True Key West Real Estate Related Stories in the Time of Covid-19 Part Four

I have been selling houses in Key West since 1997 - that's 23 years. I picked up some good stories along the way. Last week I told my dear readers about the old lady who lived in a big derelict house on Southard Street who shooed me away from parking on the William Street side of her house. It was a great house then it became monumental chore for the aged woman to manage. Many of the big old houses in Old Town were in mild to deep disrepair when I started selling homes. The historic district dramatically changed over the past three decades as more and more of the tired old houses have been restored. The house above on Grinnell Street is one of those.

I showed that house many times over the years and wrote more than two cash offers on it, neither of which were accepted. It took that old woman many years to sell because she refused to let any of her various real estate agents show the house. She greeted all prospective buyers and took them through house repeating her life stories - plural.

The former owner's family had lived in this property for generations. My remarks about the prior owners are not intended to disparage anyone. Contrarily, I relish the somewhat odd experiences I had when I showed the house. This house, like so many of the grand old homes in Key West, was built by ship chandlers - men who built great sailing vessels. The houses were built to withstand strong winds and the elements. I will never forget standing with her on the second floor front porch as she recounted having watched a storm coming across from the Atlantic side of the island as it made its way toward the Gulf of Mexico a couple of blocks to the north. She remarked about how strong her father was during that storm and how well the house withstood the winds and rain.

The house looked similar when it was being lived in as it did when I photographed it in its first renovation except there was furniture and curtains. The new owner took down the two story addition at the rear which is where the former owners had their kitchen.

I remember the former owner's mother sitting at the kitchen table attending to a box of new born kittens during one showing. The older woman always sat in that room and always smiled as potential buyers passed by her table. The memories of the ancient matriarch and her progeny are all that remain of the events that occurred during the hundred years her family lived in this old house.

The once derelict house has been thoroughly restored and gentrified beyond the expectations of the former owners.  The house first sold in 2007 for $1,550,000.  Maybe the owner was correct in her marketing strategy after all.

522 Grinnell Street, Key West, Florida - A Virgin Restoration

Today marks the seventh time I have blogged about 522 Grinnell Street in Old Town Key West. Maybe this will be the last time I get to write about this property that I described as a "virgin" in an earlier blog. The view from the street as well as the inside indicated nothing had been done to update and protect the home for years and years. The home belonged to the same family since it was built in the 1880s until it was sold to the current owner in 2007. Up until then the  house was listed for sale by several different agents over the years. Instead of allowing the listing Realtor to show the house, the former owner insisted on doing all showings herself so that she could tell her family history as she moved from room to room. She said this house, like so many of the grand old homes in Key West, was built by ship chandlers. Key West was after all a major port. Large houses like this one had to be built to withstand strong winds and the elements. I remember standing on the second floor front balcony with the owner as she reminisced and told the story of her standing in the same spot with her father decades earlier as a huge storm passed across the eastern sky. Nothing happened. The house has withstood many storms over the years and will withstand more in the future.

If you look at the old black and white photo above as well as other front facing photos, you will see three sets of doors with pediments above. Petite French style total glass panels provide dramatic light in the living room. The third door is a bit of a mystery, however, because the door is not visible inside the house. That door is the backside of the interior stairway. And what a stairway it is. This stairway is ever-so-graceful. It has to be one of the most beautiful stairways in Key West. The stiles and handrail have been meticulously restored.  As you walk up the stairs take a look at the width of the Dade County Pine walls. You will see that many of the boards are extra wide. This indicates this wood came from old growth trees. All of the interior floors were refinished - not replaced.  Many of the floor planks are extra wide as well. 

The original doors, hardware, and door knobs were refurbished and put back into use. The original glass window panes were removed. The windows were all restored and made workable once again. The windows were re-glazed and look incredible.  An ancient addition to the back of the house was removed and a two story wrap around back porch was added. Portions of the front exterior were replaced. If you compare the front facade as shown in the black and white photo and compare it with the current color photo you won't see any difference. The back of the house, however, is totally changed. The views from the second floor rear balcony are incredible.

I would not call this house "grand", but there are many design elements that make this house very impressive nonetheless. They include the first and second floor wrap around porches. Inside, the main floor has a ceiling height of twelve feet. The second floor ceiling is a mere eleven feet. A south facing bay window in the living room and a north facing bay window in parlor add sophistication to this otherwise understated house. Two very large interior doors separate the living room from the dining room where there is a petite fire place. (There is no chimney, but what the heck. Having a fireplace in Key West is a hoot!  

Earlier I mentioned the non-functional front door and the stairway. What a stairway it is. This stairway is ever-so-graceful. It has to be one of the most beautiful stairways in Key West. The stiles and handrail have been meticulously restored.  As you walk up the stairs take a look at the width of the Dade County Pine walls. You will see that many of the boards are extra wide. This indicates this wood came from old growth trees. All of the interior floors were refinished - not replaced.  Many of the floor planks are extra wide as well.

