Main Street Property Sold For $24.8 Million

A 200-year-old downtown property sold this week for $24.8 million, placing it among the most expensive real estate transactions in island history.

The property is 72 Main Street, which is a six-bed, 15-room home built in 1822 and renovated in 2019. The 6,804 square foot home sits on a .26-acre lot and was originally built by island builder and craftsman John Coleman for John Wendell Barrett, a whaling merchant.

The property was listed by Maury People Sotheby’s International Realty and the sellers were represented by Bernadette Meyer.

The buyer was listed as Seventy-Two Main Nominee Trust, according to property records, a blind trust that conceals the name of the registered owner.

A description of the six-and-one-half-bath home: “72 Main Street is a meticulously preserved piece of Nantucket's history that exudes a sense of place, where one instantly knows they are both in the heart of historic downtown and can appreciate that they are on an island.

“For more than two centuries, this home has stood prominently steeped in heritage and offers an exquisite glimpse into a time when craftsmanship and opulence defined Nantucket's landscape. This architectural masterpiece has been thoughtfully preserved, while modernization has been discreetly integrated into the interior to enhance functionality while preserving its historical details.”

The home features three floors. According to the property details, the first floor has an east parlor that overlooks Main Street and boasts an original black marble fireplace, a plaster rosette at the center of the ceiling, and a mural. In the back of the house, there is a family gathering area with a fireplace, which connects to the dining space and a kitchen.

The second floor has four ensuite bedrooms. The primary suite boasts a generous walk-in closet and a luxurious marble bathroom graced with double vanities.

The third floor has been redesigned to showcase the grand cupola as its central focal point, with exposed beams that illuminate the masterful craftsmanship throughout. It also features a generously sized bedroom that offers views of Nantucket Harbor and an office with a skylight and a full bathroom. You can read more about the property here..

The $24.8 million sale is among the highest ever recorded on Nantucket and eclipses the $24 million sale of 42 Shimmo Pond Road, which was completed in late June. The Main Street sale is still well below 2023's record-breaking $44 million sale of 72 and 68 Monomoy Road to Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy.