717 Galveston Lane - A Last Little Piece of Old Key West

Just Listed, but not by me, 717 Galveston Lane, Key West.  This 532 square foot cottage is tucked away on a little lane near the top of Solaris Hill in the heart of Old Town. The lot measures about 40.5' X 71.5' or 2903 sq ft. The above photos demonstrates the lot is large enough to accommodate two cars and that suggests all kinds of wonderful things a new owner could do with this property.

I searched the Historic Sanborn Fire Maps to try to determine the approximate age of this small home. It first appeared in the 1892 map when it was identified as 19 Low's Alley.  The street name was changed to Lowe's Alley on the 1899 map. The same house first identified as 19 Low's Alley became 717 Galveston Lane on the 1912 Sanborn Map.  The above photo shows 717 Galveston Lane in 1965. You will notice a 1950s vintage CBS (concrete block structure) located next door to the south. The Sanborn maps showed a wood house on that same site dating back to the 1892 map. It was obviously razed for some reason. What a loss as this block is otherwise picturesque. I looked thru my old shoebox and found a couple of additional photos taken in the 1930s by WPA workers which I want to share with you now. Those photos depict the charm of this gem of a location which until a few years ago had not been updated to the same extent of other areas of Old Town.

 I studied this 1930's vintage photo of Galveston Lane which appeared in Redbook magazine in the 1930's. I am fairly certain the photo was taken just off Windsor Lane looking south. Notice the large house to the left rear. That must have been the house that was razed. The children were probably standing in front of 717 Galveston Lane.

Galveston Lane jogs to the left about 60 feet south of 717 Galveston Lane and passes by Bill Butler Park. It then proceeds a couple of hundred feet to the south where it ends and intersects Olivia Street. The photo just below shows 845 Galveston Lane as it appeared in 1965. The second photo shows 845 Galveston Lane a couple of weeks ago. That historic eyebrow house is now near the completion of its renovation and expansion. While 845 Galveston Lane is a much larger home and sits on a lot which is huge by comparison, the photos demonstrate the transformation potential for vintage homes on this little block. (845 Galveston Ln will appear in an upcoming blog on the projects of Key West.)

 Finally, I found the above photo of Solaris Hill taken in the late 1970s. I noted the location of 717 Galveston Lane with an arrow. Solares Hill is the highest point in Key West. Houses in this area are located in the X Zone for flood insurance purposes. If you buy this house, your lender will not require that you purchase flood insurance. But it you do buy it, it will be at the cheapest rate offered.

The listing Realtor describes 717 Galveston Lane this way:

"Old Town Key West cottage on a large lot on a quiet lane, ready to make your own. Off the beaten path yet centrally located to everything in Old Town. Walk in Shed and off street parking for 2 cars."

I sold a similar home on Galveston Lane a couple of years ago. Although it had been updated, my buyers are going to expand that house and add a pool They have engaged local architect Guillermo Orozco to design their upcoming renovation project. 

CLICK HERE to view the Key West MLS datasheet and listing photos of 717 Galveston Lane which is offered at $459,000. Then please call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642, to set up a private showing of this little house with a great location. I am a buyers agent and a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Key West.