The Projects of Key West - Commercial Year End 2020

 

Most people see the same place day after day and fail to appreciate changes to it over the years. Little things or big additions may go unnoticed. What once was often gets forgotten. With the advent of Photoshop even "historic" photos found in one's shoebox can get doctored to the point of the absurd. FAKE VIEWS.  I took all but a few of the historic photos that will appear in today's blog.

Do you recognize the above property? This photo was taken in 1991 while the Overseas Market shopping center was under construction in 1991.  Notice the upside down small airplane and Key West Fire Department equipment. The entire shopping center facade was renovated in the 2010 era. Today the tower section is DENNY'S. Before that it was TGI Fridays. I can't remember what that space was before that. See what I mean?

The incomplete concrete section shown in the plane crash photo eventually became the space where Pier 1 Imports was located. Pier 1 Imports filed bankruptcy in February 2020 and liquidated all of its stores including the one in Key West. That space is still vacant. A few other stores closed this year but two released quickly.

The COVID 19 pandemic did not precipitate the demise of SEARS, but I think it hastened the end. SEARS closed its doors at SEARSTOWN, 3220 N Roosevelt  Blvd this summer. Do you have any idea how difficult it now is to buy tires for a foreign car and and get them installed? I know, Buy American. Next time for sure. The SEARS closure will provide more room for Santa landings if he ever returns to Key West. I wonder what they will call the center now. Several other stores in this center shut down this year. PUBLIX took over the adjacent space and added a liquor store. Liquor became a highly in demand item in 2020.  

 2401 N Roosevelt Blvd. 

I started to photograph 2401 North Roosevelt in December 2018 just as the former Banana Bay Resort and Fairfield Inn were being razed. This site is located just east of the Key West Yacht Club. I found the photo below of Banana Bay which was originally called the Hilton Haven Inn.

The contractor tore all of the original buildings and cleared the huge parcel. I had no idea how large a parcel was nor any real awareness that the Gulf of Mexico was on the back side of the property. We could see water for a few weeks after the old buildings were removed. Truck after truck brought in new rip rap to raise the elevation to meet new FEMA regulations. Construction on the new buildings then started and progressed at what I thought was a good pace even after Key West and Monroe County went on lockdown. Construction seemed to slow down this summer. Perhaps the interiors were being completed. Existing trees were relocated throughout the parcel soon after the parcel was cleared. New trees and more vegetation were recently introduced to the property. The parking lot was paved and the building painted. The hotel is scheduled to open by the end of December. That's today. Not going to happen. 

The building on the right will be a new boutique hotel called THE CAPITANA KEY WEST. The building on the left is going to be employee housing. This was a part of the Development Agreement with the City of Key West.

 

 The construction worker sitting by the pool taking a smoke break explains why it takes so long to complete construction in Key West. 

I think both buildings are very attractive. I am envious of the employees who will have views overlooking the canal. There is a boat dock at the edge of the property. The architecture of both projects is impressive. However both buildings look like they belong in it belong in Fort Lauderdale.

CLICK HERE to view the photos of 2401 N Roosevelt Blvd project.  I will keep adding new photos as the project comes to an end.

1100 Kennedy Drive

 

The Florida Keys Aqueduct Authority office building at 1100 Kennedy Drive was razed this summer. The ground was cleared, new utilities installed underground, and foundation laid. Construction on the new headquarters has started. The project will include the new main building, an elevated sky-way, and parking building. Employees and customers have parked across the un-bridged street for years. When you have millions of dollars to spend, spend them. 

CLICK HERE to view more photos of 1100 Kennedy Drive

3140 Northside Drive Office Condos

The Offices Condos at Northside Drive were built in the late 1980s to the early 1990s with six buildings total. Renovation was underway in 2017 when Hurricane Irma created delays because of labor unavailability. During the past two years progress was made. New additions include impact windows, doors, new roofs, and Hardboard siding. The property looks much better now than ever before.

532 Duval Street

I began photographing this project in July 2020. It is still in the same basic disarray now as it was then. 

The owner of 532 Duval Street began the renovation of the adjacent building on Southard Street at the same time. Not much has happened there since I took the above photo in October 2020. 

1116 Truman Avenue

I pass the corner White and Truman least two times a day. It took me a couple of days to start taking pictures of the renovation once I noticed that something was going on. A few days later I stopped at the adjacent Citgo gas station and looked in the back. There was a brand new two story building being built in the rear. The previously enclosed front porch at 1116 Truman was removed exposing the historic facade. It did not appear any meaningful renovation of the apartments have occurred. It is December 31, 2020. Nothing has changed to the facade in months. I cannot locate the photos of the rear. I will follow up on this during the next year or two. Nothing happens quickly in Key West.

 

1307 Truman Avenue, Key West's Grand Dame

 Just Listed by Preferred Properties Key West, that is where I work but this is not my listing, 1307 Truman Avenue, Key West. The listing Realtor describes the property this way:

"A notable Historic Grand Key West Home in the heart Of Old Town with 5 bedrooms and 5.5 baths. Entering you are greeted by 12 ft. ceilings on both the first and second floors. A project spanning 3 years earned the owner a ceramic star for historic renovation. You can easily see the original details of the crown molding, stained glass, and Dade pine wood flooring. Off the foyer there is a front parlor with an adjoining living room and a formal dining room, which are adjacent to a dream Kitchen with Carrera marble countertops, and top of the line appliances. 4 sets of French doors and transom windows reveal a wrap around porch leading to a large pool and expansive yard. New HVAC throughout X Zone. Off Street Parking on Albury St."

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. As you look thru the photos below you will understand me referencing this home as a lady. It is dignified, elegant, and properly attired.

I dug down into my old shoebox and found the black and white photo taken half a century ago that photo shows the house before the rear addition 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 creation of the third floor open balcony that overlooks Bayview Park across the street. Let's step inside and look around.

Voila - You open the door to another era. This Victorian era home was built in 1906 by cigar factory owner from Cuba. 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.

For all of its old school formality, the new school of thought is to get a drop dead envy Key West tan laying on a raft in your private pool or sipping pina coladas under the wrap-around veranda. Your friends will hate you when they see the kewl pool views.

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.

I bet a princess lives in this room. 

 

 

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.

I found the above postcard from 1900. I noted the location of 1307 Truman Avenue and also show where the Mid-Town suburbs would be built decades later. US 1 (North Roosevelt Blvd) would be created by filling in that body of water at the upper left of the photo. I took the photo below showing the view across Truman Avenue (Division Street in the old photo). This house and this view are so special. 

CLICK HERE to view the Key West MLS datasheet and more listing photos of 1307 Truman Avenue Key West offered for sale at $4,239,000 and 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.