The listing Realtor describes 622 Grinnell Street as "Wonderful, original conch home with three legal units. Great location and superb street presence. Access to the rear cottage is from a lane. Possible conversion back to single family and would be a really spectacular property as such. Opportunity to work with a property that has been maintained while leaving a Key West flavor."
Three words in his description really stand out: wonderful, location, and flavor (of Key West). I know I sometimes get a little gushy about some houses and let the superlatives fly. This property does that to me - big time. To say this house is wonderful is an understatement. It is the embodiment of what makes Old Town Key West so special. We have a treasure trove of wonderful old homes confined to few blocks on an island out in the middle of the ocean. You just don't get in the car and drive to Key West in an hour or so. The drive from Miami, our nearest big neighbor, takes about three hours on a good day. For most people getting here involves booking a flight that takes several hours. Some adventurous souls take the ferry. The time it takes to get here is worth it. It lets you decompress from whence you came and prepare yourself for what lays ahead.
I checked the Sanborn Fire Maps of Key West and learned that 622 Grinnell Street appeared for the first time in the 1892 edition. It could have built several years,for some strange reason, that block of Grinnell Street was omitted in the 1889 edition. Whatever the case, we know the house existed by 1892. I found a photo of the property that was taken in 1965. Compare that black and white photo to a photo I recently took.
The property consists of the main house on Grinnell Street and the rear (guest) cottage on Canfield Lane. The main house does not have (and may have never had) an interior staircase. I have shown this property several times and have been unable to find any evidence of a prior interior staircase. However, the house is quite large and there are a couple of alternative areas where a new staircase could be added which would then make it possible to convert the property into a single family residence. The property is divided with one apartment on the first floor, a second apartment that shares the second and third floors, and the cottage on Canfield Lane is the third unit.
Historic Photo of Canfield Lane Cottage |
The photos below were taken a several months ago when the property was owner occupied. Tenants now occupy the property and it does not show the same.
Main floor living room |
Third floor apartment |
Third floor apartment with old scuttles |
Third floor rooftop deck
Second floor living room with front with front porch |
I sold the house next door at 618 Grinnell Street a couple of years ago. It was in similar condition and it was owned by the same folks that own 622 Grinnell Street. My buyer got a much better price than the asking price. That does not infer a buyer for 622 Grinnell would get the same type of deal, but you never know what price you can agree upon until you make a real offer. My buyer did an excellent renovation of his property at 618 Grinnell for which he received a Ceramic Star for Historic Restoration. (He took out most of the old trees and vegetation, added a pool, parking on the side, and introduced new native landscaping.) Look at the before and after images of 618 Grinnell and imagine how proud you would be to receive to similar recognition after you renovate 622 Grinnell.
The 600 block of Grinnell Street is one of the quietest blocks in Old Town. That is because it ends at Angela Street which is the northern border of the Key West cemetery. That means that Conch trains, trolley cars, and Duck Tour vehicles will not be using this street. Those vehicles cannot traverse Angela Street. Your life will be quieter because of this. Occasionally you will still see tourists walking by or riding bikes. And you will see neighbors go across the street to use the Grinnell Street Pocket Park.
Five Brothers Grocery and Sandwich Shop is located down on the corner of Southard Street. The Key West Historic Seaport is located three blocks further north and Duval Street is located five blocks to the west. Most of the gyms and yoga studios are located within a five to ten minute walk of this location.
622 Grinnell Street is offered at $1,200,000. CLICK HERE to view the Key West mls data sheet on this property. Or better than that, 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.
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