527 Fleming Street, Key West - Transient Licensed Property

 

Just Listed by Preferred Properties Key West - 527 Fleming Street, Key West. This historic property is located in the Historic District just one-half block east of Duval Street. While it is referred to as a "mixed-use property" which includes retail space on the first floor, an apartment on the second floor, and a guest cottage with a valuable Transient Rental License at the rear, it has been "home" to the current owners for more than thirty years. If you are a buyer and get a chance to see the inside, you will appreciate the care and attention to detail the owners have put into this property. I say "chance to see inside" for good reason - I expect this property will be purchased within a couple of days of hitting the MLS.

I dug down into my old shoebox and found the three black and white photos above which show 527 Fleming Street in several decades ago. The top photo was taken in 1965.  It shows the house when the second floor front porch was screened. The middle photo was taken in 1940 from the La Conch Hotel looking eastward down Fleming Street.  The bottom black and white was also taken from the La Conch Hotel looking down Fleming in 1965. One of the two houses to the west of 527 Fleming Street was relocated to Key Lime Square in the 600 block of Duval Street.  The eyebrow house presumably relocated to another location. Fausto's Grocery appears for the first time in the lower photo.

The street presence cannot be understated. It is magnificent. This Revival style home is the archetype would-be buyers aspire to own. The first floor has been a needlepoint shop for several years. The interior includes Dade County Pine walls, high ceilings, and two-over-two windows. The original interior staircase was removed years ago. The owners occupy rooms at the first floor rear including a bedroom with French doors that open out to the pool. An exterior staircase was added on the right side of the house which provides access to the apartment on the second floor. There is an interior staircase in the apartment that leads to the third floor bedrooms and bath.The previously screened second floor porch is now open. The first and second floor front porches provide lots of people watching opportunities.

The property across the street at 532 Fleming Street was originally the Louise Maloney Hospital. Folk Artist Ronny Bailey created the artwork featured above depicting the building in earlier times.  CLICK HERE to read my blog about that property.

I was simply awed the first time I entered the second floor apartment.  It's sort of a throw back to the the interior renovations made during the 1980s and early 1990s - a time before quartz counter-tops, vessel sinks, and designer this and that. The original Dade County Pine walls have been white washed or painted and framed by custom trim work, crown molding, and high base boards painted crisp white.

I checked the Historic Sandborn Firm Maps to determine the age of the building. The 1889 map showed a grocery store was located at the corner of Fleming and Simonton Street. The black and white photo shows a gas station at that location in 1965. Today that space is a Chinese restaurant. 527 Fleming Street remains in place and looks better than ever. CLICK HERE to view more photos of 527 Fleming Street Key West.

 CLICK HERE to view the Key West MLS datasheet and listing photos of  527 Fleming Street, Key West, offered at $2,675,000. Then contact me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642, to arrange a personal showing. I am a buyers agent and a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Key West.

711 Olivia Street, Key West - A Perfect Renovation

Just Listed, but not be me, 711 Olivia Street, Key West which the listing Realtor describes this way:

"Don's miss out on this incredible opportunity to own a newly restored masterpiece located in the heart of Old Town Key West. This property is nestled on quiet & quaint Olivia St., with close proximity to Duval St., many shops, restaurants and galleries just steps away. The property has been meticulously renovated with luxury finishes throughout with a key west coastal flair. Enter the main house and you will find a designer kitchen with a seamless flow to living /dining area. Space is designed with cool beach colors to create a relaxing yet luxurious ambiance. Main House features a second floor master suite with luxurious walk in shower, double vanities, stunning cabinetry and ample closet space. Find your way to the pool through double glass doors and relax in outdoor oasis. Private Patio, stunning Pool and Waterfall...what more could you ask for and if that's not enough, the newly built guest house is completely separate from the main house, perfect for guests and extended family. Designed with living and sleeping quarters, this space opens up to the pool and patio area resulting in the perfect Old Town Compound. One Off Street Parking and Located in X-Flood Zone."

 I wrote about this same property in mid October 2017 just as Key West began to recover from Hurricane Irma. This house was not damaged by the storm, but it was one of the first houses to be offered for sale as our little town started to recover. There were a couple of months where we all wondered how the folks up north would react to the misleading media reports that suggested Key West was as badly damaged by the storm as other nearby Keys. Be late December we knew visitors would be returning in bigger numbers than before.  CLICK HERE to read what I wrote then about 711 Olivia Street. Then compare what I suggested with what this new owner created and now offers for sale.

The original house was gutted on the inside. The staircase was removed and reversed going in the opposite direction. The ceiling in the sawtooth addition at the rear was vaulted.  I often tell prospective buyers that all houses are just boxes and that they need to let their imagination go and dream of what they could do with a particular box. What surprised me was the complete perfection this new owner brought to this project. They nailed it!

The original house had several one-purpose rooms, each very small. Original interior walls and floors were removed as were windows, HVAC, etc. I was stunned at how large and open the entire living space now feels. The kitchen is quite large and has a lot of upper and lower cabinet space and counter space. There is a good-sized peninsula with bar seating on the back side.  Two French doors open to the back and right rear yards.

