320 William Street #4, Key West - Penthouse Condo

 

The penthouse condo at 320 William Street #4 in Key West, Florida is located within a block of the historic Key West Seaport. Most of the houses in this immediate area were built in the last half of the 19th Century. The seaport was the hub of Key West commerce. The seaport was located on the north side of Caroline Street. Businesses lined Caroline Street. Merchants, spongers, and seamen lived in the nearby houses and boarding houses. I looked in my old shoe box and found the black and white photo of 320 William taken in 1985. It looked nothing like the beauty today.

I found another photo of the 300 block of William Street taken in 1885. I took the color photo two below standing in front of 320 William Street earlier today showing the same view 136 years later. The old street appears much wider, but there were no cars and few trees back then. The legendary Red Doors is located at the right side of the photo. The note on the back of the black and white photo says circa 1889 meaning it probably existed as of that date. You can see there were no porches in 1965 The property was originally multi-family and converted into condominiums in the early 2000s. 

The Red Doors at 800 Caroline Street was a house of ill repute, or so I understand. The photo below was taken in 1975 looking north and east across Caroline Street. The old steam plant can be seen in the background. They City of Key West renovated the seaport in the mid 1990s and created a new boardwalk that now wraps around to the west near the Harbour Place Condominiums. I love the seediness of the old pic but the revitalization of that area created the on-going boom in Key West historic housing and economy.

 

The above photo of spongers was taken at the seaport in 1930. So much as changed over the years. I would absolutely love to have experienced what life was like back then - including wearing long pants and a fedora.

The listing Realtor describes this 782.50 Sq Ft second floor condominium this way:

"Nothing else like this elegant penthouse in heart of Old Town. Just steps from KW Harbor and boardwalk. Entire second floor of 1880s renovated Great House has 2-beds/2-baths plus 80sf loft and features 200sf of treetop balconies. Great room has soaring ceiling with original Dade County pine fretwork, walls, floors and 5 sets of French doors that open to 3 balconies: Sunrise balcony. Sunset balcony. Moon rise balcony. City living at its tropical best. One of only 4 units in upscale, downtown condominium, where living is exclusively dedicated to home ownership. No rentals. HOA fee includes insurance and most building maintenance."

 

Take a moment to view the building sketch two above. You will notice an exterior staircase lands at a porch bring guests into the unit where they are greeted by odd looking stairs. Don't worry. Those stairs go up to the loft storage area which is not used for sleeping. Three sets of French doors on the east facing wall open out to the covered balcony overlooking William Street.

I took the photo below from the neighboring house in 2014. I love this street and watching the people ogle and awe over the houses dreaming someday they may live in one of these homes.

French doors open from the kitchen to a private covered porch that faces south not viewable from passers-by.

CLICK HERE to view the Key West MLS datasheet and listing photos and also a Matterport video of the 320 William Street #4, Key West, Florida offered for sale at $895,000. 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 unit will be on open house this coming Sunday 12 to 3. Drop by and tell the agent you read about the unit in my blog.