Happy Easter 2022 from Key West

A photo I took not too long ago, but long enough that the store is no more. 

Memories now.

 

Sometimes we do not appreciate what we had until it is gone.

Rabbit Reducks (He He)

from April 19, 2019

Another Easter Story

 It was Good Friday 1957. I was ten years old. I lived with my mother, dad, and big brother in a two bedroom house in one of the first Denver suburbs just west of the Denver County line. My dad came home from work. I remember it was dark. He had a box with two Easter presets for me. I approached and spied a wee bunny and a tiny little duck. I don't think my mother was in on this gift. She did not like any of my dogs and would not let them inside of the house.

I actually remember the first few days of my new pets. My dad and I created a place for them to live in the garage. It was still cold outside. Although Spring had sprung it was still too cold to let the little guys like these live outdoors.

A few weeks passed. The weather got warmer. My dad and I built a place in the backyard for the pets. We lived on a corner lot with a white picket fence encasing the back yard. We used galvanized chicken coop wire to build pen.  My dad placed a small sheet of plywood over a part of the space to provide shelter from the sun and rain. I called my bunny "Bugs" and the duck "Sweet Pea". "Swee Pea" was the foundling that Popeye and his girl friend Olive Oyl cared for. Sweet Peas was my foundling.

Bugs and Sweet Pea shared the same space. They got along fine. I decided to build a pond so that Sweet Pea could swim. I dug a hole which I filled with water. The water seeped into the earth. Later  I took my wagon up to the lumber yard on 38th Avenue and bought a bag of cement which I brought back home.  I mixed the cement and put it around the hole. After the cement dried I filled the pond with water. That did not work either. In the end I would use the garden hose to give Sweet Pea a good hose down. She would flap her wings and quack her little head off. She loved that.

I let the guys out of the pen so they could run free in the back yard. Bugs hopped around exploring. We had three gooseberry bushes, an apple and cherry tree, a rock garden with rocks collected from every place we went. My dad had a vegetable garden located opposite the incinerator. My mother made the very best pies ever. I remember her making a cherry pie and a gooseberry cobbler. She also canned vegetable from that garden later that year. My parents were survivors of the Great Depression. They savored the bounty of their little back yard.

Bugs proved to be a rascal and escaped through a hole in the white picket fence. I remember walking the nearby streets and alleys looking for him and calling out his name, as if he would respond like a lost dog. That didn't work out. Sweet Pea on the other hand seemed to love her life at our house. She even worked her way into my mother's heart, if there was one. She actually let me bring Sweet Pea into the house - a duck. I remember the day Sweet Pea was standing on a dining room chair when the call of Nature occurred.  I freaked out and cleaned up the mess. Surprisingly my mother did not create a scene.

It was around this time my dad told me about his youth. He grew up in eastern Kansas and western Missouri. He told me was a long distance runner in school which I found inspiring. Later I remember going outside to run around the block. I have a weak heart and that did not work. I couldn't make it to the end of the block without gasping for breath.

Instead of running I decided a different form of exercise for me and Sweet Pea. I put one of my mother's old red aprons on Sweet Pea and placed a string around her neck and then walked her around the block. I did this several times in fact. I'm sure the neighbors had a laugh.

Fall arrived. I knew it was time for Sweet Pea to find a better place to live. I asked my best friend if his grand parents would let Sweet Pea move to their farm and to live with other animals. It seems strange to refer to her as an animal. I would cuddle with her and she would coo. She was as dear as a dog.  She really was a Sweet Pea.  

It was a gray Friday afternoon when Bruce's grand parents showed up at my house to pick up Sweet Pea. Bruce was there. I didn't cry. I loved my duck but I knew this was best for her (or him). I didn't know about sex back then. Maybe Sweet Pea was a he and not a she. Who cares?  Sweet Pea was a treasured part of my little life! 

Julia

 

A few weeks ago I saw the trailer of Julia on HBO. I knew in an instant it would be must see tv for me. I binged the first two episodes and have been seen all four as of now. 

I was a Publix on Friday afternoon. I was waiting for the bagger to load groceries. The clerk asked "What are your plans this afternoon? " I played along. I said I would probably watch something on Netflix. He said something and then I asked "Do you have HBO?"and suggested he watch Julia. He had a puzzled look on his face. I said Julia Child. He still did not get it. Of course he didn't. He is too young to get anything before the iPhone. 

