By Dan MacDonald and Mike Mendenhall | Staff Writers
Retired Circuit Court Judge Tyrie Boyer and Downtown Investment Authority CEO Lori Boyer are asking $5.75 million for their nearly century-old San Marco estate.
On June 27, the Boyers listed their 8,257-square-foot home at 2234 River Road for sale, according to Realtor.com.
In 1929 the home was built on 2.5 acres in the Mediterranean Revival style for Carl H. Swisher, the grandson of John Swisher, founder of Swisher Cigar Co.
In 1987 Lori Boyer purchased the home with her late husband, Dr. Ron Nemeyer for $822,845.
The home has seven bedrooms, five full baths and three half-baths, a pool and a three-car garage that contains a separate, second-story living quarters, listing sites show.
It has a courtyard, fountain and greenhouse. The riverfront property is built on two elevated lots to protect it from flooding.
The home received a major renovation in 1999 that added a game room and a remodeled kitchen.
The property appraiser values the building at $1.57 million. Its current taxable value is $1.89 million.
“I had always admired the house. I had lived in Avondale prior to that,” Lori Boyer said.
“I felt it’s beautiful and convenient to Downtown and I love the architecture. So I was excited to have the opportunity when it came on the market. Obviously, these houses don’t turn over often.”
Lori Boyer served two terms on City Council from 2011-19 representing the San Marco area as the District 5 representative. She was elected Council president in 2016.
The house was purchased in August 1987 before the October birth of her son, R.J. Nemeyer. She also has three daughters, Quinn Nemeyer Carlson, Kimberly Boyer Hellmuth and Kelley Boyer Waldo.
In recent years, her children have grown and moved and she said the house is too big for just her and her husband.
“In many ways I am reluctant to move on. On the other hand, I think the time is right for the two of us to downsize,” she said.
“We just don’t make full use of the property anymore.”
Over the years the Boyers have hosted charitable events at the home, although the coronavirus pandemic affected that.
Selling the home does not mean Lori Boyer is going to retire, she said.
“I just don’t have the time to fully enjoy the property. I don’t want to spend my weekends feeling I need to clean up the flowers. I want more freedom in that regard,” she said.
The couple wants to stay in the San Marco area. Depending on sale terms, she mentioned retaining part of the property and building a smaller home next door.
She said the sale has not been an easy decision, but it is a practical one.
“It’s a little bittersweet. There are parts of me that wants to stay there but there are also parts where I look forward to seeing somebody else get to enjoy it and fully enjoy everything that the home and the property have to offer,” she said.
The property is next to another Swisher estate home which is separately owned by Frank and Christina Gatlin. A 9,003-square-foot home was built in 1931 at 2252 River Road for John Swisher of Swisher Cigars. That property is about 1.24 acres.
