1402 Pine Street, Key West - Tropical Duplex

My jaw dropped when I entered 1402 Pine Street, a tropically inspired  Meadows Area duplex during Realtor caravan a couple of days ago. I see so many ho-hum houses that I almost always starting humming before I entered this place. But that didn't happen here. I entered the first floor unit just off the pool. 

This place is sharp, clean as whistle, and ready to move in. The listing Realtor describes it this way:
"Beautifully maintained and recently updated duplex in the quiet Meadows neighborhood of Old town Key West. Close enough to bike or walk to the beach and parks or the best local restaurants and nightlife. Relax by the pool surrounded by lush landscaping and tall fencing for added privacy and ambiance or go inside to enjoy spacious, bright and sunny rooms, built in cabinetry, wet bar, Murphy bed, and Australian cypress wood floors throughout. Two vibrant bedrooms and bathrooms on the first floor, one generous sized bedroom and bathroom on the second floor. Front and rear porches located on both levels of this charming duplex for additional outdoor living space."

I looked through my old shoebox and found a "before" taken in 1965. Compare that with a similar current view.

The sidewalk on the left side leads to the new rear entrance to the ground floor two bedroom, two bath owners' unit with private deck overlooking the pool.  I turned the corner, saw the pool, and thought this is nice. Then I entered the house and revised my thoughts to this is really nice!

The entrance is through a bright kitchen that just sparkles.The wood cabinets in the kitchen are echoed in the living room where a built-in home office occupies a prominent corner. The master bedroom and bath are located at the far end of the space which is actually the front of the house. New Australian Cypress Wood Floors are found in the living room and master bedroom. The other rooms are tiled. There are new windows throughout as well as new electrical and plumbing systems. This house is located in the X Zone which means lenders will not require floor insurance or if purchased as an abundance of caution, premiums are just $450 per year.

The guest bedroom is just that. This owner did something I have advocated for years - they used a Murphy Bed to provide "as needed" bed space while keeping the room functional all those days and nights no guests are around. There is a wet bar and under counter refrigerator as well. This room has its own private bath and separate entrance out to the pool.

Occupants of the second floor one bedroom apartment enter through the original front door. The stairway ends about mid-point in the house where a small hall enters into the living room. The kitchen is to the right (south) where a comfortable second floor rear deck has south and southwest views.

The bedroom is at the front and has the only access to the second floor front porch which ha s a view of 1401 Pine Street where John Dos Passos author of the U.S.A. trilogy and many other works, first visited Key West in the 1920s and told his friend Ernest Hemingway about the place. 

During the winter of 1934, Dos Passos and his wife lived in this house at 1401 Pine Street, then the outskirts of town wrote author J. Willis Burke in 'The Streets of Key West' "No doubt, John dos Passos, who lived at 1401 Pine during the 1930s, made the fifteen minute walk (to downtown Key West )often. After one nocturnal amble, he arrived at Hemingway's house and met his future wife, Kate, for the first time. Perhaps it was kismet: "Dos" had, after all, been the one to suggest to "ole Hem" give Key West a try if he was looking for a warm place "to dry out his bones."

Key West today has its share of new writers, poets, artists, and even bloggers, some of whom surely will be famous in years to come.  They may even live on Pine Street or nearby. Bay View Park is just two blocks south. The White Street corridor is a couple of blocks west. There you will find numerous small eateries, several yoga studios, a couple of gyms, two gas stations (one of which has the best fried chicken in town), and a grocery store. Duval Street and all that goes with it is a few minutes walk to the west.

CLICK HERE to view the Key West MLS datasheet and to view listing photos of 1402 Pine Street offered at $1,200,000. 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.  This place deserves a look. You will be pleasantly surprised.