Historic St. Augustine property to be auctioned next week

A historic building in the nation's oldest city is set to be sold at auction.

The owner is walking away from a multimillion-dollar piece of St. Augustine history.

The 4,077-square-foot restaurant and private home spans an entire block of St. George Street down to Spanish Street, in the heart of the tourist district.

It’s just a short walk from the Castillo de San Marcos.

The second floor of the home has a view of the fort and the water.

Photos: Historic St. Augustine building to be auctioned

“Sometimes by putting a price on a property, you’re limiting what the potential is. With an auction, there’s no limit,” said Great Expectations Auctions Co. owner Jena Baker-Dennis.

Baker-Dennis is teaming up with Fisher Auction Co. to auction the property, which is valued at just more than $2 million.

Built in the mid-1800s, it’s the last private home in the St. George Street historic district.

It includes an original coquina wall that's is at least 150 years old.

The property has been in Josh Parks’ family since 1938, but now that his mother, Donna Parks, has passed away, he said it’s time to move on.

His restaurant, Local Heros Bar & Grill, shut its doors this week.

“It’s sad. It really is sad. My whole life here – 32 years and a lot of memories here. I was here at the restaurant for 10 years,” said Parks. “We’re going to do a new restaurant in Jacksonville.”

Baker-Dennis said potential bidders from five countries have expressed interest in the property.

There’s no minimum bid, but bidders must preregister and put a $100,000 deposit into an escrow account by Tuesday.

The auction will begin at 11 a.m. July 14 at the property, which is located at 18 St. George St.

Cox Media Group