1019 Elgin Lane, Key West - Now on the Market

I am going to show you three photos of the same house taken 55 years apart with the most recent at the top of this page. The house is located at 1019 Elgin Lane, Key West, Florida.

I took this photo of Elgin Lane in 2015 when the space was a bank owned property in need of renovation. Then it was a legal duplex with the benefit of having a good Old Town location and an off street parking space. That's the type of property people were hungry to buy back then - something they could fix-up and enjoy the good life or perhaps re-sell.

The above photo of 1019 Elgin Lane was taken in 1965. Same house. Totally a different and less complicated way of looking at and dealing with life. The photos below show the house today.

I attended an open house there on Sunday afternoon. The place was filled with tourists looking and dreaming of owning a place in the Keys. At least one real buyer was there accompanied by another Realtor. I do know people are looking now for places to spend the winter or the rest of their lives. In times like these planning ahead seems questionable. 

The 1,411 Sq Ft house was thoroughly renovated a few years back when it was elevated and rebuilt in place. All mechanical and nearly every single structural element were replaced. This is a legal fiction our city allows to pretend basic new houses are reborn from old ones. Now this is a single family home with a small pool and private deck area located just off the open plan living space. The front door opens into the living area. A guest bath is situated at rear. The living area is defined by a vaulted ceiling with decorative crown molding. New wood floors are used throughout with the exception of the three bathrooms. You will also find the wood walls and ceilings were used instead of drywall.

There is a full bedroom and bath on the first floor. The master bedroom and bath with large shower takes up the second floor with the exception of a laundry closet in the hallway.

The 10 Ft X 20Ft third floor bedroom is just the place for your brother-in-law. There are great tree-top views from either window. This house all the efficiencies of modern construction including new metal roof, wind impact resistant glass windows and doors, on demand hot water, and salt water heated pool.

This home has been rented on occasion between $9,000 and $10,000 per month. This home is located two blocks from the historic seaport and two blocks from two or our best bakeries. The 24 hour gym is a few blocks to the west, an old fashion iron gym is up on Truman, and there are numerous yoga studios throughout Old Town. And notorious Duval Street is only five minutes to the west

CLICK HERE to view the Key West MLS datasheet and listing photos which include a virtual tour. Then please call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642, to schedule a private showing of 1019 Elgin Lane, Key West. I am a buyers agent and a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Key West. Time waits for no man. This will probably sell quickly.

 

A Thanksgiving Memory

Like many of you I can remember specific holidays from my youth, particularly Christmas Eves and Christmas Days as well as notable holidays later in life. I especially remember the Thanksgiving Eve in 2004 when I drove from Key West with my then real estate broker to look at trailers on Big Coppitt Key.  

I picked her up at her condo shortly around 5:00 PM.  It was still daylight, but I recall the skies were gray and sad. That's unusual for Key West because our skies are normally sunny until near sunset when they explode with color. But on that day they were gray. As we drove up the Overseas Highway she told me about this man from her church who owned several business in Key West and several trailers which he rented out on Big Coppitt Key which is located about five miles east of Key West. He was thinking about selling his trailers and wanted an opinion of value. She wanted his business. I have no real idea why she wanted me to go along, but I did.

We drove up US 1 to a bar where the owner was waiting for us. I recall we followed him down various roads looking at four or five trailers. They were all immobile mobile homes - the wheels were removed. Each place probably dated back to the 1960s of 1970s. There was no measurable difference between them except age and the size of the lot upon which they sat. The lots were the only thing of value. And he owned the lots.

The last trailer is etched in my memory. It was dark when we got to the final trailer. He knocked on the metal door. The woman tenant opened it. She had a cigarette in hand. He explained who we were and why we were there. She waived us inside as she moved to the far side of the kitchen where she grabbed her drink. She didn't care why we were there. She didn't care about anything as far as I could tell. Her oldest son was frying hamburgers. A little one minute movie played out in my mind as I walked quickly from room to room. I remember the smells of the frying meat competing with the lingering odor of mama's cigarettes and the noise created by the meat as it was being destroyed in that too hot skillet while the TV blared and mama spewed out nonsense from her drunken mouth. I moved as quickly as I could to get out of this place. 

The last room I looked in was occupied by a younger boy, perhaps thirteen or fourteen years old. He was laying on top of his bed trying to read a book or magazine. There was a small lamp on the night stand or table next to him. I remember the light was so dim. I felt I had invaded this kid's space and left. God, I felt so sorry for that kid who had to live in that hell hole with his cigarette smoking and rum guzzling mother who was too lazy to cook a meal for her kids. I couldn't imagine what their Thanksgiving Day would be like. I was as down as down could get when I walked out of that place.

Eleven months later Hurricane Wilma caused catastrophic damage to Big Coppitt Key where most of the mobile homes became uninhabitable due to severe wind and water damage.

Key West was damaged by Wilma as well. I don't recall when it was that I thought about that boy. In that room. In that hell hole. I am sure he didn't drown or anything like that. But I thought what another indignity for him to have to live through. That trailer must have been destroyed.

Thirteen years have passed since that Thanksgiving Eve. I hope that boy made it out of that living situation okay. I understand why some people end up as criminals and why others end up as successes.  I wonder which he became.

 P.S.  She did not get any listing from the old investor. He listed with someone else. Figures!

 This is a repost of my blog November 22, 2017

Happy Thanksgiving to all of my Dear Readers.

