411 William Street Unit 16, Key West Transient Licensed Condominium

The Island City House is an assemblage of old Key West buildings that were joined to create a hotel that later became a prospective condominium complex. I dug out the old shoe box and found some old photos which show 411 William Street, 808 Eaton Street, and the more recently built three story building recessed deep into the lot.  The grounds are densely with tropical foliage and winding paths which lead to the pool, main office, and on-site laundry.

411 William Street as it appeared in 1913

411 William Street as it appeared in 1941

During renovation in 1970s

808 Eaton Street photographed by the WPA in the 1930s

808 Eaton Street as it appeared in 1965

808 Eaton Street as it appeared in 1970 during renovation

808 Eaton Street August 2012

 808 Eaton Street  January 2019

The properties were built around 1889 and were converted into condominiums in 2005.  Only four the units actually sold. The developer retained the other units and continues to manage the entire complex as the Island City Hotel.  Preferred Properties just listed Unit #16 which  is managed this way. Income records are available by prospective buyers. Owners must use the property management team to manage the property and may use the unit no longer than 90 days per year.

Unit #16 is located at first floor rear of the 411 William Street building. It is accessed from walkway adjacent to the building on William Street or alternatively through the walkway from the arched building on 808 Eaton Street. Both paths are short but long enough to pass exotic tropical foliage which will make guests feel they are in Eden. Unit #16 has a private covered porch. The newer building and sunny pool are located opposite. 

The one bedroom unit has 332 sq ft of living space divided between the bedroom, bath, and living area.  Dade County Pine walls quickly remind guests they are staying in an historic structure and not some motel on Roosevelt Boulevard. This is stuff Key West memories are made of. This unit has the essentials for a comfy visit, but I suspect the pool, grounds, and overall ambience of the Island City House are what guests will remember forever. It is that kind of place. But since it has a valuable Key West transient license, the owner can rent this condo and make money on it all year long. This unit is rented like a hotel room. There is no restriction as to the number of days, weeks, or months that the unit may be rented. The only limitation is use by the owner. 

 

 

 The listing Realtor describe Unit 16 this way:

"Unique Opportunity to own a condo/hotel in the heart of Key West.surrounded by the most outstanding maintained lush gardens. This one bedroom deluxe suite has kitchen facilities and a private large covered patio on the main floor, just steps away from the pool and spa. As an investment based on the information that has been submitted, the net income has been exceptional."

Frequent readers know the value of location. This place has one of the premiere locations in all of Old Town. This block of William Street boasts some of the finest older homes in Key West including the B.P. Roberts House across the street. He's the one with headstone in our cemetery that reads "I TOLD YOU I WAS SICK". The Historic Key West Seaport is a short two block walk to the north. Duval Street is three blocks to the west. And there are numerous great restaurants and specialty food shops like the Eaton Street Seafood Market across the street and the Old Town Bakery two blocks to the east. 

CLICK HERE to view the Key West MLS datasheet on 416 William Street #16 with its valuable Transient License offered at $499,000.  If you would like to see this property or any other property in Key West, please call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642. I am a buyers agent and a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Key West.  Let me help you find your place in Paradise.

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726 Poorhouse Lane, Key West

In his book The Streets of Key West: A History Through Street Names author J. Willis Burke informs us that "Over the other side of Solares Hill a couple of entries are self-explanatory. Galveston Lane is named for the Texas gulf coastal city that was served by the Mallory Steamship Company, and off Windsor, on Poorhouse Lane, a poorhouse was once tucked away." You may ask yourself why anybody would want to live on a street with such a desperate appellation. Let's try to figure this out.

I searched the Historic Sanborn Fire Maps starting in 1889 through 1912 (pictured above) to determine when the house at 726 Poorhouse Lane was built. The early maps did not give this little lane a name until this map and this particular lot did not have any building on it until after 1912.  The map shows the lane was previously named Petronia Lane and that it turned south and ended at Olivia Street. Study the street sign above because that sign is now gone. Some street thug stole it and part of the history of this charming slow lane of Key West. House by house, foot by foot, this little lane is gradually being gentrified and made into a re-imagined neighborhood in Old Town Key West.

 726 Poorhouse Lane is a 4800 square foot corner lot (48' X 100') now located across the street from Bill Butler Park to the west. I don't think I have ever seen a kid swing on the swing as this area is now mostly occupied by rich folks with second homes in Key West as opposed to real families. I'm not being negative - I'm just stating a fact.