 

CLICK HERE to view photos that show this historic home during various stages during and after the restoration.  Please look through the photos and see what treasures you may find. This home ought to appeal to a purist - a buyer who wants the closest thing to the original house. You will notice I did not post any photos of the kitchen.  There is no kitchen, but the room is restored and awaits the new owner's choice of cabinetry and appliances.  This home has off street parking and room for a large pool and possibly a cabana in the extra large rear yard.

522 Grinnell Street is offered at $2,000,000. CLICK HERE to view the Key West mls datasheet. Then please call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642 to schedule a private showing of this simple but very elegant Key West home.  I am a buyers agent and a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Key West.

Simply, Elegant! 522 Grinnell Street - Old Town - Key West

522 Grinnell Street - Old Town - Key West

The listing Realtor describes 522 Grinnell Street as:

"There is an exceptional opportunity to continue the renovation of this beautiful home in a highly sought after location. This historically significant home built prior to 1884 has always been admired for its beautiful architecture including Dade County Pine walls and ceilings throughout, grand proportion room sizes with twelve foot ceilings on the first floor and eleven foot ceilings on the second floor. The current owner has completed all of the demolition work and this wow factor potential home is ready for completion by a new owner with the style and manner they desire. This property is licensed for two units."

522 Grinnell Street as photographed in 1965

Peeling paint of yore - now gone

Restored bay window on opposite side of the house

I have shown this property numerous times over the past several years. I fell in love with the place before I ever went inside. It has looked sad and forlorn for years. The paint was peeling and chipping away, but I knew that could be fixed. A window on the south side was broken and covered by an Al Gore for President sign, but I knew it could be replaced. An odd looking carport on the right side diminished the grandeur of the house, but I was sure there would be a way to deal with that issue. The rear of the house had a cobbled addition that looked awful, but I imagined that wreck could get removed and a new two tiered rear porch could be added in its place.

First floor front porch

Rear addition has been removed - what will take its place?

The former owner's family had lived in this property for generations. The current owner is not related to the prior owners. My remarks about the prior owners are not intended to disparage anyone. Contrarily, I relish the somewhat odd experiences I had when I showed the house. I recall the story the former owner telling that this house, like so many of the grand old homes in Key West, was built by ship chandlers. That means the house was built by the men who built great sailing vessels that could withstand strong winds and the elements. I will never forget standing with her on the second floor front porch as she recounted having watched a storm coming across from the Atlantic side of the island as it made its way toward the Gulf of Mexico a couple of blocks to the north. She remarked about how strong her father was during that storm and how well the house withstood the winds and rain.

The current owner purchased this property in 2006 after the house was marketed by not less than four different agents over a four year period. The prior owner never allowed any listing agent to show the property. The owner did it. She took charge and told and re-told the family's history in the house. I imagine she did not want some Realtor to get the facts wrong or to fail to state an essential point about the property. After one showing I remember my buyer saying something like "No wonder she hasn't sold the house..." and then said something unflattering about the owner. But I got why the former owner was so proud of the house. It is, as the current Realtor says, "admired for its beautiful architecture".


If you look at the photo of the house above you would expect the front door to be the door on the front porch. You would be wrong. The main entry is actually located on the side porch to the right. The entry hall is rather unassuming. The stairway, however, is ever-so-graceful. I love the thin stiles and deep dark and delicate handrail, especially as is curves and makes a you turn toward the top handrail. Once inside there are multiple large rooms with twelve foot ceilings. Rooms of this size do not blend easily with the way live our modern lives, but there are people who crave the sophisticated single purpose rooms of yesteryear. This house has many such rooms for that buyer. One such room is the formal dining room with a fireplace. It looks sad now, but most houses look sad while they are 'under construction'. I'll bet you that it won't look sad by the time the renovation is completed.

The ever-so-graceful stairway

One of two bay windows in this home

Originally the main parlor - would this become your Great Room?

Dining room with fireplace - would this be your new kitchen?

Renovated front and side porches with new doors

The rooms upstairs have been stripped away as well. The family kitchen was located at the rear of the second floor. I remember the former owner's mother sitting at the kitchen table coddling a box of new born kittens during one showing. The older woman always sat in that kitchen and always smiled as potential buyers passed by her table. The memories of the ancient matriarch and her progeny are all that remain of the events that occurred during the hundred years her family lived in this old house

Photo taken where an old shed used to stand

Room for a pool in this large rear yard

The current owner has removed the old addition at the rear and cleaned up the interior. It will be up to the new owner to complete this house. While I am not a builder, I have a good sense of the work ahead which will include installation of all new electric throughout the house, new water and sewer lines, new HVAC, installing new bathrooms, a kitchen, a pool, and landscaping. I heard that the approved plans call for the addition of a new two story rear porch. I remember telling perspective buyers that is what I would do if I owned the house. The house did not need the old falling apart addition. It is gone and now there is room for a porch where I can imagine there will be space off the master suite at the second floor rear where the new owners can sit and ponder the meaning of life (or anything else).

The thing is a new owner can finish off the interior of this beautiful home in the way he or she or they may want.

522 Grinnell Street is offered at $1,450,000. CLICK HERE to view the Key West Association of Realtors mls datasheet and to view the listing photos. Better yet, please call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642, to schedule a showing. I am a buyers agent and a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Coastal Realty, Inc. in Key West, Florida.

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