This is Key West ! - The Miracle on 34th Street Excuse

 

 I was maybe fifteen years ago or so that I retrieved what looked like a federal income tax refund check from my mailbox. The envelope had one of those glass-like openings that showed the name and delivery address. Except that the name and address on the envelope were not mine. I was quite concerned that I got what might be some other person's tax refund check - so much so that I took the check to the Key West Post Office. I waited in line for my turn to see the postal clerk. When I was called forward I asked to speak to the Postmaster.

The clerk left and a minute or so later a man appeared. I can't recall if the man was the actual postmaster or just a supervisor. I handed over the envelop with government check inside and expressed my concern that something so important was mishandled. He said "This is Key West!" as if that was an excuse for incompetence and not doing one's job properly. 

I was saddened at the government's lack of concern. I would have preferred the man at least say "Thank you. I will look into it." But he didn't. I have heard the same refrain "This is Key West!" from so many people over the years. It is like anything is excusable because it happened in Key West where rules of conduct don't really matter - it is a license not to do one's job properly. 

Remember the scene in Miracle on 34th Street when the postal carriers piled bags of letters addressed to Santa Claus on the judge's bench. The judge said "Since the United States government declares this man to be Santa Claus this court will not dispute it. Case dismissed." Cute side-stepping of his judicial responsibility, the judge blamed the government for setting the standard.

People who live and who own property in Key West have become desensitized by no shows, slow work, and incompetence now express gratitude when a worker actually shows up. Don't get me wrong. I love it here. I just settle for less.

 

 

1100 Southard Street, Key West - Hi Brow Eyebrow

The freshly renovated home at 1100 Southard Street is a testament to the vitality of the Key West real estate market which has thrived and progressed since my first visit in 1984. While preparing to write about today's home, I reached down into my old shoebox and found two photos taken of 1100 Southard Street that demonstrate my thesis.

Just prior to young photographer Authur Rothstein assignment to photograph Key West for the WPA in 1938, Key West had reeled from the devastating loss of the railroad due to the Labor Day Hurricane in 1935, the demise the cigar and sponge industry, and the unknown future of the island upon the completion of the Overseas Highway (now called US1). Rothstein's task was to document the state of life on this little island. One of the houses he photographed was 1100 Southard Street shown above. Study the photo just a bit. Longtime readers know this is an "eyebrow house" given that name to describe the design of the roof extending out from the end of the building to rest upon columns. The projection creates both a porch (a place to sit) and protection for the second floor windows which may be left open during rain and wind storms allowing light and air to flow inside the home. Before we had air conditioning, homes were ventilated by natural air flow and shade trees. Rothstein's photos appear throughout my blog from time to time. We are fortunate that the federal government sent him to the Keys to capture a point in time when life was pretty rough here. Rothstein wrote his supervisor shortly before the Overseas Highway was completed when perhaps thousands of tourists would someday make their way to this little island - "I hope the resulting boom and development doesn’t spoil the picturesque beauty of the island nor make the natives lose their friendliness.”

I found a second photo taken nearly 30 years later showing the same view of 1100 Southard Street. We can see the house has changed a bit. Study and see if you can see the differences. Some aluminum shutter salesman must have made a bundle off Key West in the 1950s because there are still a lot of these old clam shell shutters in existence. This house has aluminum shutters on the west side. Someone added wood louvers to the right side of the front porch as a sun shield. Look to the left side which was extended to the edge of the roof overhang. Both photos show the house is elevated up from the ground and is wood construction with wood siding.  I can't verify the first photo shows louver windows but the 1965 photos certainly do. Glass windows were introduced to the house later. The addition to the front was removed, a pool added, and the place became gentrified each time it was improved. The original eyebrow now has pediments above once louvered windows. It looks quite graceful and definitely hi brow.  The current listing Realtor describes the newly renovated home this way:

"Stunning renovation of this Eyebrow style historic home in an ideal Old Town location. The main house with gorgeous addition and a detached guest cottage couple on each side of the pool to create a spacious 5bd/4ba beauty. Virtually every detail of this property has been restored or renovated to create the perfect combination of modern luxuries and historical character. The open staircase has been restored creating a breathtaking architectural focal point. A gourmet kitchen wrapped in windows begs to entertain the open floor plan overlooking sprawling tropical grounds and pool. A ground level master suite boasts a luxurious bathroom with wet room, walk in closet and a door leading to a private garden area. The list of luxuries goes on and on in this rare and precious Old Town home!"