There is a white picket fence which wraps the lot on two sides. I searched my old shoebox and found a photo of the house taken in 1965. I took a similar photo yesterday which shows a modification of the original roof line after which a rear porch was added. There is a small storage cottage at the southeast corner of the lot. But ultimately it is the location on this picturesque lane that once led to a real poorhouse that makes this small home such an interesting home worthy of serious consideration.

The Monroe County Property Appraiser shows the bungalow style house was built circa 1939. The house has three bedrooms, two bathrooms, a nice living room with vaulted ceiling, and retro style kitchen.

For me it is the location and the possibilities that make 726 Poorhouse Lane such an interesting home to consider purchasing. A world famous singer used to live less 100 feet north of Bill Butler Park. There's a stage production about his music on Broadway right now. He's gone but the area itself is being rebuilt. There are two small corner convenience stores located within a couple of blocks. St. Mary's Catholic Church is up on the corner of Windsor Lane at Truman Avenue. And Duval Street is a five to seven minute walk. CLICK HERE to view more photos of 726 Poorhouse Lane and the area.

726 Poorhouse Lane is offered for sale at $920,000. CLICK HERE to view the Key West MLS datasheet and then please call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642, to schedule showing. I am a buyers agent and  a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Key West. Let's sit on the swings, take in the sights, and discuss fulfilling your dream of owning a little place on one of the slow lanes of Key West.

620 Frances Street, Key West - Just Listed Classic Eyebrow House

Just Listed, but not by me, 620 Frances Street, Key West. This is a classic eyebrow house which is located on one of the best blocks in Old Town. You can tell from the outside that the inside is going to be very special as well.

The house is located on the west side of Frances Street and enjoys early light as the sun rises across the skies over Key West. The houses on the opposite side of Frances are one story and do not have any huge trees to block the sun. The Key West cemetery is located one block to the south. The Historic Seaport is a five minute walk to the north. Duval Street is a seven to ten minute walk to the west. Several gyms and yoga studios are located five minutes or so by foot. You can be about anyplace in Key West within five minutes by car, but most locals can find all that they need in a matter of minutes by foot. That's part of why we choose to live on a little island out in the middle of the ocean.

 I searched the Historic Sanborn Fire Maps to determine when the house was built. The 1889 Map did not show any houses on this block, but knew they existed. The 1892 and 1899 Maps showed the house but it had a different street address on each Map. It was not until the 1912 Map that the 620 Frances Street was placed of record. I also found the Water-Front Pass of Mr. HM Roberts who resided at 620 Francis Street. He was a car inspector for the Florida East Coast Railway which Henry Flagler brought to Key West. Probably not co-incidentally Roberts Lane is located about seventy feet to the north of 620 Frances Street.

I actually looked at and seriously considered buying this house in 1995. My Realtor wanted me to by the house behind at 621Catholic Lane to use as my guest house. I considered doing that. I wish that I had. But that would have required me to spend a lot of money and time to remodel which I did not feel comfortable in doing. The house at 620 Frances Street was purchased by someone else who undertook the renovation and expansion of the house and who added the pool. I had not been inside the house until yesterday. I felt I made a grave mistake. This place is really beautiful.

The master suite is located at the left front of the house. The first thing I noticed was the incredible coffered ceiling and wainscotted walls which wrapped the room. The room is quite large and could easily accommodate a king size bed. A second door at the rear opens to the main hallway. The en-suite bath is very large. Travertine marble is used on the floor and also wraps the walls at the height as the wainscotting in the bedroom.

A second large guest bedroom with en-suite bath is located on the right side of the main entry hall. Both bedrooms and the entry hall have Dade County Pine walls and ceiling which have been painted. The floors were replaced with what I believe to be Brazilian Cherry.  This bedroom is quite large and is much larger than you might see in other eyebrow houses. I mention this because this house has two large first floor bedrooms. There are two bedrooms plus a large shared bath on the second floor. And there is a pool bath as well.

The pool was added during the 1995 renovation  The covered outdoor living area provides shade from the sun as it crosses Key West while the rooftop sundeck provides a private space to get than all over Key West tan so many people desire. There are no neighbors which have a view of whatever goes on up on that deck.

 This is a great block with lots of charming homes that date back over a century. 620 Frances Street is utterly captivating. It has significant street appeal, off street parking, and desired X zone location so many buyers want.

CLICK HERE to view the Key West MLS datasheet and listing photos of 620 Frances Street which is offered at $1,900,000. Then please call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642, to set up a private showing. I am a buyers agent and a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Key West. Don't make the same mistake I did. Buy this house!