1019 Flagler Avenue - The Casa Marina Area - Key West

Just listed by Preferred Properties Key West, that is where I work but this is not my listing, 1019 Flagler Avenue in the tony Casa Marina Area of Key West.  This is a really big property (4055 sq ft of living space) that sits on a 9160 sq ft lot (90.25' frontage X 101.5' depth).  The listing Realtor describes the property as an

"Historic Indian block home just waiting for someone to bring it back to a grand family home on the most prominent part of Flagler Avenue, just steps from the Casa Marina Hotel. Zoned residential/commercial, perfect for a doctor, who needs 4 examining rooms, office space and reception and a place to live. On this incredible property there is also a large pool, a garage that can be converted to guest house or a pool house. Enough room for 3 cars uncovered and one covered. Renovation Project!!!"

I found the above black and white aerial photo of the Casa Marina Area that was taken in the 1930s. The arrow shows 1019 Flagler Avenue.  Two blocks the the west (left) is the historic Reynolds House. Both homes were built of Indian Block, a man-made material similar to modern concrete block except that Indian Block has a finished decorative appearance. Most of the undeveloped lots shown in the color photo immediately above were built upon in the 1950s and 1960s. Unlike many of the Old Town area homes which are built on small lots, the houses in the Casa Marina Area were quite often built on lots of 5,000 sq ft or larger.  As Key West became a destination for a second home and the supply of houses in Old Town proved too costly or too small, or both, buyers looked to the Casa Marina Area.  In the 1990s and later, many of the Casa Marina houses were razed or renovated to provide larger living spaces and to add pools and gardens.  The Casa Marina Area today is an attractive alternative to smaller and often pricier abodes in the Old Town area. The color photo immediately above was taken in 1999. An arrow shows 1019 Flagler Avenue surrounded by homes.

There is a 1960s era addition to the front of 1019 Flagler where it appears the original first and second floor porches were enclosed with concrete blocks covered by stucco.  Wrought iron fences and gates were added to both side yards.  A long driveway leads to covered parking located just off the kitchen. An old garage still sits at the rear of the driveway.  It is used as a home gym but could become a pool house, cabana, or maybe expanded into a guest cottage. 

A one story addition was added on the east side presumably in the 1960s or 1970s.  There is what I call a"disco" bedroom and bath located up front. The real star of the addition is the Florida room which is located at the rear. This room has a cathedral ceiling with impressive wood trusses.  Windows on three sides provide ample light and great views of the large back yard and pool. The Florida room is the only current ground level living space. The kitchen is located at the rear of the house on the main floor. It has two smallish windows with pool views. There is a large covered patio just outside the door. An interior stairway runs from the kitchen to the second floor.

The downstairs front portion of the house is now used as a doctor's office. I was not able to photography any of that space. The second floor space includes a sitting room, bedroom, large bath, nanny suite, and an office. Again, this space appears to have been created when the first and second floor porches were enclosed. The rooms have high ceilings and are a hodgepodge of sizes that beg for some creativity. When showing houses like this I tell my buyers that they should not focus on what exists now because what is will probably removed leaving four outer walls from which a new home will emerge.  This house appears very solid. I guess you could say it has "good bones".

This property is located less than two blocks from the Casa Marina Hotel and two blocks from Higg's Beach. Most of the larger homes in the Casa Marina Area are priced above $2,000,000. 1019 Flagler Avenue is offered for sale at $995,000. A buyer who wants a renovation project ought to hop on this property immediately.  I will bet this house sells in less than a week. CLICK HERE to view more photos that I took of the house and grounds. Remember that what you see now is not what you can create.  CLICK HERE to view the Key West mls datasheet.

Please call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642 or send me an email at kw1101v@aol.com.  I am a buyers agent and a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Key West. Let me help you find your place in Paradise.  If you buy 1019 Flagler Avenue, you could have a Key West home by Christmas in 2014!