Julia Child introduced French cooking to American television audiences in the1960s and offered us a classy alternative to diners, drive-ins, and dives  

A few months ago I had dinner at Prime Steakhouse. The server was a beautiful girl with flowing blonde hair. She was so sweet - I told her she reminded me of Phoebe. She, too, had a puzzled look on her face. I said Phoebe from Friends. I was binge watching Friends at the time. That show ran from 1994 to 2004. My server was in her twenties. Of course she didn't know Phoebe or Friends

 

 

317 Whitehead Street, Key West - Dream Small

Robert F. Kennedy said "Some men see things as they are, and say why. I dream of things that never were, and say why not."

Senator Kennedy was not talking about houses. I know that. Nor was Martin Luther King Jr when he said "I have a dream."

Neither was talking about real estate. They were exploring what might be, what could be, what should be. Aspirations. 

I applied for a job one time. The lady interviewing me asked me why I was not involved in more civic activities. I told her I was doing the best I could taking care of myself and my house. I thought making a nice home with a nice yard was a good contribution to society. Wouldn't the world be better off if we all did that? And keep out noses out of other peoples business (or what they do with their houses).

I have two old movies that really inspired me over the years. They both focus on giving new life to old and abandoned buildings - which in turn gives meaning to the lives of the people involved in the change and their progeny for years to come. 

The first is Mr. Blanding Builds His Dream House. I have blogged about this movie a couple of times. It is as inspirational as almost any world War II movie. You must watch - thee are so many sub plots.

The second is The Egg and I. It is the forerunner of Green Acres only with real stars, real humor, real sense of family, and areal sense of accomplishment.

Enough talking. I want to sell you 317 Whitehead Street, Key West. I have often written here that houses are just boxes. I think about those boxes when watching movies or TV shows and even more so when I see new homes or buildings in real life. I sometimes marvel at the genius of artisans who create wonderful boxes in their minds and the craftsmen who turn dreams into realities.  

Some people who have looked at 317 Whitehead Street can't figure out what to do with it. They ask me the price and cringe when they hear it. $2,000,000. I show them all the info, discuss the lot, and so on. They think I am daft or that my Seller is Mad Greedy or all of the above. I am not nor is my Seller. 

Consider 317 Whitehead Street as a box. The owner has obtained permission from our Historic Architectural Review Commission tear down the large concrete block appendage on the south and to build a new structure there. That is a big deal in itself. That does not mean a buyer must do that or anything. It means a new can take down that hideous building and must renovate the wood building.

I know the building looks like hell right now. It won't when it is renovated. And it won't cost an Arm and a Leg to do the renovation I am suggesting. 

 

This is the concrete block building after it was constructed. It had a wood clapboard facade added. 

I say take it down. Focus on the actual small wood cottage that measures 38 feet by 25 feet. It has 10 foot ceilings and can be made into a really wonderful two bedroom house with pool and parking on a lot that measures 67 feet by 100 feet. 

This is a post card from a hundred years ago showing the houses across the street. They are still there and look like - let's say more than a few million dollars today. Imagine how much they will be worth in ten or twenty years. Imagine what 317 Whitehead will be worth.

 "Some men see things as they are, and say why. I dream of things that never were, and say why not."

If you think I am nuts, you should see what some recent buyers are spending for houses all over Key West. They are the nut jobs. 

CLICK HERE to view the Key West MLS datasheet for 317 Whitehead Street, Key West. Then click on the DOCUMENTS tab which includes the HARC approved plans, Survey, Flood Elevation Certificate, and Warranty Deed which includes permissible residential and commercial zoning uses for this site. The tab does not work on Zillow or Realtordotcom. Give me, Gary Thomas, Realtor at Preferred Properties Key West a call. Have a Dream. 