615 Thomas Street, Key West - Just Listed

Just Listed 615 Thomas Street, Key West. This place looks just like you'd expect an historic house in Old Town would look like. But you would be wrong because this home was built in 2013 and is now offered for sale. I took photos during the construction - CLICK HERE to see the home designed by Tom Pope, the dean of Key West architects.

 

This 2,200 Sq Ft home has four bedrooms and three bathrooms, a large, pool, and off-street parking. Best of all it is located just two blocks from Duval Street and one block away from the Monroe County Justice Center. The current owner uses the first floor bedroom as a home office and fishing pole store room. Note new pine walls replicating the style of our older homes. Real hardwood floors, tall ceilings, crown molding, high baseboards, period correct doors, and down lights complete this space. 

The open concept living area includes a custom kitchen featuring breakfast bar, GE Profile Appliances, and a walk-in pantry. It's the open doors leading to the 30' X 12' heated pool that will probably grab the attention of your guests. 

Tom Pope incorporated a couple of the building features used in our old homes - the louvered shutters on the side of the two rear decks and expansive covered decks. During the winter our temperatures are so mild that owners leave doors open so that the inside and outside spaces become one. Here the transition from inside to outside is seamless. In the summer the porches provide shade from the sun. Believe it or not some hot shot do it yourself designers fail to provide outdoor covered areas. The porches here are both beautiful and practical. 

The master bedroom with en-suite bath are located at the front of the house where there is a covered porch providing sunset views. Mallory Square is located about five minutes to the north. You can avoid the crowds and sip cocktails while others dodge the buskers.

Earlier I mentioned this home is located near the Monroe County Justice Center. This home might "appeal" to a local lawyer who could walk to the courthouse - just a thought. The first floor office may appeal to buyers seeking to relocated from far away to find a place they can work at home. And it may attract a buyer who is looking for a space they may rent as a monthly vacation rental - it's located in the perfect location a five to ten minute walk from Ft. Zachary Taylor and the Truman Waterfront Park as well as Duval Street. 

CLICK HERE to view the Key West MLS datasheet and listing photos for 615 Thomas Street, Key West. 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.

 

 

 

802 Southard Street, Key West - Just Listed

Just Listed but not by me 802 Southard Street, Key West. I saw this on a late June afternoon in 2018 - the day it was first listed for sale after having been used as multiple apartments The property sits in the heart of Old Town. I arrived at the appointed time and was advised the house was already under contract. I recall a couple of other agents being there as well. I think we all stomped our feet in disappointment. I still took my look around to preserve what my buyer could not get.  Now almost two and a half years later this house has been thoroughly renovated and is now offered for sale "turnkey". Look carefully at all that you see, because all that you see is included in the purchase price

I literally stood in the living room studying the space for five minutes or longer. I was amazed at the transformation that took place. I recall there were several small rooms on the first floor. The front door opened into a dark hallway with stairs rising to the south. Now the first front part of the first floor is an open living plan. And then I started took at how elegantly the furniture, fixtures, and art melded with the "soft" new hard interiors. By that I mean the hard spaces appear gentle. The natural wood appears throughout the house, but does dominate the place like so many renovations and restorations. The wood floors and walls, created a continuous canvas upon which the designer created the perfect move-in-ready-home. 

The Realtor opened the twin Lazy Susan Cabinets at either end of the kitchen. Each was filled with pots, and cooking implements of all types. I asked if the owner had moved or if the house had been rented or would be rented until it sells. Oh, no. The house has never been used and is offered turnkey so that everything is perfect for the new owner. Imagine that, not having to hire a designer or bring one down form up north to only draw things out and plan and move and spend more money. It's that a shame!

The hallway from the living room leads to the south side of the house where the first floor master bedroom and bath are located. (There is a guest bath in the hall.) I posted a "before" photo of the exterior so you can see how clever the designer was is borrowing the cottage on the right and making it a part of the new master suite. I didn't appreciate the taking until I entered the space, gawked at the view, and reenacted to the height of the vaulted ceiling and wondered "How'd they do that?"

The master bath is located on the east side of the main floor rear. Windows provide daytime light and muted views of this ever-changing old fishing village. I have become both an avid and reluctant follower of many designers and manufacturers who post Instagram photos of new kitchen and bath installations. I see a sameness in so many of these photos. It makes me wonder if white will become the new Avocado or Harvest Gold, Coppertone. Probably not, but it id does there will be a lot of remodels i the next 40 years replacing the whites. But probably not here where the white allows the furniture and fixtures become the focus of attention. 

I went up the new stairs and paused again. Remember the original staircase started near the front door had rose up from there. The new staircase is relocate to the south wall that intersects with the cottage next door where the master suite is located at ground level. The stairs  end arrive at a new second floor landing that provides access to the rear bedroom and private bath and the front bedroom both of which have access to the wrap-around second floor porch. 

The front bedroom is entered off the second floor hall into a vestibule around which the large bed chamber emerges. French doors open out to the covered porch which has a view of the dip pool below. No diving. 

Your guests will have sunset views from the comfort and quietness of the covered porch and the convenience of your beverages all during their stay.

The guest cottage is a self-contained one bedroom single family home with full bath and bedroom and bathroom. Take my word on it. Read the detailed description of the property in the MLS Listing CLICK HERE. Then please call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642. I am a buyers agent and a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Key West. Plan on spending an hour. You want to sit in every chair and lay on each bed to savor the comfort that makes this place truly turnkey. It will know your socks off! 802 Southard Street could be your home this Christmas!