605 Margaret Street, Key West

Buyers seeking an Old Town location should consider 605 Margaret Street, Key West  which the listing Realtor, not me, describes this way:

"This perfect Old Town Cottage is newly renovated as a single family 2 bedroom 2 bathroom home with a large bonus loft. The property can also be legally converted into two units per the City of Key West however the property is currently using one meter. This great location is only blocks away from Duval St and would make an excellent investment property."

 I searched through my old shoebox and found the above black and white photo taken in 1965. The top color photo shows multiple embellishments that have been added since, but the original house remains intact. The Monroe County Property Appraiser records show the house has 918 square feet of living space. The photo shows what looks to be a typical cigar maker cottage with a two story read addition. In recent years this house has been used as employee housing for the neighboring restaurant on Southard Street. 

 The front portion of the main level is a nice one bedroom with about 514 sq ft of living space. This room has a combination of Dade County Pine walls that have been painted white with one accent wall where the Dade Pine has been stripped and sealed. The front porch opens to a view of the old Harris School across the street. I found a photo taken inside the school around 1955 which I think shows 605 Margaret Street on the left. The children were first grade students.

A door at the rear opens into the two story mother-in-law one bedroom with kitchen and bath. The 300 sq ft of living space is divided equally between the floors. The bedroom has several windows which offer sunny views which you cannot see in the above photo. There is fairly good sized wood deck at the rear with a canvas awning - not pictured. That space is about 23 feet wide by 10 feet deep. The property records show there used to be a hot tub located there. If I owned this home, I would remover the awning, replace the hot tub, and have sweet little cottage in an ideal Old Town location.

CLICK HERE to view the Key West MLS datasheet and view more listing photos. Then please call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642, to set up a showing. I am a buyers agent and a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Key West. This is worth looking at!

1122 Whitehead Street, Key West

1122 Whitehead Street, Key West has an interesting history in usage. The building was built in 1880 when it was the Jos. Reves Cigar Factory and numbered 129 Whitehead Street on the 1889 Historic Sanborn Fire Map. The street number 1122 Whitehead Street appeared on the 1912 Map. It was the same property but it was then designated as a dwelling. For years and years the property was a legal duplex. The property has been renovated twice in the past ten years. When it sold in 2014 it had been awarded a certificate for excellence in historic preservation by the Historic Florida Keys Foundation when it was still a legal duplex. The current owners converted the two story classic revival building into a single family home with the intention of making this their permanent residence. Along came a child and now another is on the way. Now this beautiful three bedroom, two bath home awaits its next owner.

The new owners added the new interior staircase shown above. Previously, the second floor was only accessible via exterior staircase. That staircase still exists and will be discussed later. The first floor is laid out in quadrants with the living room on the left (south) front and bedroom left rear. The dining area is in the left (north) front and the kitchen in the rear.

The house is in move-in ready condition. And it is beautiful in every detail, of which there are many details. Architectural plans have been drawn for the construction of a pool where the exterior staircase now exists.

The master bedroom with loft office occupies the south front side of the house. That room also has access to the second floor front porch. A new internal staircase leads up to the loft office. A second bedroom is located on the north front but it does not have access to the porch. The laundry room is located at the north rear while the second floor bath is at the south rear. It is such a bright and beautiful room. Both bedrooms share the use of the second floor rear deck that offers lots of space for getting a key west tan with no neighbors having a view.

While I couldn't find an historic photo of the house itself, I did find the above aerial photo taken of the area in 1999. The Douglas Pool is located one block west. South Beach is located five minutes away except when the corner of South Street is clogged by people taking selfies. Ft Zach is ten minutes by bike. Thanks to the Saudis you must use the Southard Street entrance to go to Ft Zach. In 1999 you could ride your bike on the first straight road and be there in two or three minutes. A lot of things have changed since 1999.

CLICK HERE to view the Key West MLS datasheet for 1122 Whitehead Street and then please call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642, to arrange a showing. I am a buyers agent and a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Key West. This home has a lot of potential and is well worth looking at.

713 Eaton Street, Key West - Price Reduced

The asking price on 713 Eaton Street in Old Town Key West was just reduced to $1,300,000. This truly is an historic home based not only on its historic construction also on its renovation by the iconic designer Angelo Donghia who personally resided here at the beginning of the Key West cultural and housing renaissance.   The listing broker describes this home as follow

"The house is a simple one story six room Conch house which was owned and renovated by Angelo Donghia,  I did not see the house before it was renovated, but I have seen so many old homes that I am pretty sure the original house was constructed the same as others which would have included beaver board like panels applied over the original Dade County Pine walls. This material looks similar to a dense cardboard which could be painted. Beaverboard is flexible and can move a bit during a wind storm without cracking like plaster. I believe that Donghia removed the beaverboard to expose the Dade Count Pine walls and ceiling and added a clear coat of polyurethane which gives the current day walls and ceiling a grayish patina. The wood floors have the look of a well worn shoe - comfortable. The last thing one should do is refinish the floors: they are wonderful. They are like the walls, a canvas upon which to create art. In this instance, add a great rug."