Key West Real Estate Throwback Thursday No. 45

from May 26, 2017

5 Brothers Key West - An Homage

My friend Ronny Bailey dropped by my office a few days ago to show me his latest piece of folk art, a wood cutting depicting 5 Brothers Grocery and Sandwich Shop located at 930 Southard Street in Key West. Ronny is a native Key Wester, a multi-generation Conch. He was a carpenter by trade until he retired a few years ago. He hung up his saw, stowed the hammer, and began the second phase of his life as a folk artist. I don't think he started out to become an artist as much as he used his skills as a carpenter to create miniature versions of the facades of the old houses of Key West - the way they used to be - before the gentrification that is forever erasing memory of the past imperfect houses and their conversion into perfect tiny million dollar cottages. Later Ronny depicted larger homes and then added some commercial buildings. Most recently Ronny added added wood carving to his repertoire.

The 5 Brothers piece is Ronny's homage to the place and the people that go there each morning. If you drive by this place on any weekday morning you will invariably see a couple of cops, several healthy looking men who obviously work for a living (as opposed to guys who sit at a computer or who sell houses), some older guys who look like retirees, and some tourists. There are a couple of benches which are usually occupied. Many others stand and swap stories. A former neighbor of mine (who I will call "Norm")  told me what really goes on at 5 Brothers. Norm was also a general contractor. He said he and other contractors would meet there to discuss what projects they were working on or going to be making bids on that day or that week. He told me the same guys would meet after work at a bar and discuss the projects and prices they would quote so that they could distribute the work among each other and not get into bidding wars. I have to live here and can't tell the rest. Imagine "collusion".

Notice the three officers inside the store, two sitting on the bench, and the guy in the patrol car. Look carefully at the license plate which reads "SWEET H2O". The cop driving the car is Officer Sweetwater. Ronny chuckled with glee at his cleverness.

Ronny's depiction is more generous than Norm's narrative description. The wood cutting is three boards made into one larger piece which was then painted black. Ronny carved out layer after layer to create the building, the streetscape, the sky with helicopter, and the Key West people - each a real life Key West character.  Ronny referred to each person with the word "mister" before each person's name followed by some descriptive sentence about who that person was and why he is on that piece of art. You will notice the helicopter on the upper right side. The wood cutting depicts the real life helicopter pilot "back in the day" on a special ops mission for his Cuban coffee and cheese toast! When I saw the helicopter I was reminded of the scene in the the 1989 James Bond movie License to Kill which was filmed in Key West when Bond and his pal parachuted from a helicopter down to St. Mary's Catholic Church on Truman Avenue to attend Bond's pal's wedding. Ronny told me about the many "stories" that the pilot described from his life. I added an arrow directing your attention to the word Peace on the helicopter. Ronny adds the words Love, Peace, and Joy each piece of art he creates.

The building at 930 Southard Street has remained pretty much the same since the black and white photo below was taken in 1965. Note the cutout police figure in the lower right hand corner. The prop-cop was used to alert drivers to the Harris School located at the next corner. I found a similar roadside cop in a photo taken at 1200 White Street which warned drivers to slow down for the old Key West high school one block to the south.(Look at the far left side of the road to see the policeman) In today's Key West there are real life cops standing guard at every school in town, each adorned with bright neon yellow vests and whistles. I personally like the less expensive and more clever cutout cops. I'd slow down if I came upon one and smile for a block or two.

I looked through my old shoebox and found some photos I took over the years of 5 Brothers. I rarely go there myself. I drink way too much coffee when I get up. But I know a lot of people who do go there regularly. I stopped by 5 Brothers on my way to the office to snap a couple of photos of 5 Brothers. Those pics are at the bottom of this blog. Stop by the next time you are in town. Go inside where you will find the original Ronny Bailey wood carving. Smile to yourself as you see the Key West characters and the place that made them famous.

Photos taken May 26, 2017 below. The scene never changes. The characters do.

906 Frances Street B, Key West

Just Listed 906 Frances Street B, Key West. This is one of six a sweet single family homes located in the picturesque Maxwell Gables Compound in Old Town. Each house is different.  The listing agent describes this home thus:

"Experience the ultimate, hassle-free island living in this beautifully updated townhouse ! Privately tucked away in an enclave of only 6 units, yet centrally located, in the X flood zone, the home is offered turnkey just awaiting its new lucky owner. It features impact doors and windows, hardie board siding, a metal roof. The airy, light and open living room boasts cathedral ceilings, skylight and French doors leading to your private deck. Kitchen with quartz countertops, custom tiled backsplash, stainless appliances and wine cooler. New window treatments, hardwood floors, stylish furnishings. Primary bedroom with ensuite bathroom on the first floor, with guest bedroom and bathroom on the second. Sit back and relax in the community heated saltwater pool surrounded by lush tropical gardens and chill vibes."

