317 Whitehead Street, Key West - Bring Your Imagination

 

Just Listed 317 Whitehead Street, Key West. The building at the top left is an historic structure and cannot be taken down. The building on the right is actually concrete block construction and has been approved from demolition by the City of Key West Historic Architectural Approval Commission. The plans provide for the construction of a similar new Conch Style building plus second floor addition that extends far to the rear. The photo just above show the approximate location of where a new pool and sundeck area could be located. The area woul have a new fence and garden and would not be like anything visible today. 

I remember walking up and down Duval Street many times on my first visit to Key West. I ventured east and west on some of the side streets which then were a bit "sketchy:. But that was nearly forty years ago. So much has changed. The once forlorn streetscape it now mostly renovated. Not all, but mostly. Prices were relatively "cheap: then. Not so now. Key West has grown up in so many ways. A town built by pirates and thieves is now managed by politicians with MBA and Legal degrees. 

As much as I jest, Key West is still the best. It is BOOM TOWN right now. There is a lot of money coming here. I know more than I can say. I was awed by the hotels that were purchased prior to Covid. More is on the way in short order and at higher prices than before. More money is flowing into Key West. 

CLICK HERE to view the Key West MLS datasheet and CLICK the DOCUMENTS tab. There you can view the most recent Survey of the property as well as the HARC Approved Demolition and Renovation Plans. A new buyer could seek amend the plans to suit a new owners needs. Or a new owner could keep the existing buildings and renovate them. Options are open. Offered at $2,000,000.

I am the Listing Agent.Text me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642, to sec up a private showing.i am a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Key West.  Bring your imagination.And Proof of Funds.

 

Key West Commercial Property - 5625 2nd Ave, Stock Island, FL 33040

Despite the global pandemic Key West continues to go about the daily business of doing business on the Island of Key West and the smaller islands in the Lower Keys which rely the merchants, vendors, manufacturers, trades people, and so on. In other words business did not shut down.

I found the above photo of Stock Island given that name decades ago as the place where the meat that fed the Key West was raised and then taken across what became know as "Cow Key Channel" to be slaughtered. Tourists know Stock Island is the home of Roostica, Hogfish Bar & Grill and many eateries from cheap to cuisine. There are a lot of trailers, modulars, and mid-century homes plus commercial buildings interspersed everywhere. There are a couple of private dumps and storage lots for old autos. There is also a massive land reclamation development going near the eastern waters edge. Stock Island is an island in transition. There is activity everywhere. I had to dodge two trucks to take the photo below.

The listing Broker describes 5625 2nd Avenue this way:

"This income producing mixed use property offers an excellent opportunity on Stock Island before it's too late. The property consists of two buildings with apx. 6,000 sq. ft of interior space on a large12, 500 sq. ft. lot with loads of parking. There are two buildings, one is an elevated concrete L shaped built in 1979 with separate bays. A two story building was built in 1984 and is rented as office space. The property is completely fenced and each of the 9 units have their own access. The location is ideal with close proximity to US1 and Key West as well as the large hotels and marinas on Stock Island. This mixed use building is in the MU zoning district offering many options in addition to keeping it as a profitable rental property with solid tenants. Please do not disturb tenants."

CLICK HERE to view the Key West MLS datasheet and listing photos of 5625 2nd Avenue, Stock Island, Florida which is offered for sale at $1,450,000. The please call me Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642 or email me at kw1101v@aol.com request a CA for further information. I am a buyers agent and a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Key West.

1119 White Street, Key West - Impressive Commercial Building For Sale

Buyers looking for an impressive commercial building in a highly visible location need to look no further. The former Island Gym building located at 1119 White Street is available at the asking price of $1,100,000.  The building is architecturally impressive and may be adaptable to a variety of commercial and/or professional office type situations.. The building is located two blocks from the new Key West City Hall, two blocks from prominent Monroe County Administrative offices,  and near other  retail, food service, and tourist related businesses on the White Street corridor.

 The Listing Realtor describes the property this way:

"This ideally located parcel in the White St. Corridor consists of a double lot in the heart of Key West's Old Town totals 8,150 SF on the Corner of White and Catherine St. The building is a beautifully maintained 1,895 SF concrete 1938 art deco structure, with rights to expand to the curb and/or add a second level."

I dug into my old shoebox and found a photo of 1119 White Street taken in 1965 that shows the gas station property that previously existed.  I recall a larger gas station at the site when I moved to the area in 1995.  I vaguely recall that building as having been renovated as opposed to a new building been built from ground up.  The Property Appraiser website shows building permits for numerous improvements before it became the Island Gym. It was then update again to add the locker rooms and attendant facilities. 

My shoebox also contained the 9160 black and white photo (below) looking across White Street at a mixed-use property.. That photo looks so ancient now. It reflects a much sleepier time in Key West. I took a the lower color which shows the same building as it now appears. A real estate office is located on the opposite corner. The National Weather Service is located two blocks south. Almost every building on this section of White Street has been renovated or replaced to keep up with the new Key West economy.

The original Key West High School is also located two blocks south of 1119 White Street. The old high school was disassembled and rebuilt over the past two years and is not the Key West town hall. The National Weather Service is located opposite city hall. The great Atlantic Ocean is five blocks to the south. Duval Street is a five or so walk to the west. Key West is an island and 1191 White Street is centrally located to all that Key West offers. 

