A Historic $9 Million Sale on Sullivan’s Island: 1702 Ion Avenue

Every once in a while, a property comes to market that is more than the sum of its rooms. 1702 Ion Avenue on Sullivan’s Island was one of those. I had the privilege of representing the sellers on its sale in March 2024, at $9 million, marking a meaningful milestone for the island’s real estate market.

A home with a serious history

1702 Ion Avenue was originally constructed as the Base Commandant’s Quarters and is the largest and most elaborate surviving structure of offices at Fort Moultrie. During World War II, it became the residence of the chief of staff, George C. Marshall. Marshall went on to become Secretary of State and architect of the Marshall Plan, and the Nobel Peace Prize laureate whose name carries one of the most consequential legacies of the twentieth century.

It is rare for a private residence in the Charleston area to have that kind of historical weight, and rarer still for it to be preserved with the care this one has been.

The property itself

The home spans 7,344 square feet, with 5 bedrooms and 3.5 bathrooms. Its distinctive features include expansive wraparound porches, tin printed ceilings, multiple fireplaces, gracious room proportions, 9-foot ceilings throughout, a renovated kitchen, and a private pool.

The architectural details are exactly the kind that cannot be replicated. The wraparound porches in particular speak to the era of the home, and the way they connect interior life to the breezes coming off the island.

Why it moved so quickly

The home went under contract just seven days after being listed. That is unusual at any price point and especially at this one. A few factors converged to make it happen.

First, the historical significance gave the property a kind of cultural gravity that a comparable but ahistorical home simply would not have. Buyers at this level often want a piece of Charleston that matters, not just one that photographs well. This home offered both.

Second, the preservation was exceptional. The current owners had honored the home’s bones while making it genuinely livable. There was nothing for a buyer to "fix" in the sense that usually follows an offer. The work had already been done well.

Third, the marketing was built around the story, not just the specifications. A 7,344-square-foot home with 5 bedrooms and a pool is one type of listing. The Base Commandant’s Quarters where George C. Marshall once lived is another. We led with the latter.

What this sale says about Sullivan’s Island

Sullivan’s has long been one of the strongest submarkets in the greater Charleston area, and Cassina closed 2023 as the #1 firm for sales on the island. What this transaction underscored is that buyers at the top of the island market are not just buying square footage. They are buying a sense of place, a community, and in some cases a piece of history.

The supply of truly significant homes on Sullivan’s is small and shrinking. Each one that changes hands well, with the right preparation and the right Realtor, sets a benchmark for the next.

If you are considering Sullivan’s Island

Whether you are a buyer waiting for the right home on the island, or a seller weighing what your property might command in this market, the case study of 1702 Ion is instructive. The homes that perform best are the ones where preparation, story, and marketing all line up. The right Realtor connects those threads.

I’m glad to talk Sullivan’s with anyone who is thinking seriously about it.