The Maxwell Gables Compound was created in the late 1980s. This house was built new in 1987 and sits behind 906 Frances Street shown in the photos below. There are several other compounds created around the same time in other parts of Old Town. Single family  homes were joined together is associations with a shared pool or other amenities that individual home owner's might not otherwise enjoy because of the size of the building lot. In this instance, 906 B Frances was constructed behind an historic home shown in the photo below. The photo show vacant space upon which this home was built.This is the only new home in the compound. The others were preexisting that were renovated a the same time. The units share a common secured entrance, courtyard grounds and swimming pool right out of a storybook.

 

The master bedroom and bath are located on the first floor. The guest bedroom and bath are located on the second floor. This is officially a town home. The association fees are just $275 per month anc cover pool and common area maintenance and security. Thee is no of street parking. Most of thee other properties on the block do have off street parking so there is usually space available in this block to park.

The property on the opposite side of the fence is one of the secretive and magical homes on the island. I wrote about it before and won't belabor it here. It sits on Watson Street midway between Truman Avenue and Olivia Street. Watson is a one way street terminates a the cemetery with this view.

These little homes make Key West so different from the rest of Florida - heck The Rest of The World. You need to take a look and think about what is possible and not dismiss it because it does not have parking. CLICK HERE to view he Key West MLS datasheet for 906 Frances Street B offered at $940,000. 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

 

The Projects of Key West - Spring 2022

I started The Projects of Key West series in July 2011 to commemorate the renovation of the historic homes of Key West and document the construction of new homes and commercial buildings across our island city.

I have been photographing some of the current projects for nearly three years. The Covid pandemic initially slowed the pace of renovation and then reduced numbers of workers. Later shortages of lumber and building materials produced outside of the United States prolonged the delay. Later home appliances produced in foreign lands were trapped at sea or in storage depots. 

When the public was allowed to return to Key West, existing houses started selling at a surprising pace. Buyers started hiring architects and contractors to design and renovate their new dream houses. Our little fishing town with a drinking problem and a sometimes hardly-able workforce got even more stressed. And, oh yeah, prices on everything went up. That is not Biden's fault. It is the way markets work. Presidents take credit for good times and say it's not my fault in bad times The people who sold at the very start of the pandemic have got to be kicking themselves now because of the subsequent price increases. Some houses that sold in the past year have gone back on the market at crazy ass asking prices. As I said a couple of days ago, our real estate market has gone bonkers. The housing stock throughout the Florida Keys has seen record price appreciation over the past 18 moths or so. While home owners will complain about the higher property taxes, don't expect to hear them grips about price appreciation.

Historically most new construction and most renovation projects take well over a year to complete. Renovation or restoration projects take longer than new construction primarily because so much time is spent getting approval from our Historic Architectural Review Commission (HARC) to approve any project. The Key West Tree Commission has become a player in the process and determines what property owners may and may not be done with regard to trees. As the projects get underway the city's planning and building departments step in to grind progress to a snail's pace ensuring no part of the construction process is over-looked or not documented.

I added CLICK HERE links to each project so that readers can view multiple progress photos. I spent a lot of  time photographing these projects. I hope readers will look at some or all of the photos They do help illustrate the story of how each project and type of property was built or renovated. Let's see what happened in 2021.

813 Waddell Avenue - Casa Marina Area

The original one story house was built in 1954 and sat on 10,500 Sq Ft lot located across from the Casa Marian Resort parking lot but also a two block walk to Higgs Beach. I heard the new owner wanted to take down the old house and build a new structure. Even though the house is located outside of the historic district our Historical Architectural Review Commission refused permission take down concrete block house and required the owner to renovate it instead. The house was gutted and rebuilt on site keeping the original facade and footprint and rebuilding the interior. This aggressive decision by HARC caused this homeowner to spend more money than necessary to renovate than to raze and build the house he wanted. This interference in the property rights of ordinary citizens has gone on now for four decades. It began in Old Town and has expanded into Casa Marina.

 CLICK HERE to view progress photos. 