I had not been inside this house for years and once inside I forgot it was an eyebrow house. It certainly did not look like any eyebrow house I had been in. The main living level is a play on open concept living but still has defined living spaces. 

The master bedroom has a vaulted ceiling which makes the space quite dramatic. Barn doors provide privacy in the bath which is a work of art. A guest bedroom is located opposite the front entry.  Barn doors were placed here as well. This space is used as a study at this time.

One of the challenges owner/renovators of eyebrow houses face is how to create a bathroom or bathrooms on the second floor. These homes did not have indoor plumbing when they were built and did not have bathrooms on the second floor. Some eyebrow houses are larger than others. I had to stop and take a serious look well designed this renovator met the challenge of adding a bath. There are bedrooms on either side of the house. The renovator added a bath at the right front of the second floor. A small hallway leads back a few steps to a bedroom.

There are sunny and shady places to layout and sit around the pool which itself is quite large and very sunny. If I were a guest I might opt to stay in the pool side guest cottage, buy a new door lock, and never leave.

CLICK HERE to view the Key West MLS datasheet and striking listing photos. Then please call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642, to schedule a private tour of this newly renovated home which can be purchased fully furnished as shown. I am a buyers agent and a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Key West. Get ready for some hi brow living in this eyebrow house.

Good Neighbor Pam - Keeping an Eye on You in Key West

 Another true tale of Key West. Only the names have been changed to keep me from getting sued.

I learn a lot about Key West real estate by going on Realtor caravan. Twice monthly local agents tour new listings in the Key West area. Most of us take bus but some drive their own cars. Buses are better as you sometimes get to hear good gossip and learn what agents really think about those not on the bus.

On a recent caravan we stopped next door to a home I sold a few years ago. That owner had  contacted me a few months ago to discuss the possibility of selling. Nothing happened then, but I know that circumstances change and that owning real estate in Key West is not a forever thing for anybody.

After I finished looking at the house on the caravan, I went onto the back porch and snapped a couple of photos of the house I once sold just on the off-chance my "owner" may call upon me to list it sometime in the future. I thought having a photo from a different view might come in useful.  Later I emailed the photo to my customer.

The next day I received the email response from my former customer discussing the photo:

The husband told "Chester" (made up name) they were not pleased it had not sold. His wife "Pam" (made up name), who is a Conch and has known "Sylvia" (made up Realtor name) from days gone by, is not happy with her. Other homes in the area have been selling---maybe they are just a bit high.  She has a daughter in Miami, but they want to move up to the panhandle. They want better medical facilities than KW-- He was station there once.  Did you see the new one going up at the end of the street? Chester said it is very very big.

Chester is going down on the 1st. He has been down a few times. Thank you for the Christmas card.

One day last spring, after he closed up, Chester's flight going to Atlanta was canceled so he went back to the house for the night. All the storm shutters were up and every thing was put away for the summer. So he sat in the house watching TV. He fell asleep with the TV on and some lights on. The neighbors thought he had left for the summer. He was awakened by a voice he did not recognize
at about 2 AM asking him for his ID and to keep his hands were they could see them. It was a woman's voice and he was coming out of his deep sleep--It took him a bit to get his brain moving. He reached in to his pocket to get his ID when the voice, in a stronger mode and louder, told him to keep his hands out of his pockets! Two female cops with flash lights on and guns drawn and pointed at him. His brain was now working! He told them his flight was canceled and he went back home to sleep and his ID was in his wallet in his pants.

When all was done they told him to lock the front door (which he had left unlocked and closed the street gate) as it was a rough neighborhood!!! I ask who was watching out for the house, I wanted to thank them. It was my next door neighbor Pam. There was also a third cop, a male, just out side the door ready to shoot if one got by the two female cops in side.

I hope they do not sell --We never had such great protection. The neighbors knew I was leaving
and with the shutters closed and little slivers of light coming out they called. They had also called before when some one was in the yard, could have been the pool man?