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.