1218 Duval Street, Key West - Mixed Use Commercial & Residential

1218 Duval Street, Key West - Offered For Sale at $1,845,000

The listing Realtor, not me, describes this property this way:

Location, Location, Location! Duval street property consisting of 2 buildings with 4 residential units and 1 high-visibility commercial unit. Over 3000 Sq Ft of Air-conditioned space and more than 1000 Sq Ft of covered porches with a fantastic view of the Atlantic ocean. Situated on a large lot with parking for 4+ cars and a tropically landscaped pool area. Property is in a receivership zone for City of Key West transient licenses and has had many recent upgrades.

I searched my old shoe box and found the black and white photo taken in 1965 when the property may still have been a single family home or possibly used as apartments. I then searched the Historic Sanborn Fire Maps and learned that this property probably existed before the first map was drafted in 1889. The front building was then identified as 57 Duval Street. Later the number was changed to 1220 Duval. The change to 1218 Duval St does not appear as of the 1912 map so I can only surmise the number change occurred after 1912.  The black and white photo  shows a vacant spot south of the property. The color photo above taken in December 2015 shows that same space as being vacant. Yet the 1912 Sanborn map shows that there was house located on that spot identified as 1224 Duval Street. I assume that building was either razed or destroyed by fire. The 1912 map showed a lengthy addition to the rear which extended to the west property line and a stairway that led to the second floor of the main building. Neither that extension nor the stairway survive. There is a new building at the rear which is partially visible in the photo below. There are two residential units in that building. .

The Monroe County Property Appraiser shows this property as having 3084 sq ft of interior living space situated on a 68' X 100' lot. The property is located about 70 feet north of United Street in a block which is a mix of restaurants, shops, and residential uses. There are spaces for off street parking on either side of the property. The property enjoys a dominant presence in this section of Old Town.

The front building has retail usage on the front side of the ground floor. There is an apartment on    the rear side which has a large covered rear porch. There is also a second floor apartment which has front and rear porches.

The second floor apartment has a great front porch for watching people watching. Inside there are two good sized bedrooms, a living room and dining area, plus kitchen and bath. That apartment also has a private second floor covered porch which looks down to the shared pool.

The rear building has two fully equipped apartments each with private porches with views of the pool and toward the south parking area. The lot is spacious. The pool is an added feature that makes this an ideal location for upscale residential rentals for locals. I think the current rents are under market.

A new owner might convert the historic front building into a large single family home which could be rented as a luxury monthly vacation rental. The two rear apartments could be likewise upgraded and made into small luxury rentals.  On the other hand, the current use works. I did not see any noticeable deferred maintenance. So a new owner might just consider keeping things the way they are but maybe carving out one space for personal use. 

1218 Duval Street went under contract very quickly after it was listed. It just came back on the market and is priced to sell at $1,845,000. CLICK HERE to view the Key West mls datasheet and to view listing photos. Please call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642, to schedule a private showing before this incredible property gets snapped up by someone else. I am a buyers agent and a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Key West.

2312 North Roosevelt Blvd. Key West - Deveopment Opportunity!

Just Listed by Preferred Properties - 2312 North Roosevelt Boulevard in Key West, Florida. This nearly 20,000 sq ft lot irregularly shaped rectangle (102' X 194') frontage on US 1 as it makes its way into the Old Town corridor. It is located opposite the Key West Yacht Club.

I dug into my old shoebox and found an aerial photo from the not too distant pass taken by Ty Symroski and Wendy Tucker.  I have added arrows to point out the location of 2312 N. Roosevelt which is shown just opposite the Yacht Club. The small Hilton Haven enclave is located on the backside of the Yacht Club.

2312 N. Roosevelt Blvd. Photo in 1999

The two year long widening and enhancement of  US 1 from its entrance onto the Island of Key West to White Street was completed in 2014. Within the next few months the four hotel renovations at the US1 gateway onto to the island of Key West will be compete. They will join in the renaissance that is transforming North Roosevelt Boulevard as it winds its way alongside the Gulf of Mexico toward Old Town. The black and white photo above was taken back in 1965. It shows nearby 1704 N. Roosevelt Blvd. back in 1964. The old Dairy Freeze is history now. Today there is a modern office building in that location. The vast open area behind it is now the athletic field at the Horace O'Bryant Middle School. Some smart buyer will purchase 2312 N. Roosevelt and give that parcel new life and new purpose. 

I walked this lot while I was taking photos. The width and depth of the space is much larger in person than it appears in these photos.  The 102' ft depth is equal to two large modular homes. The frontage is equal to nearly four modulars. I use the modular concept because most of us are familiar with that size. This is a really big parcel. Consider the possibilities if a new commercial space were built at ground level and completed with multiple residential components on the second floor.

CLICK HERE to view the Key West Association of Realtors mls datasheet on this property. Please call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642, for more information. I am a buyers agent and a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Key West. 

1108 White Street, Key West - Income Property

1108 White Street is a two story mixed-use building located on the White Street business corridor sometimes referred to as the Arts District. Even if you aren't all that familiar with Key West yet, you  surely have driven past this location before. Fausto's Grocery Store is located across the street. Sandy's is down the street.  Look closely at the photo, you'll see 1108 White reflected in the glass doorway 

I looked through the old shoebox and found a photo of the property as it appeared about fifty years ago. If  you compare the current facade in the color photo to the facade in the black and white photo you will quickly see the original second floor front porch was enclosed to provide additional interior space and that the old front addition was expanded a bit as well. The driveway in the black and white photo is now a handicap entrance to the ground floor commercial space as well as entrance to the first and second floor apartments.

