826 Johnson Lane - Key West

One of the least expensive houses in Old Town is a potential candidate for renovation or possibly demolition and rebuilding. The listing Realtor, not me, describes 826 Johnson Lane, Key West this 1128 sq ft cottage style house this way:

"Renovation project in prime Old Town Key West location! This Old Town frame residence was built circa 1938 and is ready for a complete rehab. Nestled on a quiet lane near Truman Avenue and just blocks to famous Duval Street, this property is sited on a 116 foot deep lot and offers endless possibilities to create your dream home in paradise. The large deep lot leaves plenty of room for a pool and gardens and has off street parking. Home is vacant and is not habitable as-is. Potential buyers should verify with City of Key West if home can be completely torn down or partially torn down. Per tax roll the home is 1128 square feet. Do not enter property without permission of Listing Realtor as decking in rear is not secure."

I found an old photo of 826 Johnson Lane at the bottom of my old shoebox. This Plane-Jane salt box style is found in many of the small cottages that dot the streets and lanes of Key West. Modest people of modest means lived in these houses decades ago. This particular house was update several years ago but has fallen into disrepair. I will share a couple of interior photos that are self explanatory.

These pics may look scary, but they are probably typical of what many of the now picture perfect Key West cottages looked like before they were redone. And that is the truth. Just below are a couple of photos of the backyard and side deck. The deck is falling apart and needs removed and or rebuilt. The backyard offers room for a pool once the decades of over grown vegetation are removed. One potential buyer that I showed this house to came up with a very good idea which would be to move the house forward just a bit. That would shorten the driveway and allow for a larger rear yard. I have seen this happen before on a couple of houses. Our Historical Architectural Review Commission would have to grant this extraordinary permission. I think it makes sense myself. -

 I am certain that this particular house is not on the list of contributing historic structures in Old Town. That being the case a new owner might even get permission to raze this house and build a new structure. A qualified architect would be able to advise a potential buyer as to whether HARC would allow a house like this to be razed.  Even if the building could not be razed, it would certainly be a candidate for major renovation. I will bet that most of the building seen in these photos would be taken down and rebuilt with a new foundation and new materials throughout.

CLICK HERE to view the Key West mls datasheet on 826 Johnson Lane. Then please call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642 to schedule a private 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.

1429 Johnson Street Key West - Freshly Renovated Residence

Just listed, but not by me, 1429 Johnson Street in Key West, Florida. This home has just received a sophisticated makeover. It is now ready for a new owner to take up permanent residence. The listing Realtor describes this home this way:

"Recently renovated, one level contemporary home on large corner lot completely walled for privacy. Bright and open floor plan. Vaulted ceiling in Master bedroom with adjacent sitting room/office. Luxurious Master bath. New kitchen with Bosch Appliances. Huge pool with waterfall and outdoor cabana. Cabana could be outdoor kitchen or turned into third bedroom as it is adjacent to third bathroom."

Although this house was originally built in 1954, there is not one vestige of the old house left, at least that I could discern. The tell-tale signs of a 1950's era home are simply non-existent in this house. There are no rounded doorways, colorful ceramic tiles, or tiny rooms. Instead, this house and the ground on which it sits are au currant.  The iconic pillars and portico at the front entry gives the guest or homeowner the immediate sense that this place is something special.  The portico continues around the north side of the house where the pool and deck are located. A large enclosed side yard which faces the south provides a nice garden space off each of the two bedrooms where there is also  gated off street parking. 

The new renovation includes the opening of the kitchen into the living and dining area. New quartz counter tops give the kitchen a super chic look. There are loads of drawers. And there is a pantry for lots of additional storage. The prior renovation kept the chef locked in the kitchen. Now, the kitchen is part of an elegant open living space which includes two sets of sleek French doors that open out to the pool area.

 The guest bedroom is a nice spacious space. The French doors open out to the south garden area. I noticed the introduction of opaque glass insets into traditional wood doors. This simple feature adds to the sophisticated design that carries throughout the house.

The master suite includes an attached sitting room or office area just off the bedroom. A set of French doors also opens out to the south garden. The ceiling in this room is vaulted and gives the space an extra dimension. The bath includes a shower large enough for two (or three).  Again, all spaces are newly refreshed and contain new fixtures and lights.  CLICK HERE to view more photos that I took of this lovely home.

The new owner made a somewhat radical change to the pool area. There were two small buildings located at the west end of the pool. One was a nice pool bath complete with all the necessities. The other building was too small to be used as a guest room for more than one person. A prior owner had used the space as a gym. The new owner took down the wall that faced the pool and opened the space to be used as a covered pool loggia.  It looks great!  The portico and pillar theme from the front of the house continues on the poolside as well. The limestone floors from inside the house continue to the outside. I can imagine how grand this space would look while entertaining guests. There truly would be a seamless flow from inside chic to outdoor elegance in this newly refreshed setting.

The renovations and interiors were designed by Ben Teague. I have written before about Ben in my blog. You may have seen him on one of HGTV's programs about Key West houses. 

Many of the homes in this area were built around the same time period. Many of these homes have been updated before. There are several current renovations and expansions going on at this time. The newly renovated and expanded homes are bringing varying degrees of design and upgrades to the area that (generally speaking) were not used in earlier renovations.  I see these newer renovations as increasing the overall property values for this part of town which is located within easy walking distance to the beaches. 

1429 Johnson Street is a 1532 sq ft two bedroom, three bath house that sits on a large 5896 sq ft corner lot that is offered for sale at $1,075,000. CLICK HERE to view the Key West mls datasheet and to view listing photos. Then cll me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642 to schedule a private showing of this really attractive property. I am a buyers agent and a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Key West.