1100 Flager Averne  -  Casa Marina Area

This 4,185 Sq Ft house sits on 9,000: Sq Ft lot just east of the White and Flagler Avenue intersection - one of the busiest locations in Key West. But it is also just a couple of blocks north of the Key West beaches. It was built just after World War II. The house has just been completed. The builder painted everything WHITE! and added custom closet systems in all of the bedrooms. The original landscaping was removed and replaced with a bunch of new palms and tropical foliage. (The photos below are in sequence and show the lot before renovation, after being cleared, and currently.).

1100 Johnson Street - Casa Marina Area

Some people believe Johnson Street is the most desirable street in the Casa Marina Area because many of the most expensive homes in Key west are located there. Others prefer the more rural streets like Von Phister with its giant Mahogany trees or Casa Marina Court with its direct ocean views. For the uniformed even though Key West is an island, it has very few homes with actual ocean views.

I showed 1100 Johnson Street a couple of times when it was offered for sale a few years ago. The house was built in 1959 when America was infatuated by big cars - hence the sweeping driveway. The original foyer led to a step-down living room like in the Dick Van Dyke Show The entire house had MAD MEN vibes. The house was recently renovated inside and outside and now has a new driveway, a pool, and 21st Century Vibes.

 CLICK HERE for more photos

1120 Johnson Street  -  Casa Marina Area

The home at 1120 Johnson Street was built new in 1995 on a previously never built upon lot. The most recent owner just completed a more than year long interior renovation and redesign of the fence and landscaping.  

733 Poorhouse Lane - Old Town

I represented the buyer who purchased this hovel located on the backside of his very expensive property on an adjacent street. This house was rebuilt and expanded during the pandemic. The owner encountered all kinds of. It sold as soon as it hit the market in the spring of 2021 for $2,300,000 or $100,000 over asking. This was a wake-up call. Buyers wanted quality homes in Old Town Key West and were willing to spend lots of money to get them before someone else got the opportunity. The land rush was on.

CLICK HERE and CLICK HERE for more photos

 533 Petronia Street - Old Town

The old house oozed charm but suffered from years of neglect. It sat back from the street further than any other home on this street. It actually had a front yard and covered off street parking. And it was located just a short walk to Duval Street. The simplicity of design and location beckoned a would-be renovator to recreate the best version of the original cottage. The front and rear yards were overgrown with trees which were infested with termites. HARC allowed the homeowners to move the house forward on the lot thereby creating space enlarge the house and to add a pool and guest cottage. The Tree Commission allowed the owners to take down diseased trees (at a huge expense). The owners hired a good architect and competent builder. The house was lifted up and moved forward on the lot and placed back down on new piers.  The rest is history and a lot of money. But it was worth it. The place is spectacular. This home received a Ceramic Star for Excellence in Preservation for 2022.

 

CLICK HERE to view progress photos.  

522 Petronia Street - Old Town

In 2014 I blogged about the two small cottage style homes which were joined together decade earlier to create a larger home. The original renovation and unification of two houses into one was novel at its time. It was the direct view of the of the neighboring Episcopal church garden that made this place so enchanting. A few months ago I noticed exterior work was underway. I had great expectations for a major renovation. Instead I only saw clean-up to make the entrance more inviting.

 CLICK HERE for more photos

1104 Petronia Street

I sold this prominent house last year. My buyer looked at it on a Saturday afternoon when the Royal Poinciana tree facing the Key West cemetery was in full bloom. It was a sight to behold. In earlier years there was an adjacent house to the west.It fell to fire. Who even knows about the great fire on Petronia Street. I didn't. The house has been gutted on the inside. The foundation is being rebuilt in place. Let's see what happens here. For now a few photos of what was and a couple of progress pics.

CLICK HERE for more photos.

903 Eaton Street - Old Town.

I represented the buyer who purchased this property several years ago with the intention of building a new home here. The original concrete block house sat at the rear of a 5,200 Sq Ft lot. HARC policy allows concrete block houses to be razed. After spending over $50,000 in architectural fees, the owner concluded he could not satisfy the city employee who controlled HARC. He sold the property to another party who built the new house seen in the bottom photo. My buyer/seller is not the first property owner to give up fighting city hall. He won't be the last to walk away in disgust either. 

