903 Eaton Street, Key West - Potential Renovation and More

Just Listed by yours truly, 903 Eaton Street in Key West, Florida. If you look at the above photos you may see a big open lot and maybe that's all. Maybe you see the beautiful home across the street and think maybe this is a good location where you might build an equally beautiful home. It's what you cannot see from the street that may make this property more interesting to you because there is an existing two bedroom, one bath home located at the rear of the property.

One of the great features of 903 Eaton Street is the lot size which is quite large for a home located in the Historic District of Key West known as Old Town. It measures 50' X 106' or 5300 square feet. Many of the homes in Old Town are located on lots of 2500 square feet or less. As a general rule houses in the Historic District must be renovated and may not be razed.  The second or perhaps the primary feature is the potential to take down the existing CBS house (concrete block structure) which is not a contributing structure. Given the lot size and land use regulations, a new owner might be able to construct a new fairly large house on this lot with a pool, gardens, and off street parking. If you are familiar with what is for sale in the Key West real estate market today, you should appreciate this property offers more opportunity at a better price and a better location than the competition.

 The existing house is 761 square feet and was built in 1954. It sits at the rear of the immense lot but there is still about ten feet of space behind the lot which is decked. A covered laundry room and store room takes up about 20% of the rear area and is built to the property line. Inside you will see highly desirable Cuban Tile Floors. The period kitchen is simple, but it is clean as a whistle and more important it is functional. Also note the new mini-split air conditioners throughout the house. The electric bills went down when these went up. They are whisper quite to operate and keep the house cool and comfy!

CLICK HERE to view more photos of this property. The owners created a sweet garden area hidden from view. There is a large covered carport and storage area. So many potential buyers worry about where they can park their car and store their bikes and toys when they are away. This place has the space to do just that. Moreover, you should appreciate the location of this home which is within easy walking distance to the seaport and Duval Street. Cole's Peace Bakery is two blocks to the east. Old Town Bakery is across the street at the corner of Margret Street. There are many great restaurants located within a five minute walk in multiple directions.

Please CLICK HERE to review the Key West MLS for 903 Eaton Street and then call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642, to set up a private showing.  I am a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Key West. Let's look and you decide how you might turn this place into your private Paradise.

210 Olivia Street , Key West, Florida

The listing agent, not me, describes the newly listed property at 210 Olivia Street in Key West this way:

"Renovation project on a double lot with accessory building, carport and plenty of off street parking. Main house 2/1 with additional 1/1 cottage. Inviting conch cottage with a great front porch and tons of Key West charm. The right buyer could really make this a spectacular home. Room for master bedroom addition and pool. Just a few blocks to Ft. Zachary beach and Duval St."

I poked around in the old shoebox and found a black and white photo of the house that was taken back in 1965. This particular photo shows the simplicity of design that makes these old houses so appealing to us today. To see what I mean compare the black and white photo to the color photo taken today. Granted the color photo was taken around noon when outdoor sunlight was at its worst for taking pictures. But if you look carefully you'll see some "modern" additions to this house that ought not to be there including aluminum windows. Little details like replacement with period-correct windows and a crisp white paint job would make this old home show more prominently.

I searched the Sanborn Fire Maps to see if I could determine when this house was built.
The property was omitted from the 1889 map. The 1912 map definitely places 210 Olivia Street at the corner of what is now Hutchinson Lane. The 1889 and 1899 maps have the same house plus the same cottage in the rear, but the house numbers were different on all three maps. I am confident in stating that 210 Olivia Street existed as early as 1889. 

 210 Olivia Street is located on a large corner lot that runs 66' wide and 70' deep or 4818 sq ft. The existing house and out building total 917 sq ft per the listing Realtor. There is room to expand the house plus room for a pool and garden. A new owner might turn the rear cottage into a guest bed and bath or alternatively make it into a pool house.  The parking space in front of the rear cottage is accessed off Hutchinson Lane. A new owner might brick that space and put a nice picket fence around the property. I t

Olivia Street is a one way street that begins one block to the west and terminates about one mile to the east at Eisenhower Drive in the Meadows Area.The new City of Key West Truman Waterfront Park will be located near this property but Olivia Street will not be a thoroughfare - it is too narrow.

CLICK HERE to view the Key West mls datasheet on this home. You can see some interior photos. Understand that the interior will likely get ripped apart and put back together in any renovation. 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.