2 Fletchers Lane - Key West, Florida

The listing Realtor of 2 Fletchers Lane in Key West describes this hidden gem thus:

"Wonderful 2 story Old Town home with beautiful Brazilian cherry floors, custom kitchen cabinets & Dade County pine walls. Obviously built by a ship builder, you can feel the custom woodwork quality throughout. Each bedroom enjoys lots of privacy with a split floor plan plus a guest cottage. Totaling 3 bedrooms & 3.5 baths with a great room that opens completely to the outdoors. Tropical landscaping and new Trex decking surround the heated pool & spa. The third bedroom cottage can double as guest quarters or a bar entertaining area with accordion style windows that open it up completely. Fully fenced for privacy & located between Grinnell & Margaret Streets, you can walk to everything from this unique property."

The good thing about owning a house on a lane that hardly anybody even knows that it exists is that you probably will not have many drop in guests, Fuller Brush salesmen, or other ne'er do-wells knocking on your door. You probably won't be serenaded as the bars close when locals and tourists find their way back to their homes, apartments, guest houses or hotels. You'll miss out on lines like "Babe I love you!" or "I hate you! Get out of my life!".

 2 Fletchers Lane in Key West is hidden away on just such a little lane that few people even know exists.  If you have a big ego and want everyone to see your big house and talk about how much money or whatever that you may have, this is not the place for you. However, if you want a slice of Old Key West that has been updated and tweaked just ever so nicely, this may be the place you have been looking for.

As frequent readers know the Key West mls is auto-filled with data that comes from the Monroe County Property Appraiser database. Unfortunately, the historic property records were destroyed in the great fire many years ago. Members of the WPA recreated (with an emphasis on the word create) those records but made guesses as to when many of our old homes were built - including the home at 2 Fletchers Lane which the official record says was built in 1924.  I looked at the Sanborn Fire Maps for Key West and found what I believe to be this property which I have marked with an "X" on the map below. That map was made in 1890 which tells us the house and rear cottage existed prior to 1899. You will note that the house appears to be placed on an angle.  That was not uncommon in olden days. Some houses were not placed at perfect right angles to the lot or the lot.  Some houses are still sit like that. This house has been re situated so that it now sits parallel with the lane.

I dug into the old shoebox and found a photo of 2 Fletchers Lane taken back in 1965. Compare that with the photo which I recently took..

The black and white photo shows 'scuttles' located on the roof. Scuttles are vents used in historic construction that allowed warm air to vent out through the roof..  The first house I sold in Key West was built around 1824. It had scuttles. I will never forget that house because of its simple but beautiful construction. Note also that the front porch still functions as such, but the main entrance has been relocated just past the gated side entrance which is barely visible in the above photo. 

The main living area is located at the rear of the home.  The kitchen, dining, and living areas form one great room which has sets of French doors on two sides that provide ample daytime light that is filtered by the palms and tropical foliage on this and nearby properties.  The Brazilian cherry floors, the extensive wood trim, and the custom cabinets in the kitchen make the main floor living space extra cozy and comfortable.

The ceiling in the living room soars two stories high.  Your guests will be amazed to see a second floor glass walkway that extends from the bedroom area to second floor rear balcony that looks out to the pool and guest cottage below. This is an ingenious mix of old school charm with contemporary design.  I seriously doubt that our current HARC would ever permit something so ingenious to be built today.  

There are two bedrooms on the second floor. The master suite is located at the rear of the house. The space is evenly divided between sleeping area, sitting area, dressing room, bath and that incredible glass walkway and rear balcony.   

What must have been the original living room in the olden days is now used as an office. The space reminds me of an old house that has been treated with care for generations. The second bedroom is accessed from a stairway from the office area.

The front porch is still a fine place for sitting and watching - pretty much of nothing. Only a couple of other homes share this tiny little lane. There is no off street parking here. You can drive your car up the lane to unload groceries and things. But you will need to park on nearby Eaton or Grinnell Street. The listing Realtor tells me the owners have parked in the same spot on Eaton Street for as long as they have owned this house.

