The house at 1003 Seminary Street looks a bit different this week than it did a few months ago. The owner planned to renovate the house and to add a pool. The house sat about thirty feet from the public right of way - further back than most other houses in the area. He got permission from the Historic Architectural Review Commission and the Key West Building Department to move the house forward on the lot which gave him space to do the other renovations he sought.
The front porch was removed but the roof of the porch remained. The porch will be rebuilt later during the renovation. Forms were built the forward part of the lot where the house would be relocated. piers.
This past Monday morning house movers from Miami arrived. They jacked up the house and built new beams which they attached to the house. The house is located in the X Flood Zone but will still be elevated just a bit to surpass new FEMA standars. A solid foundation in a new location!
That little green Bobcat moved that house forward onto the new piers. Workers on the sides moved about adjusting long pieces of lumber as the old house inched forward. The house movers were finished by the end of the day.
The piers visible at the front will support the porch which will be rebuilt. The front entry is being relocated to the right side of the house where a new entry hall leading to the new rear addition and pool at the rear will be visible from the front door. The driveway also will be relocated to the right side of the house. The pool is already installed at the rear. The garage visible are the left rear has been converted into a guest cottage with private bath. The piers at the rear will be replaced by new piers upon which the new addition will be built. Stay tuned to see how all of this turns out.
