SPACE COAST HISTORY
In 2002, two men were riding around Sebastian with a
friend, a real estate agent who was previewing properties
for a client. They were visiting to get some respite
from the urban stress of living in midtown Atlanta.
“We had visited several times before and never had any
interest in living here,” said Glenn Powell, who owned
a restaurant in Atlanta. “I thought Florida living was all
high-rise condos in the Panhandle, touristy Orlando, or
glitzy Miami Beach. Fine for others, but doesn’t appeal
to me.
“We stumbled upon this for-sale-by-owner, poorly
maintained 1980s riverfront home. The house itself
wasn't much of a draw at the time, but once we
stepped outside, oh my God! This huge Art Deco pool
with lion fountains in each corner, surrounded by
swaying bamboo and palm trees! The old-growth live
oaks dripping with Spanish moss! The large expanse
of a lawn leading to the river! I actually blurted out
loud, ‘This is why I work so hard! We need to buy this.’
I knew right then that this was a unique property with
remnants from a bygone era and with stories to tell.”
Powell’s partner, Scott Kimberley, an Atlanta native
whose family settled in the city in the early 19th century,
never thought he would live anywhere but Atlanta, until
he saw the Roseland property.
“We didn’t realize how stressed we were living in the
city,” he said. “This is the total opposite. I didn’t realize I
was done with Atlanta until I saw this place.”
Kimberley works remotely as a data base administrator
for Kaiser Permanente Atlanta, a company he has been
with for 43 years. He says the only things he misses
about Atlanta are friends and good restaurants.
Now, he enjoys the quiet beauty of his natural surroundings.
He sometimes paddles into the river in a kayak and
has seen blue herons, ibis and brown and white pelicans
on or near Goodrich Island. On land, near the house, two
wooded areas he calls “jungle-ettes” border the wide
lawn, functioning as wildlife corridors. They shelter raccoons,
possums, owls, foxes and an occasional bobcat. A
peacock outside the main house has become a pet that
he feeds regularly. Any food left in the peacock’s bowl
gets finished off by raccoons or possums.
Powell said while they were making arrangements to
move to Florida permanently, they renovated the cabana
guesthouse, which had been the original carriage house
for the estate, to use as their vacation getaway during
the transition. They started accepting short-term rentals
of the cabana after several people asked to use it when it
was vacant.
“We permanently moved into the big house a few years
later while the cabana continues on as an offering for
those who want to experience a secluded, historic Old
Florida setting,” he said.
Powell and Kimberley have bought most of the original
22: SPACE COAST LIVING | SPACECOASTLIVING.COM
The Victrola at poolside provided early 20th century entertainment for the family and
visitors enjoying a respite from the heat.
The new owners are restoring the guest cottage to its original look, with Dade County
pine on the floors and bead board on the walls.
The imposing Goodrich home no longer exists. It burned to the ground in the 1930s, but
another house occupies the site.
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