White Street is one of four streets that run from the Gulf of Mexico to the Atlantic Ocean. It is two blocks south of Truman Avenue which runs that length of the island as US1. The ease of access to this location is obvious. I was saddened to see the Island Gym close. But its closing opens the opportunity for some new business to set up shop so to speak in a dynamic location.
 which is city and county government as well as tourist and retail businesses. I think 1119 White Street could easily be converted into medical offices. There is abundant on site parking plus on street parking.

CLICK HERE to view the Key West MLS datasheet. Then please call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642, to schedule an appointment to see the beautiful building and explore how it may meet your business needs. I am a buyers agent and a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Key West.

2312 North Roosevelt Blvd. Key West - Water View Commercial Property

I wrote about 2312 North Roosevelt Boulevard in Key West soon after it was listed in April 2015. It's time for a new look as this commercial property with terrific US 1 frontage. The nearly 20,000 sq ft lot (102' X 194')  is located opposite the Key West Yacht Club. There is a recent traffic study available to prospective buyers which discusses the traffic flow that passes this location each day.  North Roosevelt Boulevard is the primary road tourists and locals use on into the Old Town just a few blocks to the west. The Old Town location is the heart of the tourist district as well as where the county government offices, courthouse, and city hall are located.

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 Blvd. just opposite the Yacht Club. The small Hilton Haven residential enclave is located on the backside of the Yacht Club. I also found a photo from 1965 that shows the old Dairy Freeze located at 1704 N Roosevelt Blvd. That once lonesome ice cream stand was razed. Today the location houses a mixed use commercial building. The above photo shows nearby 2330 North Roosevelt which housed the Western Auto store in 1979. Today the same building still exists but houses different tenants. I have lived in Key West since 1993 and watched North Roosevelt's dramatic change.

2312 N. Roosevelt Blvd. Photo in 1999

 A few blocks closer to town the old Royal Castle hamburger stand shown as it existed in 1974 was taken down years ago. It became a Checkers hamburger stand. That building was razed to make way for the new Starbucks that opened this year. I have been amazed to see the traffic this coffee stand generates each day from locals and tourists.The little shopping plaza still remains but with different occupants in the buildings. 

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. The transformation of North Roosevelt is now near complete. Four major hotels were nearly totally dismantled and rebuilt in place. One by one the buildings of old Key West are being taken down or being re-purposed. North Roosevelt Boulevard is the principal entryway for most first time drivers into Key West. The old Key West we remember with nostalgia is being replaced by new buildings to meet the needs of the evolving Key West economy.  

I walked the entire lot while taking photos for this blog. 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 modular homes. If you are a developer you'll appreciate the size of the lot. The existing building could be razed and a new structure built. With hotel rooms in the Key West core hitting $400 per night, this space might work well for a new small boutique hotel of maybe 20 rooms with yacht club views but priced at more moderate prices. Or maybe a new owner would build quality retail or office space down and create several long term residential units on the second floor.

CLICK HERE to view the Key West mls datasheet on this proerty. Then 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. 

225 Petronia Street, Key West - Investment Property

Just listed - 225 Petronia Street. This commercial/residential  property is located two blocks west of Duval Street at the corner of Thomas Street in Key West. The listing Realtor describes the property this way:

"Fantastic potential for this large property in Bahama Village. One of the premier commercial locations in the area. Across from Blue Heaven, La Creperie and Johnson's Grocery; just hard to find a better location on what is proposed to be the entrance street to the waterfront at Truman annex."

I looked in my old shoebox and found a photo of this same building that was taken back in 1965. The black and white photo shows an adjacent building located to the right. That building which appears to be a single family residence no longer exists. The empty space is now used as parking for the building at 225 Petronia Street. I checked the Monroe County Property Appraiser's files and learned that the CBS (concrete block structure) was built in 1953 and has 2156 sq ft. of mixed-use space. In One Era Antiques is the current tenant in the commercial space. The balance of the building is residential. The 5292 sq ft lot has 98 feet frontage on Petronia Street and 54 feet frontage on Thomas Street. There is gated and fenced parking on the Thomas Street side.

I found a second photo also taken in the 1960s that shows Bop Brown's Jazzy Spot which was previously numbered as 225 Petronia Street. That building was razed and expanded or incorporated into the current CBS building.  

Frequent readers may recall that I wrote about nearby 221 Petronia Street (above photo) when it was offered for sale in mid January. That fire ridden building just sold for $460,000 cash. I think it equally possible that the 221 Petronia Street property might be razed and rebuilt or that it might be renovated into commercial usage. The Firefly Restaurant is located between 221 and 225 Petronia Street. CLICK  HERE to view more photos of the area.

The listing agent believes the current CBS building  at 225 Petronia Street can be razed and a new mixed use building could be built in its place similar to what was constructed across the street at 300 Petronia where La Creperie is now located. I found two photos of the previous smaller commercial building at 300 Petronia which was razed to make way for the current 2 1/2 story building. The new building has commercial space down and two apartments on the second level plus two off street parking spots. The 300 Petronia Street lot is 4,433sq ft or 861 sq ft small than the parcel at 225 Petronia St.

CLICK HERE to view the Key West mls datasheet on 225 Petronia Street. Then please call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642 to schedule a showing of this property. I am a buyers agent and a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Key West.