627 Caroline Street, Key West - Conch House in Need of Revival

Just Listed, but not by me, 627 Caroline Street, Key West. This home is located is located a little over one block from the Historic Seaport which was the economic hub of commerce in the 1880s and early 1900s. I searched the Historic Sanborn Fire Maps and determined 627 Caroline Street was built before the 1889 map which makes sense given the located near the seaport.  As I studied that map I learned a large portion of the 600 block was a sponge drying field. I can visualize a horse drawn cart relocating freshly harvested sponges to Caroline Street to be tried then put back on the boat to set sail for northern destinations. Today this house and two other original homes are the only buildings that have not been renovated in the modern era. That's what makes this particular old house so interesting and appealing from my point of view. Let me tell you why.

 

I wrote above this house has not been renovated. It wasn't. But it was messed around with. The original front porch was partially enclosed and had jalousie windows added. French doors were added to the adjacent parlor that is adjacent to the enclosed porch. The space is dark and dreary. The porch enclosure should be removed and existing interiors should be dramatically changed. Plans to renovate the property are included in the offering. The elevations shown below would "restore" or perhaps "create" a Grand Conch front facade with two story porches. The new house would have three bedrooms and a new detached guest cottage plus pool. The existing "garage" would disappear and be replaced by two tandem parking spaces. The bay window on the first floor would be re-purposed as a steam room for the first floor front bedroom.

The second floor was built for the way people lived one hundred fifty years ago. It had a bathroom added and that worked for the past century. Modern Key West functions much differently. We may not need as much closet space as folks living up north in America, but we need more bathrooms. The plans include a main floor guest bath located under the stairs. The first floor bedroom has shower plus steam room. The two second floor bedrooms have en-suite baths and the guest cottage has a half bath. There is even a pool bath located. New glass slider glass panel doors will open out to the pool from the first floor and second floor rear decks. The view from the second floor rear will be amazing.  The back yard is quite large and undeveloped. The plans propose a guest cottage and pool. A new owner might prefer a larger pool  The plans are proposed and not determinative as to what must be done.

This little part of town has changed dramatically since I moved to Key West in 1993. The old seaport was renovated and now is an esplanade that wraps around toward the Truman Waterfront Park. The seedy old buildings on Caroline Street have become upscale shops and restaurants. More restaurants and hotels are located where the original boat docks existed to the north and west. The photos just below show the corner next to 627 Caroline. The photos show the history and the change over the years. Such is also the story of much of Old Town. So much is the same, and so much has changed, mostly for the good.

CLICK HERE to view the Key West MLS datasheet on 627 Caroline Street, Key West. Then please call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642, to set up a private showing. I am a buyers agent and a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Key West. Let me show you this house and walk the area to see how much opportunity this building, this lot, and this location have to offer to a new buyer who is seeking a project property. This is going to be a serious renovation and not one where you apply a coat of paint and put in a Home Depot kitchen. Our office sold the house next door (621 Caroline St) in 2016 for $3,200,000. It was the home of author Phil Caputo. It had 4,0000 sq ft of living space and a transient rental license which generates a lot of income. A new owner at 627 Caroline Street could rent that property as a monthly vacation rental throughout the year. Or not. Renting is not required but could be very profitable if that is something a new owner wants to pursue.