I don't know if the guest cottage is the same cottage shown on the old Sanborn map or if it was built new. But I know its current configuration is pure genius. I have never seen any structure like this in Key West. You enter the cottage by stepping down a step from the pool deck level into this exquisite space. The cottage almost feels like a cabin in the woods except it is located in Key West, Florida! Windows on two sides open out from the bar to the pool where you and your guests can lounge in luxury. Please CLICK HERE to view the Key West mls datasheet on this home that is offered for sale at $1,123,000.

CLICK HERE to view more photos which I took of this really charming Key West property. But better than that, 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 Key West. This is a truly incredible home. Don't miss this. 

4125 Eagle Avenue ~ Key West

 4125 Eagle Avenue - Key West

4125 Eagle Avenue is located on the sunrise side of Key West. I know most of my readers are only considering the purchase of a place in Old Town. Some will consider the Meadows and Casa Marina areas. And a few bargain buyers may even look at what I consider to be the best values on a per square foot basis  at the Key West Golf Club.Community.  I truly hope some reader will take the time to look through today's blog and click the photo link that will appear later, because if you do, you may just fall in love with this gracious home that has so much to offer.

Many out of area readers may not be familiar with the location.  I dug deep into the old shoebox and found a couple of aerial photos of the area taken a few decades back. The first photo (immediately below) shows the U.S. Navy Hospital and the grounds immediately west of what is now South Roosevelt Blvd. 4125 Eagle Avenue would be in that general area.

The next photo below was taken in the 1970s and shows the same general area.
Better than that, click GOOGLE MAP and take a current aerial view of the area and then use the toggle switch to see a street view 4125 Eagle and the surrounding homes. You will be likely be impressed.

The listing Realtor describes 4125 Eagle Avenue thus:

"Circa 1926, this classic Spanish Deco has peerless curb appeal! Located in a prime New Town neighborhood, the home with sprawling lot and manicured lawn commands admiration. The main house has two bedrooms, three full baths, remodeled kitchen, formal dining room, living room, den and study. A lovely portico provides covered outdoor sitting and connects the main house to a detached garage. The expansive grounds feature tropical foliage, fish pond and a secret garden! The delightful two-story cottage features a downstairs workshop with an inviting one bedroom one bath apartment up. Other amenities include garage, central vacuum, ample storage, and much more. This is a truly unique New Town property with historic value."

4125 Eagle Avenue offers 2268 square feet of living divided between two floors in the main house plus a stand alone guest cottage at the rear of the huge 80' x 120' (9600 sq ft) lot.  Not included in the square foot calculations is the stand alone extra large garage of portico that welcomes friends and family to this seductive property.

Family Room

The main floor of the home features an inviting living room that has a real wood burning fireplace (original to the home), an adjacent office, and family room for watching TV.  The kitchen has been remodeled and provides lots of counter space for meal planning and preparation. The kitchen even has a large walk-in pantry.

My jaw dropped when I saw the dining room for the first time. It is truly breath taking. Really!  The dining room sits at the rear of the house and and features French doors on two sides with muted views out to the lush gardens. Tucked back into one corner is a wet bar and  the powder room is nearby. You can tell that this space has been often used for grand entertaining.

Dining Room, Wet Bar, and Powder Room

Upstairs you will find two equally eloquent master suites, each with en-suite baths. The front bedroom has a small second floor terrace as well.

The second bedroom occupies the back half of the house and includes an extra large bath area.

Rear Master Suite with Extra Large En-suite Bath

The guest cottage at the rear of the property offers several different scenarios for living including presumed use as guest accommodations; living space for a mother-in-law or teenage with a desire to be left alone; or living space for a caretaker, nanny, or other live-in.

There are babbling ponds and water features in several locations throughout the property. I found hidden gardens where other owners would have ignored the spaces. I could see that this home and this yard have received the kindest of care for years. But that is not to suggest there is any deferred maintenance, for I saw none. Everything I saw looked bright and clean and well cared for.

What the house does not have is a swimming pool. There is plenty of room to add a large pool and decks.  This is the only thing I can think of that a new owner might spend money on. CLICK HERE to view a slide show of photos I took of this lovely home.
4125 Eagle Avenue is offered at $1,298,000. CLICK HERE to view the Key West Association of Realtors mls database on this property.  If you would like to see this special home in person, please call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642. I am a buyers agent and a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Key West.