Casa Coe da Sol Was Designed by World Famous Architect Addison Mizner

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Casa Coe da Sol, in the Jungle neighborhood at 510 Park Street North, is a home designed by world famous architect Addison Mizner. It was built in 1931 as the winter residence of the Williams family who were employed by the Western Southern Life Insurance Company in Cincinnati.  It is the last Mizner-designed building to be constructed. It was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places in 1980. 

Casa Coe da Sol. Photo credit: Etyabe.
According to realtor.com, Casa Coe da Sol is on 2.07 acres, has 6 baths, and has 9,964 square ft.

Casa Coe da Sol. Photo credit: Etyabe.

In the application for the National Register of Historic Places, it was asserted the building's "unaltered state, its uniqueness as the only Mizner-designed residence on Florida's west coast, and Mizner 's last completed commission, make this building a noteworthy structure in the City of St. Petersburg." 

Photo: Florida Department of State Division of Historical Resources (vintage b/w photo colorized)

St. Petersburg Times, Aug 21, 1931

According to the application for the National Historic Register, "subsequent owners of the house were "a Mr. Russell" who was once in charge of the Farragut Academy (located directly on the east side of Park Street from the house); Brigadier General Lacy Van Buren Murrow; a "Mr. Hurlin"; and present owners Mr. and Mrs. Henry Petronis. Of all the owners, Brigadier General Lacey Morrow is the only one of note. Murrow, brother of famous newscaster, Edward R., was a much decorated Air Force officer of World War II. He bought Casa Coe da Sol in June, 1966 and in October of that year indicated that he planned to "build homes in the $50,000-up category on the property." He committed suicide on December 16 of that year so the project was never started. Casa Coe da Sol serves as the residence for the Petronis family." The current owner is listed as Jean Rossignol.

Google Maps satellite view of 510 Park Street North

Casa Coe da Sol from Admiral Farragut Academy (Photo: Steve of the Jungle CC)

Casa Coe da Sol street level (Photo: Steve of the Jungle CC)

Addison Mizner with Florida friends. Photo credit: PBC Historical Society (colorized)

Mizner is best known for introducing the Mediterranean Revival style to Florida. Most of his buildings are in Palm Beach, Florida ‒ Casa Coe da Sol is his only structure in St. Petersburg. Until Mizner began designing homes in Palm Beach, there was no distinct architectural style in Florida. Today, Mediterranean Revival architecture is seen throughout the state, including many structures in St. Petersburg such as The Jungle Hotel and Jungle Prada building in our neighborhood.

Mizner's structures were eclectic and often contained elements from more than one period. He sought to "make a building look traditional and as though it had fought its way from a small, unimportant structure to a great, rambling house that took centuries of different needs and ups and downs of wealth to accomplish. I sometimes start a house with a Romanesque corner, pretend that it has fallen into disrepair and been added to in the Gothic spirit, when suddenly the great wealth of the New World has poured in and the owner had added a very rich Renaissance addition."[1]

El Mirasol, Palm Beach Florida, Addison Mizner architect.
Reproduced from an original postcard published by the E. C. Kropp Company, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=20251660

Book by Addison Mizner

Addison Mizner (colorized)

For more information:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Addison_Mizner
Nomination Form ‒ Casa Coe da Sol, National Historic Register

[1] from Wikipedia article on Addison Mizner quoting "Invasive and Exotic Architectural Species: The Legacy of Addison Mizner". critiquethis.us. Archived from the original on 12 November 2013. Retrieved 11 November 2013.