 Upon his death in 1985 The New York Times referred to Angelo Donghia as one of America's most influential designers and distinguished two of his personal homes writing "a much-publicized Manhattan town house and a turn-of-the century Victorian house in Key West, Fla. The town house espoused a sophisticated, formal look; the Key West house had a more casual point of view that highlighted renovation and preservation." That home sits today the same way as when he sold it in 1980. It has not been touched. Buyers seeking an historic home may want to consider this property.

The front door opens into the living room and dining area on the right side. This is a big impressive space. Extra large crown molding and baseboards frame this space. The custom milled white trim sets off the windows and door.

This home which first appeared in the 1889 Sanborn Fire Map. At that time a small grocery store was partially located in the right front yard and extended out into where the sidewalk is today. That appendage appeared in each successive map until 1912.

When you enter the kitchen the same wood is employed. But the room is decidedly different. The room is even thous visible from inside the more "formal" living room is less formal by purpose and also by design. There is no crown molding or baseboard. The pine cabinets are the same pine on the walls which are aligned of the same plain. The kitchen shelves dial down the sophistication one more notch. Simplicity of design reflects the intended use of this space - food preparation.  The kitchen door opens out to Peacon Lane, formerly known as Gruntbone Alley where there is a bricked off street parking spot. 

The master bedroom is located at the right front of the house. While I did not see the house as it was being renovated, I am certain Donghia re-built the front wall that now includes closets on either side of a built-in bench  

There are two bedrooms at the rear. The bedroom below is currently used as a den. Both bedrooms have closets. And both have French doors which open out to the pool.

There is an outdoor shower on the west or right side of the house. All bedrooms have access to it as do people using the pool.

One of the real estate agents in my office told me he used to go to parties in the Donghia house back in the day while Donghia still lived there. He talked about the famous (and infamous) people from New York and Key West who attended the parties. He said the house was different then - furnished with designer furniture and art and famous people. The house itself has not changed. In fact, the passage of forty years have given that Donghia design a patina that only comes from age. If you are a fan of Antiques Road Show like I am, you know not to do something stupid by trying to clean or brush away patina. 

Eaton Street at Peacon Lane,  1937

Peacon Lane current
 

 I sat for several minutes on this front porch waiting to go inside for a showing.  Tourists were walking past on their way in both directions looking around at the houses on either side of the street commenting on the architecture and how wonderful it must be to live in such a town as this. I sat back on the cane chair in the cool of the afternoon shade behind the fan palms that made me invisible.

I can see why out of all the old houses for sale forty some years ago Donghia bought 712 Eaton (across the street) and also 713 Eaton Street. He renovated 712 Eaton and sold it to Calvin Klein. He kept 713 Eaton for himself. The simple facade of 713 is the opposite of the octagon house which is way fussy. It's better to look at fussy than to be fussy. People talk about fussy people but they admire the beautiful and unpretentious. That's what 713 Eaton Street is.  And it will stay that way as long as nobody messes with it.

713 Eaton Street is now offered for sale by Preferred Properties Key West at the reduced price of $1,300,000. Please CLICK HERE to view the Key West MLS datasheet. Then call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642, to set up a personal showing. Days and times are limited. I am a buyers agent and a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Key West.

1109 Petronia Street, Key West - another Price Reduction

Okay, so it's time that I fess up. A couple of days ago I wrote about money grubbers. I mocked them and made them look impotent. The truth is I made a mistake when we listed 1109 Petronia Street last December. There were few houses for sale in Old Town and I really believed a buyer looking to purchase a fixer property would immediately snap up the double gabled duplex.  I was wrong. I share this listing with Dan Skahen from my office, Preferred Properties Key West. He always felt $649,000 was the correct asking price but went along with my suggestion to list higher to test the market.

While we have had several showings, we have not had any offers. Season is starting to wind down. The tenant on the first floor just moved and we have decided not to rent that space and leave it open for a new owner to move into, rent at a higher price, or renovate. The new price for 1109 Petronia Street is $649,000 or $649 per square foot for this 1,000 square foot house situated on a 43.5X 31.8' (1,385 sq ft) lot on a lightly traveled two block long one-way street in Old Town. 

As of March 4th, there are three duplexes for sale in Old Town - the area most second home buyers and investors want to purchase property: 903 Catherine Street offered at $498,000 for 720 sq ft or $692 per sq ft. It is located directly across the street from El Siboney Restaurant. 1108 Olivia Street offered at $699,000 or $794 per sq ft for  an 880 sq ft duplex. 1109 Petronia Street is now priced lower than both on a per square foot basis.

The main floor unit is a bit larger than the second floor. The kitchen with vaulted ceiling extends out from the house and has a side door that opens out to the garden. The current owner added new windows and updated both kitchens and baths when this building was purchased a few years ago.

The building has been well maintained. It is one of six double gabled buildings in Old Town. I think it is a great candidate for renovation into a single family home and believe the structure would really benefit from removing the staircase that occupies one-third of the lot. Image how magnificent the house could look with a white picket fence and two rocking chairs on the front porch and a hammock on the second.

 CLICK HERE to view the Key West MLS datasheet and listing photos of 1109 Petronia Street in Key West. Then please 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 explore the possibilities of this great house in a really great Old Town location.