721 Georgia St., Key West - Legal Duplex

The legal duplex located at 721 Georgia Street in the Meadows Area of Key West is an unassuming two story abode waiting for a new owner. I dug down into my old shoe box and found a photo of the house taken back in 1965. There was a note on the back which states the house used be known as 1301 Petronia Street rear. I took a picture from a similar location so that readers could see how little this home has changed in fifty years. The fence is taller and more private, the  original Bahama shutters are gone. So too are the wood windows that were  replaced with impact glass. The house is still located in a very quiet location near Old Town yet not near all that noise and commotion.

The listing Realtor, not me, describes the property this way:

"Wonderful compact duplex in the Meadows. Each unit is in good condition and immediately rentable. The first floor 1 BD unit has wood floors, newly painted interior, washer and dryer, and a large wooden deck at the rear of the house. The 2nd floor 1 BD unit was owner occupied for many years and has numerous upgrades. There are tile floors, corian counter tops, dishwasher, washer and dryer, and a balcony off the rear of the unit. This home would make a great pied a terre plus income. There are impact rated windows (2010) on both units and 8' elevation."

 It looks like the duplex was renovated about twenty-five years ago. The place has been very well maintained since then. The kitchens, baths, and some of the appliances look their age. Others were replaced. The wall mounted air conditioners are much newer.  The rear decks probably need replaced and the building deserves a new paint job.

I borrowed the interior photos from the listing Realtor with her permission. I didn't take photos when I showed the property as I did not want to interfere with the showing. I was really "taken" by the second floor unit where the owner had lived. The furniture comes with this place if the new buyer wants it. There's a very nice almost "built-in" sectional in the living room. That space is located up front just off the second floor entry area. The dining area is to the left. The bedroom is up front on the south side. The very nice bathroom is located in the middle and the kitchen is at the rear. We all had a giggle at 1980s era range.

I agree with the listing agent's suggestion that this property would make a great pied a terre. So many buyers are looking for a place they can use and also rent out for income. This is that place, only here you get annual income without interruption and if you rent it yourself and don't rely on a property manager, you won't have to share part of your annual income with a property management company.

All of the windows and glass doors are impact glass. That means your windstorm insurance will be very low. The house is located in the 8' flood elevation so flood insurance will be low. The house has been well maintained. Fire and liability insurance should also be low.

CLICK HERE to view the Key West mls datasheet and more listing photos. 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.

816 Terry Lane, Key West - Bank Owned Duplex

 Just Listed, but not by me, 816 Terry Lane, Key West. This is a Bank Owned legal duplex located on a lane that runs parallel for two blocks between Whitehead Street on the east and Thomas Street to the west. Frequent travelers to Key West know the area because Blue Heaven Restaurant and Santiago's Bodega are located around the corner on Petronia Street. 

In his book The Streets of Key West: A History Through Street Names, J Willis Burke quoted Thomas Sanchez, Mile Zero where Sanchez describe the area today known as Bahama Village "...a place marked on the early Key West maps as Africa Town. A place still called Nigger Town, Black Town, Tan Town, or home, depending on the color of one's skin." And later Burke quoted Thomas Corcoran, Octopus Alibi who wrote "We drove into a section of town that real-estate brokers and black entrepreneurs called Bahama Village. It was the last repository of island tradition that had not been remodeled and resold". Ernest Hemingway lived less than one block away. Of the area he wrote "...and across, behind the hotel, to the street that led to jungle town, the big unframed house with lights and girls in the doorway." Those are literary references to what once was. I don't know anybody who refers to the area with those vulgar terms. Today I am writing of what might be, but I am going to throw in some old photos the Terry Lane.

The black and white photo above shows 816 Terry Lane when it was photographed in 1965. That is the the same house that exists today, although the building has been updated and expanded. There house visible next door still exists today and was featured in my blog a couple of years ago. The two buildings to the immediate north pictured below were also photographed in 1965. Both of those buildings were taken down and were replaced by two brand new houses in 2006. 

 I searched the Historic Sanborn Fire Maps to see if I could determine when 816 Terry Lane might have been built. The building was not shown on the 1889, 1899, 1892, or 1912 maps. So it had to have been built after 1912. The space where the lot is located was not occupied by another structure on the earlier maps but always left vacant. The building shown the photo two above was noted as being a "bakery" and ovens were shown as being located behind that building. The two block long street that ran from Olivia Street on the south to Petronia Street on the north was  called Tin Pan Alley on the 1889 map. The street name was changed to Terry Street on the 1899 map where nearby homes were referred to on the map as NEGRO TEN 'M' ENTS behind which was the ODD FELLOWS HALL or COLORED I.O O F HALL on Thomas Street. The area south of Olivia Street was pretty much vacant all the way to the Atlantic Ocean about four blocks to the south. Like other parts of Old Town, the houses here were situated on small lots. Little stores and community bakeries dotted the landscape since there was not such thing as refrigeration. 