 CLICK HERE for photos of 903 Eaton Street

627 Caroline Street - Old Town

I blogged about this once great old house several years ago when it was offered for sale. Two elderly sisters rambled around inside this place. It reeked of piss when I saw it. They had no clue what was going on. The layout was dysfunctional for modern living, but the lot size, location, and stoic beauty of the building made the cost of renovation worth the investment. It appeared almost finished in December 2021. It is still not finished in March 2022.  A pool and guest cottage were added at the rear. There are a lot of photos Take a look. 

CLICK HERE to view progress photos. The house was elevated while new piers were built. This house was raised higher than it originally sat on the site. I think this may be related to concern about future flood elevation concerns. It is not an issue now. The shell of the house was lowered onto the piers systematically taken apart, and totally rebuilt with mostly new lumber. The disjointed flow of the original house was built anew. . 

805 Olivia Street - Old Town

I wrote about and showed 803 Olivia Street several times over the years. Renovations were done in the 1999 - 2000 era.The house showed very well. It is/was located adjacent to the Key West cemetery and across the street from a neighborhood convenience store both of which spooked some potential buyers. The property had an extra large lot with an existing small cottage which allowed the owner to maximize lot usage. I drove by one day in 2020 and noticed a huge new house was being built on the adjacent lot. Construction on this property was some of the fastest I have witnessed. 

 

818 Olivia Street - Old Town

I wrote abut this little gem a couple of times over the years. It was one of the cutest homes I ever wrote about. It is located opposite the Key West cemetery which scared away many potential buyers, but not all. I started taking photos of the most recent update in 2020 when I saw changes taking place. I don't know if anything was done inside. The facade and porch were taken apart and rebuilt. It looks as sharp as ever. This house also received a Ceramic Star for renovation in 2022.

CLICK HERE to view more photos

710 Caroline Street

This house has been on and off the real estate market for almost as long as I have been selling houses. I remember showing it several times years ago. It had been renovated and used as a monthly vacation rental. Workers recently began a new renovation.
 

 

CLICK HERE to see progress photos. 

520 Grinnell Street

The 1,382 Sq Ft concrete block house at 520 Grinnell Street was built new in 1953 and sits on a large corner lot adjacent to Hibiscus Lane. The house became bank owned in 2019. While HARC guidelines would allow the owner to raze this non-contributing structure, this owner (a local designer) elected to add some space up front and renovate the CBS house instead. .

 

CLICK HERE to see progress photos which include the original house before it became bank owned.

 714 Passover Lane - Old Town

This will be a very interesting project to watch. I blogged about the original house when it was listed for sale. It was located near the end of the walking lane extension of Passover Lane. The street section of Passover Lane starts where Margaret Street and Angela Street meet at the northwest corner of the cemetery and proceeds to wrap the west side of the cemetery where it merges into Windsor Lane nat the end of the cemetery. It is quite confusing.

Many years ago wrap-around porches were added to the original Conch revival style house. The house had small rooms and low ceilings. It was cramped and dysfunctional. There was a narrow stairway to the second floor. Later the attic had been converted into living space accessible only by the an outdoor staircase. The most recent owner took off the porches, took down the exterior staircase, cleared the jungle of overgrown trees and vegetation, and cleared the lot. The original house was relocated to the front of the lot and the stripped of most of its siding. New piers were built a the rear and new framing for a new building has begun. I assume the original house will be connected to the new building in some fashion.

The photos below show the location of the house before the porches were added and then afterwards. The subsequent photos show the framing of a new portion of the home near the location of the original house.

 

CLICK HERE to view progress photos

813 Galveston Lane - Old Town

Galveston Lane was itself memorialized by WPA photographers during their expedition to Key West in the Depression. I don't know that the poverty of the people who lived there was any greater than any other part of America, but the photos are memorable. 

I remember seeing a house trailer permanently located in the 800 block of Elizabeth Street. I thought that was odd - having a mobile home on a city lot. Then I saw another at 813 Galveston Lane, one half block to the east. The owners had lived in those places for years and the city did nothing to require a change. The Elizabeth Street lot sold several years ago. The trailer was removed and a very large new house was built in its place. Recently a fire consumed the trailer on Galveston Lane. Locals banded together and built a new home for the owner.