As best as I can remember there were four rooms on the first floor. The living room was on the left and a bedroom on the right. Both were tiny. The bathroom was located right rear and the kitchen was on the left rear in the sawtooth addition. The first thing you saw upon entering the old house was a tiny stairway to the second floor which had a bedroom. Today you enter into a small foyer which immediately turns to the right and leads through the living room toward the dining area and then the kitchen. A doorway in the back of the kitchen now leads to the guest bedroom with an adjacent bath. The builder saved some of the original Dade County Pine walls in both the bedroom and the new living room. The rest of the walls are drywall painted in coastal colors. New interior floors flow from room to room giving uniformity of look and function. So many of our old houses have sagging floors and often at various heights. Just about every other item in this house has been replaced except for exterior siding, the front porch, and the roof.

The open staircase leads to the second floor master suite. I had a vague recollection of a cramped ceiling and wondered how that could have been fixed. Well I was delighted to see that the old interiors were guttered.  The windows at the front dormer were previously shuttered. The newly renovated space includes new open windows framed by closets on either side, a sitting bench with built-in drawers. A full walk-in closet is on the back side of the bedroom. The bathroom is surprisingly large and includes a double sink vanity, large shower, and separate toilet plus more built in storage under the eaves. 

If you look back up at the old black and white photo of 711 Olivia Street you will see an adjacent two story house. That photo was taken in 1965. The old house was razed and concrete block garage with interior plumbing was added. That garage created the opportunity for redevelopment. The new owner took down the garage and built a new structure that is now a surprisingly large guest cottage with living room, wet bar, sleeping area and bathroom. Wind impact resistant sliding doors open out to the pool and water feature which are surrounded by Trex decking. The whole yard is now surrounded by new fencing which also creates defined areas separating the house and cottage from the street and nearby Galveston Lane.  CLICK HERE to view the photos I took of the renovation of the eyebrow house to the rear at 845 Galveston Lane which includes many photos of 711 Olivia before it was previously offered for sale.

The original house had 1248 square feet of living space. The renovated home and guest cottage now have 1504 square feet of living space situated on a 3550 sq ft corner lot. The cottage would be the perfect place for your mother-in-law to stay when she comes to town. It's all on one level - no steps. She can keep her box of wine in the mini-fridge and watch her programs without having to go inside the main house except for meals. A gate at the side even allows her to slip away without having to make her absence known. CLICK HERE to view photos I took during the renovation. I never imagined it could look as awesome as it does. This is a really great house.

CLICK HERE to view the Key West MLS datasheet and listing photos on 711 Olivia Street, Key West now offered for sale at the sum of $1,795,000. 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.

807 Washington Street #102, Key West, Florida

Just Listed, but not by me, 807 Washington Street #102, Key West, Florida. This has got to be one of the best buys on the market in current day Key West.  There are just nine of these babes that were built in 2007.  I have listed and or sold four of these homes over the years. I know them well and feel very comfortable is recommending a buyer purchase one.

The homes are located on the corner of William and Washington Streets in the swank Casa Marina District of Key West. This home is located in the X Flood Zone. The Casa Marina Resort is just a couple of blocks to the west and south. Higgs Beach is a five minute walk as is Louie's Backyard and dog beach. Upper Duval Street is only four blocks to the west.

These homes were originally built to sell for $1.5 and higher price point back in 2007. That is when the economy took a nose dive. Several new high end housing projects tumbled along with the national real estate market. Our local market has recovered although some price points are not doing as well as others. This particular listing is particularly attractive because it has so many high end features that were built in to the house and that it has just been updated with a new kitchen and new master bath. The above photos show a formal entry hall that includes powder room, new kitchen with high end stainless steel appliances, beautiful heart pine floors, high baseboards, crown molding, recessed and track lighting.

Two sets of glass panel doors open out to the covered rear deck, private heated pool and garden in the rear. There is a walking service alley behind the property where the pool man can enter each property to service to pool. There are four buildings with four one bedroom units each at Southpark Condominiums. They have one beautiful pool. Southpark Condos are a great property and will not create any issues for a new owner at today's listing.

There are two bedrooms, each ensuite, on the second floor. The master bedroom is at the rear. Note the soaring vaulted ceiling and double glass panel doors that open out tot the covered rear porch which overlooks the pool below.

The second floor front bedroom has a private bath and also has a private second floor covered front porch which overlooks Washington Street. This home has one designated off street parking spot plus lots of off street parking on the beautifully landscaped lot.

The third floor bedroom and bath runs the entire length of the home.

Everybody has their view of what living in Key West would be like. I have lived in the Casa Marina District since 1995. I love the area. I don't make it to the beach like I used to, but I love having it there. The homes in the area are by and large much more expensive than today's listing. That signifies to me this property gives the new owner a chance to move on up without paying the price of a single family home. More photos CLICK HERE.

CLICK HERE to view the Key West MLS datasheet on 807 Washington Street #102, Key West, Florida. 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. Let me help you find your place in Paradise.

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