812 Fleming Street - Seafoam Condo #6 - Key West

One of the most interesting condos in Key West is offered for sale at the asking price of $400,000.  It is Unit #6 located on the top floor at 812 Fleming Street and has a front balcony that overlooks the gayest street in Key West. If you are a gay man or woman, of if you are just hip and love to be part of the action, this pied a tere may be the home of your dream or just the vacation getaway place you have been searching for.

September 2013

The Seafoam condos is a mixed use building with six residential condominiums and two commercial units that are located on the ground level front. Timmy Tuxedo occupies one spot and a doctor's office the other. Every time I go by Timmy Tuxedo I have to pause a moment and take in the windows. I always have a little chuckle when I see that sign. The commercial use are not disruptive to the residential owners.  The building itself was built circa 1906. It was renovated and converted into condominiums in 1980.  The one bedroom units are pretty much the same space-wise, but individual owners have tricked out the interiors to suit their individual needs.  Four units have balconies that overlook Fleming Street, but just two are located on the top floor. Unit #6 is the one that is the subject of today's blog.  And it is a doozy.

1965

During renovation in 1980

 

The listing Realtor, not me, describes unit #6 this way:

"Wonderful Old Town condominium in beautiful condition and ready to move in. 9ft ceilings, Dade County pine walls and floors throughout and a great cathedral ceiling above the 200sf balcony overlooking Fleming Street. This third floor, one bedroom, one bath unit with 618 sf of living space is a true gem with tons of natural light. In the back yard there is a pool and private grounds. Seafoam Condominiums consists of eight condominiums & two commercial units."

This unit is move-in ready.  I have re-imagined what I would do to recreate the space and make the already large unit by Key West standards seem even larger.  If you look at the living room and kitchen you will see two different entrances into this units. All the units have them.  I would eliminate the kitchen door to provide more space in that room.  Likewise, there are two entrances into the bedroom. One is located at the far end of the living room near the entrance to the balcony. The other is off the hallway that leads to the bathroom and the bedroom. I personally think having two entrances is a bit unnecessary, especially since this is just a one bedroom unit.  And I really think that hallway is taking up a lot of very valuable real estate.  If I bought this unit I would do some room reconfigurations. Although neither is necessary, I would update the kitchen and bath and add a laundry. I would add a new split system air conditioner, and then I would have a little penthouse overlooking Fleming Street. None of what I suggest that I would do is necessary to be done.

Seafoam condos has a lovely pool  and small garden area at the rear. There is a shared coin operated laundry near the pool as well.

 812 Fleming Street is located hear everything.  The restaurants and attractions on Duval Street are located within a five minute walk.  Likewise, the Historic Key West Seaport is about a five minute walk as well. There are numerous neighborhood restaurants, two great bakeries, specialty shops and little art galleries withing a few blocks.  The good thing is that you can walk to just about wherever you want to go in Key West.

CLICK HERE to view the Key West mls datasheet and to view listing photos. If you would like to see this place before it is gone, please call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642. I am a buyers agent and a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Coastal Realty, Inc. in Key West.

812 Fleming Street #6 - Back on the Market - Key West

I wrote about 812 Fleming Street, Unit #6 located in the Seafoam Condominiums in Old Town Key West just after it was listed in January. The unit went under contract soon thereafter.  The unit went back on the market on February 28th. This is a second chance to buy this top floor unit which has a commanding view of Fleming Street from the broad covered balcony. There you can watch one of the best people parades on a daily basis or enjoy the roof top views of our little town.  The listing Realtor describes this 618 sq ft one bedroom condominium this way:

"Wonderful Old Town condominium in beautiful condition and ready to move in. 9ft ceilings, Dade County pine walls and floors throughout and a great cathedral ceiling above the 200sf balcony overlooking Fleming Street. This third floor, one bedroom, one bath unit with 618 sf of living space is a true gem with tons of natural light. In the back yard there is a pool and private grounds. Seafoam Condominiums consists of eight condominiums and two commercial units."

Timmy Tuxedo is one of the two commercial units in the building

I searched the old records and found a Property Appraiser reference that the building was actually built in 1906 despite what the computerized property records show. (The old courthouse burned years ago and members of the WPA reconstructed property records based on the year they created the new data system which was 1933 unless they had independent verification otherwise. It is not uncommon to have two sets of totally opposing dates. The style of the original building certainly looks much older than the types of buildings built during the middle of the Great Depression for one important reason: they were not building new buildings in the Depression.)

812 Fleming Street in 1965

812 Fleming Street in January 2012

First, you can't find a better location in Old Town: it is near everything full time residents want and part-time owners demand. Second, it is located on the top floor of an historic building, and it has commanding views of the nearby neighborhood from its 223 sq ft balcony. Third, the building's incredibly beautiful interiors can be customized to a new owner's desires without getting approval from any governmental bureau (the condo association may need to approve, however). Fourth, the building has only eight residential units plus two commercial units (including Key West landmark Timmy Tuxedo) with long term residential ownership. Fifth, the rear side of the building has a wonderful pool and private garden area.

  The front entry has an electronic keyed entrance. You walk into the entry hall and immediately see the dramatic open three story staircase illuminated by rooftop skylights. The geometry of the place is just awesome. Another stairway at the rear takes you down to the private pool. There is also a coin operated laundry for unit owners that do not have a washer and dryer in their units.

Last year when I wrote about another unit in this building that was for sale I said "this building is located on the gayest block in Key West. Four all male guest houses are located in this block including Equator, Coral Tree Inn, Coconut Grove, and the Oasis Guesthouse. Alexanders and The Island House are located in the 1100 block of Fleming Street and the guys normally pass by 812 Fleming Street once or twice each day. You don't have to be gay to buy in a place like this, but if you are gay, this is surely one hot property!"  Since I wrote that blog the Oasis and Coconut Grove Guesthouses were sold and are now "all welcome" as opposed to gay male. The Coral Tree was purchased as well and will stay gay male. Alexander's and the Island House are the same as before. The gayest street in Key West has not changed, and that is a good thing.

 812 Fleming Street Unit #6 is offered at $400,000. CLICK HERE  to view the Key West Association of Realtors mls datasheet and listing photos. Better than looking at pictures, please call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642 to arrange a showing. I am a buyers agent and a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Key West. Let me help you find your place in Paradise.

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