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CLICK HERE to view progress photos

1003 Seminary Street - Casa Marina Area

HARC permitted this owner to move the house forward on the 5,200 Sq Ft sun drenched lot which allowed for the expansion of the original house, the addition of a pool, and the conversion of a garage into a guest cottage with bedroom and bath.

CLICK HERE to view more photos

1227 Washington Street - Mid Town Key West

I blogged about this remarkable old home in April 2018 after attending a brokers open house. I was impressed bungalow style home but it was a relic in time. The large lot was itself dysfunctional.There was a pool and guest cottage. They did not look right. A couple giant trees came down and were replaced by palms. A fence went up giving the new owner more privacy. I drove by the house this past Sunday. Still not complete as far as I could see. I am surprised HARC allowed the owner to the owner o add he dark accent color. I is not authentic to the house.  I would have preferred an all white exterior, but this is not my house. 

 

 CLICK HERE for more photos.

324 Virginia Street - Bahama Village

I remember showing this interesting property a day or two after it was listed for sale in 2019. Several other agents and potential developers were there that day As I recall the property sat on the market for several months. There were multiple heirs that hoped to their share of the bounty of the dearly departed's home. An adjacent property also was purchased and cleared. It looks like the two will become one..

CLICK HERE to view more photos.  This house was moved to the opposite side of the lot, a new cottage built in the rear, new piers installed, and the house moved back to its near original situs. However, the house sits much higher on the lot. It does not look right at this point in time

1221 Royal Street - Old Town

I began to track the renovation of this well located but neglected old house in November 2020. It sold during the pandemic to a local investor/renovator. Workmen began taking the place apart with plans to renovate in place and add a pool. I drove by to checkout the progress and saw the house was down. I called the owner's agent who told me the house collapsed on its own. This mishap allowed the owner to build a brand new house instead. The new house went up in lickety-split time and looks great. Three months ago the owner's real estate agent told me the owner has no plan to sell the house. For now. We'll see about that. Don't hold your breath.

CLICK HERE  for more photos

1435 Flagler Avenue - Mid Town

I blogged about this comfortable mid-century house several years ago. The corner lot was nicely landscaped and had a large but dated pool. The house was dated but well maintained. A new owner started to renovate the property then suddenly stopped. The house was re-sold and razed. I suspected the renovation project was going to exceed the 50% build back limitation. A new concrete block house was begun. New construction built on a lot is subject to building code but not cost of improvement restrictions. It's funny. It looks like the city enforces the 50% cont restriction on some but not all property owners. Isn't that interesting. I wonder if any federal agency that gives money to the city has ever looked into that. This new house has nothing to do with what I just mentioned. I  met the owner at an open house I hosted. Really nice guy. I hope to see the inside someday. Interesting architecture that i snot copy cat.

 CLICK HERE for more photos - including original house.

1217 Johnson Street - Casa Marina East as I like to say

This mid-century house was razed to make way for a new two story "plaza".  It is interesting to see how they framed the first floor before starting the second floor.

 CLICK HERE for more photos

 1301 Atlantic Avenue - Casa Marina Area East

I recently started to follow the construction of this new home in the upwardly trending neighborhood just east of White Street.  The lots in this area are comparable in size or larger than similar lots in the Casa Marina Area but which have sold at a lower price point. This new concrete block with stucco finish stands out from the other homes in the area particularly it is much larger and they are all modular. It looks more like Boca than Key West. That is my opinion. I drove a buyer past the house and he loved it. 

CLICK HERE for more photos. 

1221 Packer Street - Old Town South of Truman 

I could write a book about this place. It consumer weeks of my life trying to keep a deal togehter. My buyer had plans to renovate this older home with nice design and potential guest cottage, pool, and off street parking. Trouble began when the seller could not deliver clear title. Years earlier during the last BOOM MARKET the lender did not examine title as wellas it should. Althought this house sat in the same location for more than one hundred years, the roofline apparently encroached on the adjacent property. A local lender refused to fund a new mortgage. The neighbor refsed to cooperate in an easemntto clean up the matter. My buyer got his escrow back and moved on. Now a new owner is starting a renovation. Let'watch the progress. 

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There are many more home construction and renovation projects underway. I will include many of this in the next installment of The Projects of Key West. Drop a comment about a house you like or say something in a nice way about a place you don't.