The listing Realtor describes the property this way:

"Fantastic opportunity to own a fully-renovated, multiple-use building with commercial space and a private two bedroom two bath residential unit on the ground level, with an exciting one bedroom one bath apartment with private deck and huge unfinished attic for storage or expansion upstairs. This is a high quality renovation with amenities such as polished oak floors, central A/C, high ceilings, stainless steel appliances, separate laundry rooms, and so much more. Being a versatile property with turn-key income, potential uses are unlimited. Future owner can live in one of the residential units and collect rent or just enjoy the income stream. Residential and commercial leases are in place. Income and info available upon request."

I was not able to see the inside of the first floor commercial space. The two residential units are nicely laid out and have large updated living spaces.  They are more like condos than apartments. The first floor is typical of many homes in Old Town in that the living space is located at the rear of the property which then opens out to the back deck. This arrangement gives the occupants a nice living space plus outdoor living area. Renters will pay more money for upgraded living spaces.

The second floor unit has a rooftop deck as well. The exterior stairway has a great view of Fausto's across the street. Sandy's Sandwich shop is located a 1/2 block to the north. There are several gyms and yoga studios within three blocks. The location is an easy walk or bike ride to Duval Street and the Historic Seaport, both locations where many locals are employed. Full time workers will like these units and this location.

CLICK HERE to view the Key West mls datasheet on 1108 White Street which is offered for sale at $1,249,000. Please call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-3642 to schedule a private showing. I am a buyers agent and a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Key West.

1019 Flagler Avenue - The Casa Marina Area - Key West

Just listed by Preferred Properties Key West, that is where I work but this is not my listing, 1019 Flagler Avenue in the tony Casa Marina Area of Key West.  This is a really big property (4055 sq ft of living space) that sits on a 9160 sq ft lot (90.25' frontage X 101.5' depth).  The listing Realtor describes the property as an

"Historic Indian block home just waiting for someone to bring it back to a grand family home on the most prominent part of Flagler Avenue, just steps from the Casa Marina Hotel. Zoned residential/commercial, perfect for a doctor, who needs 4 examining rooms, office space and reception and a place to live. On this incredible property there is also a large pool, a garage that can be converted to guest house or a pool house. Enough room for 3 cars uncovered and one covered. Renovation Project!!!"

I found the above black and white aerial photo of the Casa Marina Area that was taken in the 1930s. The arrow shows 1019 Flagler Avenue.  Two blocks the the west (left) is the historic Reynolds House. Both homes were built of Indian Block, a man-made material similar to modern concrete block except that Indian Block has a finished decorative appearance. Most of the undeveloped lots shown in the color photo immediately above were built upon in the 1950s and 1960s. Unlike many of the Old Town area homes which are built on small lots, the houses in the Casa Marina Area were quite often built on lots of 5,000 sq ft or larger.  As Key West became a destination for a second home and the supply of houses in Old Town proved too costly or too small, or both, buyers looked to the Casa Marina Area.  In the 1990s and later, many of the Casa Marina houses were razed or renovated to provide larger living spaces and to add pools and gardens.  The Casa Marina Area today is an attractive alternative to smaller and often pricier abodes in the Old Town area. The color photo immediately above was taken in 1999. An arrow shows 1019 Flagler Avenue surrounded by homes.

There is a 1960s era addition to the front of 1019 Flagler where it appears the original first and second floor porches were enclosed with concrete blocks covered by stucco.  Wrought iron fences and gates were added to both side yards.  A long driveway leads to covered parking located just off the kitchen. An old garage still sits at the rear of the driveway.  It is used as a home gym but could become a pool house, cabana, or maybe expanded into a guest cottage. 

A one story addition was added on the east side presumably in the 1960s or 1970s.  There is what I call a"disco" bedroom and bath located up front. The real star of the addition is the Florida room which is located at the rear. This room has a cathedral ceiling with impressive wood trusses.  Windows on three sides provide ample light and great views of the large back yard and pool. The Florida room is the only current ground level living space. The kitchen is located at the rear of the house on the main floor. It has two smallish windows with pool views. There is a large covered patio just outside the door. An interior stairway runs from the kitchen to the second floor.

The downstairs front portion of the house is now used as a doctor's office. I was not able to photography any of that space. The second floor space includes a sitting room, bedroom, large bath, nanny suite, and an office. Again, this space appears to have been created when the first and second floor porches were enclosed. The rooms have high ceilings and are a hodgepodge of sizes that beg for some creativity. When showing houses like this I tell my buyers that they should not focus on what exists now because what is will probably removed leaving four outer walls from which a new home will emerge.  This house appears very solid. I guess you could say it has "good bones".

This property is located less than two blocks from the Casa Marina Hotel and two blocks from Higg's Beach. Most of the larger homes in the Casa Marina Area are priced above $2,000,000. 1019 Flagler Avenue is offered for sale at $995,000. A buyer who wants a renovation project ought to hop on this property immediately.  I will bet this house sells in less than a week. CLICK HERE to view more photos that I took of the house and grounds. Remember that what you see now is not what you can create.  CLICK HERE to view the Key West mls datasheet.

Please call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642 or send me an email at kw1101v@aol.com.  I am a buyers agent and a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Key West. Let me help you find your place in Paradise.  If you buy 1019 Flagler Avenue, you could have a Key West home by Christmas in 2014!