1307 Truman Avenue, Key West - Bank Owned Grand Dame - A Buying Opportunity!

 Just Listed, but not by me, is the Bank Owned home at 1307 Truman Avenue, Key West, Florida. This Victorian home was built by a Cigar factory owner from Cuba in 1906. The home was expertly renovated in 2002 to restore the original elegance while adding all the modern amenities. The house sits on two lots which span from Truman Avenue to Albury Street ( 161' X 46.08' or 7418 sq ft). According to the Monroe County  Property Appraiser this home has 3352 sq ft of interior living space plus 1500 sq ft of porches. Bedrooms have 12 ft ceilings. There is a second floor maid's quarters (or guest suite) with a private porch and a view of the stunning pool below. Original Dade County Pine floors, crown molding, and custom interior trim decorate the interiors. The extra large kitchen is located at the rear. There is an abundance of custom cabinets, soap stone counters and a large white marble island counter the doubles as a place to dine. The covered rear porch just off the kitchen provides a shady setting to watch the family and guests enjoy the large and sunny pool.

 Wikipedia describes Grand Dame as "In popular culture, the grande dame is usually portrayed as a slightly flamboyant woman, prone to extravagant and eccentric fashion, such as feather boas, large hats, and excessive costume jewelry. She may be overly pre-occupied with the concept of 'acting ladylike" and expect all those around her to conform to her own high standards of etiquette." This home has a prominence that cannot be denied. The wrap around verandas are her boa; the towering height is her large hat; and the gardens are her costume jewelry. I dug down into my old shoebox and found the black and white photo of this property taken half a century ago. That photo shows the house before the 2002 addition at the rear was added. You can't see the addition in present day photos as it is hidden behind the white picket fence and privacy foliage. The most notable change was the creations of the third floor open balcony that overlooks Bayview Park across the street.

 This house on millionaires row was built circa 1906. Only a few of the grand houses that once populated Truman Avenue from Eisenhower Drive at the east to Duval Street at the west continue to remain as single family homes today. These large homes were built in sizes and to standards (and lifestyles) that are no longer current. Many of the houses that do remain have been converted into guest houses or re-configured into a combination of commercial and/or retail with some residential use. This house has not been messed around with and sits almost like a virgin, albeit an old virgin.

This house is in very good condition with the exception that the exterior will need to be painted and the gardens will need some TLC to get things back to where they should be.

This home has all the character and formality as it did when it was built. There is a grand three story entry hall. The living room is located at the front of the house.  A Victorian era divider provides a bit of separation which allows for two distinct living areas. A similar divider provides a separation from the formal dining room.

The kitchen sits at the rear. The kitchen is huge and would make a great gathering place for modern living in an old house. The wrap around verandas at the and rear seem to envelop the house. Each of the rooms on all three levels of the house (including the third floor) have very tall ceilings, crown molding, and exude a sense of formality we don't see in current architecture. For readers who have been in dozens of Key West Conch houses, this isn't one. This house probably more than any I have seen in Key West imparts the feel of the Victorian Era.

Second floor front bedroom has covered balcony that overlooks Bayview Park

The house has five bedrooms, each of which is quite large. And most have en-suite baths. The third floor has a sitting room off the bedroom. The ceiling up there must be 15 feet tall. There is a small porch off the front of the third floor where you can see the treetops and rooftops of much of the southern end of the island. Bayview Park is just across the street. What a view! There is a rooftop deck at the rear with an amazing view of the north. I could see water on the Gulfside of the island. You could not build a house of this height in Key West today. But if you buy it, you have the view forever. CLICK HERE to view more photos of this home, garden, and pool area. Click on any photo to enlarge.

 CLICK HERE to view the Key West mls datasheet on this Bank Owned home that is offered at $1,950,000.  This is a real buying opportunity for someone who wants a major Key West home with lots of bedrooms and quality interior spaces.  Each of the bedrooms (except the maid's quarters) are large and have en-suite baths. The public spaces are all large and exude a sense of formality that modern architecture normally omits. Please call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642 to set up a private showing on this home. I am a buyers agent and a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Key West.