720 Simonton Street rear, Key West, Florida

There's a little cottage located at the far end of a private lane located just south of the swank Gardens Hotel. The street address of this place is 720 Simonton Street (Rear). I dug into the old shoebox and found a photo taken half a century ago. The cottage sits at the rear of the deeded private. You'll probably recognize the contemporary house located next to the driveway. I found a photo of the old commercial building that occupied the same location years ago.

I found more photos of other surrounding houses that all appear to have been built around the same time. They all share that tree lined drive from Simonton Street to where it ends in a large gravel parking area for the homes located there. I recently showed 720 Simonton Street Rear and remembered that I had been back in this hidden area years ago but did not return because I had no need to go there. I get amazed at how hidden some places are. This is one of them.

 The listing Realtor describes 720 Simonton Street Rear this way:

"Live In The Heart Of Key West Just Steps From All The Attractions On Duval Street! Cozy Cottage Located Off A Quiet Lane In Old Town With Deeded Off-street Parking. One Bedroom, One Bathroom, Living-dining Area, And Galley Kitchen. Sliders Open On Front And Back Of Home To Two Separate Privacy Fenced Decks."

As soon as you pass the gated entry you realize this cottage is no cigar maker cottage. Instead, it is slice of life of mid-century American architecture complete with glass slider doors that provide ample daytime illumination of the living area located on the other side of the wide deck.

 The four room house is easy to understand. The living room and dining area are located in front. The galley kitchen and bathroom are located in the middle of the house. The spacious bedroom is located at the rear where there is another set of sliders that open out to a rear deck.  Notice all the closet space in the bedroom. This place just seems to offer so much living space as compared to some cigar maker cottages where sometimes rooms are cramped. If you are reaching your 'golden years' you'll appreciate that all rooms are located on one level. There are no stairs, no spiral staircase, and no ship's ladder or other contraption to complicate your life or mobility. And your off street parking spot it located right outside your front door. CLICK HERE to see more photos.

720 Simonton Street rear is zoned  HNC (1-3) which may allow for future transient rental which would require the purchase of a transient rental license at additional expense. This property does not have a transient license and may not be rented transiently at this time. Most abutting properties have transient licenses. Just because it is zoned to accept a transient license does not mean that the City of Key West would consent to such a use. The city has a policy against displacing existing residential use with transient use. 720 Simonton Street rear could be rented as a monthly vacation rental. I think this would make an excellent vacation rental property.. You cannot ask for a better location. It is close to everything but it is serenely quiet.

CLICK HERE to view the Key West mls datasheet on 720 Simonton Street rear which is offered for sale at $519,000. Then 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.

721 Catherine Street, Key West - A New Home to Cheer About

Look close at the newly built "Conch House" at 721 Catherine Street in Old Town Key West. You're familiar with the classic lines but this house is decidedly different. The listing Realtor, not me, describes the house this way:

"This newly constructed Conch house is a must see! Located in Old Town, the home features a meticulous eye to detail incorporating clean styling and practical features. The kitchen boasts custom cabinetry, Silestone countertops and stainless steel appliances. The open floor plan is perfect for entertaining while preparing meals and lounging by the heated pool with waterfall. There are three bedrooms including a first floor master with bath and two bedrooms with abundant closet space on the second floor. Impact glass windows, gated off-street parking, maintenance free Hardieplank siding and coveted X-zone location combine with fashionable design to make this your perfect Key West address."

The main entry to 721 Catherine Street is located near the rear of the wrap-around covered porch where you walk into the open living area.  You will immediately notice the porcelain tile floors, the open living space, and the sleek kitchen. Everything about this house is so clean and welcoming. Then you'll see the double French doors that open to the outdoors. There is a covered rear deck and an open sun deck with pool and garden. It's all done. You won't need to do anything. Bring your toothbrush, sun tan lotion, and maybe a swimsuit if you're shy.

This home has a first floor master bedroom with en-suite bath. You won't need to sell your Key West getaway when climbing the stairs starts to get more difficult.  And even if age is not a factor for you as a buyer, not having to walk downstairs to get your morning coffee or to take a late night dip in the pool is certainly a reason to consider this home.

Dormers on the second floor add height and dimension to the space, but it is the introduction of what I call Drama Walls that make this place just ooze charm. When you look out the second floor windows you can actually see big sky views in all directions. A lot of houses in Old Town are spaced so close to each other that you can't see much of anything except your neighbor's house or trees. That is not the case here. There is abundant light in this house. It is cheerful. There's more to cheer about as well. The Hardiplank construction means this house will be more economical to maintain. Hardiplank stands up to our weather much better than regular wood siding. The impact resistant windows mean your windstorm insurance will cost less. Since the house is located in the X Zone, flood insurance will not be required if you have a mortgage. Finally, consider all of the designer features incorporated into this property. You  won't need to spend money to fix the house. Instead, you can spend the money you save on maintenance and insurance and buy some great Key West art and fun new home furnishings instead.

721 Catherine Street is located two blocks east of Duval Street. It's a straight walk to LaTeDa and other fun locations on Duval Street. Many of the island's gyms and yoga studios are located within a few minutes walk to the north and east. South Beach and other beaches are a few minutes by bike. This property would make a fantastic vacation rental or a very comfortable second home. You and your guests will always be near something fun to do, but when you're at home, you will be in your own private paradise.

CLICK HERE to view the Key West mls datasheet and listing photos of 721 Catherine Street that is now offered for sale at the reduced asking price of $1,199,000. After you have looked at the pics, please call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642 to schedule a private 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.