The little house at 808 Terry Lane and the bakery at 810 Terry Lane were razed and replaced by new two story homes with private pools that were added in 2006.

Today 816 Terry Lane is a legal duplex consisting of the original front building which has been expanded and the 2006 addition at the rear.  The lot measures 31.5. X 96' or 3024 sq ft. The two housing units have a combined area of 1906 sq ft. There is no external separation of the housing units.

The rear unit was built in 2006 and looks to be in pretty good condition. Someone removed the appliances including range, refrigerator, washer and dryer. The bathroom mirror and some light fixtures were also removed. But the place was otherwise maintained quite well. A fresh coat of paint and the addition of appliances will make this space move-in ready. Even without offering off-street parking, I think the rear one bedroom unit ought to rent somewhere between $1500 to $1800 per month. This is very nice space for an annual rental in the Old Town area.

The main entry to the original part of the house is located mid-way on the north side. You enter into the main living area where the kitchen is located at the rear. It looks like someone took most of the kitchen away. All that remains is the kitchen sink. A spiral staircase leads to a large second floor bedroom with ample closet space. There are three more bedrooms on the main level. There are three bathrooms in the front part of the property.

CLICK HERE to view the Key West mls datasheet and listing photos. 816 Terry Lane is offered for sale at $497,500 or just $261 per sq ft. While this place needs some TLC, it does not need a total renovation. The rear unit could be rented for enough money to pay taxes, insurance, and utlities plus provide some cash towards your mortgage payment. I think there is room in the backyard to build a small pool. After you have studied the mls report, please call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642 to look at the real thing. I am a buyers agent and a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Key West.

606 Grinnel Street, Key West

Just Listed, but not by me, 606 Grinnell Street in Old Town Key West. When you view the home from the street you would probably never suspect the place is actually a two story legal duplex. I checked the Historic Sanborn Fire Maps to see if I could determine the approximate date this home was built. The 1889 map did not show any homes in this area but the surrounding blocks were thoroughly built out.  This leads me to conclude houses were on  this block and other surrounding blocks in 1889 but were omitted from map placement for some reason.. The house did appear on the 1892 map.. I the dug through my old shoe box and found a couple of photos of the home taken about fifty years ago. They show the house before the house was totally renovated and enlarged to add the rear addition and inclusion of the second floor attic space into the renovated structure.

The photos demonstrate that the front facade has pretty much stayed pretty much the same over the decades. The historic metal shingles still exist (or were replaced with like-kind). The old scuttle on the roof is still there. Scuttles were used before we had air conditioning to allow hot air to rise through the house and escape into the heavens. The color photo below shows the expansion of the old house and the newer addition. A small pool is at the rear. An agent in my office lives nearby. He told me watch as this house was taken almost to the ground and entirely rebuilt. A decorative railing replaced the basic original one. There are new doors and windows throughout the house. Inside, the floors are level and rooms divided into livable spaces the way we live today.

The front porch looks out to one of the best blocks in Old Town. This is because the Conch Trains and Trolley Cars can't maneuver the turn at the end of the street where Grinnell terminates at the Key West cemetery. Because of this there is much less traffic from all other sources as well. You'll still see tourists pedaling past on rented bikes and see neighbors walking their dogs to the doggie park at the end of the block, but the noise level will be greatly reduced compared to many other places.

Both the first floor and second floor apartments are tenant occupied. The first floor tenants use the front room as an office. A hallway leads to the rear addition where the great room includes the kitchen, living, and dining areas in one large space. French doors at the rear open out to the rear covered porch that looks out to the private pool at the rear.

The child's playhouse at the rear belongs to the tenant and is not included in the purchase of this home. Perhaps the new owner can create something similar for that special child or grand child. 

The second floor apartment is accessed via side entrance. The main living area of the apartment is quite large and provides shared living, dining, and kitchen spaces.The bedroom is located at the front. 

Double doors open out to the second floor covered balcony. This balcony provides a lot of quality outdoor living space many apartments in Old Town do not have. One of the reasons people move to Key West is to enjoy our wonderful climate. Whoever lives in this apartment will be able to enjoy the great outdoors in style. CLICK HERE to view more photos I recently took of this property.

Many potential buyers seeking a second home in Key West want a place they can rent out to help cover some of the costs of home ownership. A new owner of this property could keep one unit for him or her self and rent out the other. The downstairs unit would rent for more money because it has use of the pool. Rental income from the upper level unit ought to pay all insurances, taxes, and maintenance costs.  Either way, a new owner keep one unit for personal use and rent the other.

CLICK HERE to view the Key West mls datasheet and listing photos on 606 Grinnell Street which is offered for sale at $1,200,000. 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.