of Ponte Vedra Club Realty. "The door is probably 8 inches thick, with a classic lion's head knocker; it's just beautiful."
The identity of the home's original owners is unknown, although White acknowledges that "a single lady lived there forever." That woman was undoubtedly Lona Wood, who died in March 2004 at the age of 100. According to her obituary, Wood was a well-known Jacksonville teacher and antiques dealer who founded the former Beaches Antique Show with her husband, George.
Though it's not clear how long or when Wood lived there, property records show that Ed Burr, CEO of GreenPointe Holdings and board chairman of the Monique Burr Foundation for Children, purchased the home from her heirs in 2005. Five years later, Burr sold it to custom homebuilders Richard and Nancy Morrison.
The current owners bought it from the Morrisons in 2018 and completed the massive renovation that transformed the home. In addition to taking the main house down to the studs, they added a three-car garage with a private guest retreat above that consists of a living room, kitchenette, spacious bedroom with king bed and built-in bunks, a full bath and ocean views.
The project also added a second wing that connects to the main house. That section includes another bunk room with three queen built-in bunk beds (with trundles), an additional oceanfront guest suite, ensuite baths with bespoke tilework and a secondary laundry room.
Jacksonville's McAneny Builders oversaw the additions and renovations. Hailed by White as "fabulous" and "amazing" for their attention to detail, McAneny was also the team responsible for the construction of the Fish House, which set a price record for Duval when it sold for $15.5 million in July 2025.
According to Lenny McAneny, it took 24 months to execute the current owners' vision.
"We added both the detached garage apartment and the front two-story addition, along with a rear patio and the deck above, off the primary bedroom," McAneny said. "The kitchen was changed quite a bit, as well as the full interior."
McAneny noted that an elevator was also eliminated to create a gym on the second floor, as well as what was called a "bathing enclave." His team also modified the spiral staircase in the entry foyer.
The updated kitchen is indeed eye-catching, and White called it a "true showpiece" in the listing description. Among its luxurious details are marble countertops with mitered edge detailing, a custom island, handcrafted cabinetry with high-gloss finishes and wire mesh accents. A top-of-the-line appliance package includes a custom gas range from Bertazzoni (a historic family-owned Italian company), double ovens, dual refrigerators and freezers, dual dishwashers and an enormous wine cooler.
Despite the many changes to the home's original floor plan, White praised the unique and unexpected layout.
"There are a lot of unexpected turns, but it still flows effortlessly," she said.
Initially listed for $19.5 million in April, the asking price for 3815 Duval Drive has dropped roughly $2.5 million. If it sells for its current asking price of about $17 million, or close to it, the sale could set a new real estate record for Duval County. White is confident about the prospect, citing the ongoing desire for oceanfront property and the home's proximity to the Ponte Vedra Inn & Club (currently undergoing its own transformation).
She also cited the home's larger lot size, noting that of the 40 oceanfront homes on Duval Drive, only five or so occupy lots that have similar proportions. Plus, the area is still feeling the effects of the COVID pandemic, which has drawn buyers looking for the quieter — yet upscale — lifestyle not found in crowded South Florida.
Without question, though, the home's concrete construction, utilizing both coastal and European elements, is definitely a drawing card. White called it one of her all-time favorite houses, right up there with the home belonging to the Winn-Dixie heirs, whom she also represented in a sale earlier this year.
"With both of them, you just feel like you're in a whole different world," White said. "With this one, it's sophisticated and inviting, but it still has that 1940s warmth. I just love the vibe."
A member of the Times-Union team since 2011, Anne Hammock has worked as a writer and editor for more than 35 years, currently focusing on real estate features and managing the Opinion section. She can be reached at ahammock@jacksonville.com.
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Jax Beach home built in 1940 gets big glow-up, selling for $17M
