Just Listed, but not by me, 112 Hutchinson Lane in the Bahama Village area of Key West.
As is my new habit, I checked the old Sanborn Fire Maps of Key West to
see if I could determine the approximate date this old house was built.
Frequent readers know that our county property records were destroyed
in the great fire many years ago. Workers from the WPA during the
Depression reconstructed property records and unfortunately gave
"construction" dates of when the records were reconstructed. In the
case of 112 Hutchinson Lane I found what I think is the house in the
1892 Sanborn Map. The problem is the houses are clearly marked in the
correct area on the map but the map makes no reference to the then
unnamed "lane". No matter, we can tell by looking at the black and
white photo below which was taken in 1965 that the house was ancient
then. Compare the way it looked then to the way it looks today. I wish
people aged as gracefully. Really, I do.
According
to the property records the house is 720 sq ft and sits on a 43.5' x
66' (2872 sq ft) lot midway down one of the slowest lanes in Key West.
Mind you, this lane is only one block long and dead-ends at the end
where a small compound of four homes share a pool. More than half of
the homes on this little lane have been updated.
This
house has one of the wider lots which would probably allow for the
reduction of the current two car off street parking spots into just one.
That would then allow for the addition of a new swimming pool running
toward the rear of the lot. There is a backyard but the set backs would
only permit a dip pool if the pool were built at the rear.
The
house itself is a typical cigar maker cottage with the door on the
left. A hallway runs from front to rear along the south wall. The first
two rooms are bedrooms. The kitchen and bath are at the rear. The
kitchen is small. The bath was updated in 2012 and 2013. The roof was
replaced in 1996 but looks new. The exterior siding is board and batten
and looks great. I was surprised by how nicely maintained this house
looks.
A
cottage across the lane appears to have been the victim of a fire. It
is in the early stages of a redo. I will be the fire damage house ends
up looking wonderful after it is redone. None of the houses on this
block are rundown.
Hutchinson
Lane is located three blocks west of Duval Street. Truman Avenue is a
one way street heading west toward the new Truman Waterfront
development. Olivia Street is a one way street heading east from the
waterfront passed Duval and through Old Town. The neighborhood is mostly
residential with the exception of several restaurants near the corner
of Petronia and Thomas Street. Blue Heaven is probably the most famous
restaurant there. The Ft Zach Taylor State Park and Beach are within
walking distance. When the new Truman waterfront is opened access to the
water will be maybe five minutes at most.
CLICK HERE to view the Key West mls datasheet on 112 Hutchinson Lane which is offered at $415,000 or $591 per sq ft. I took more exterior photos of the house and the block which you can see if you CLICK HERE. Better than looking at photos, please call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642 to schedule a showing of this little cigar maker cottage. I am a buyers agent and a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Key West.
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Showing posts with label prefeffed properties. Show all posts
Showing posts with label prefeffed properties. Show all posts
Tuesday, October 8, 2013
Tuesday, February 12, 2013
1019 Varela Street - Transient Licensed House - Old Town - Key West
Just Listed by Preferred Properties Key West, that's where I work, but this is not my listing, 1019 Varela Street in Old Town Key West. This really cute two bedroom home has a very valuable City of Key West Transient Rental License which permits daily rentals. The asking price is $499,000. CLICK HERE to view the Key West mls datasheet on this unit.
This cottage style home sits elevated behind a white picket fence on a quiet street. The front porch provides a good people watching perch. Inside you will find a lovely living room with vaulted ceiling. Two sets of French doors open out to outdoor living area that includes a hot tub. The property does not have off street parking.
If you would like to see 1019 Varela Street before it gets swooped away (which it surely will), please contact me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642 to schedule a 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.
Saturday, September 29, 2012
Revenge of the Projects of Key West
It's time for a new update so that my blog followers who have not been to Key West for several months can track the progress (or slowness) of some of the more interesting projects of Key West.
618 Grinnell Street looks quite attractive with its new yellowish color and the new addition at the rear. A pool has been installed, but it is not finished. A couple of out buildings were added at the rear, but they are no where near complete either.
618 Grinnell St built 1889, photographed 1965 |
June 2011 |
September 2012 |
September 2012 |
911 Watson Street is probably a place you have never driven by because it is off the beaten path. Its notable neighbor to the north is the Key West Cemetery on Olivia Street. Bare Assets is its most famous neighbor to the south on Truman Avenue. Few locals and fewer tourists drive down this one block street unless they are there for a specific reason. The original house at 911 Watson had several additions and out buildings most of which were demolished after the property was purchased a couple of years ago. The main cottage was saved and is the focal point for the redevelopment of this incredible 10,000 sq ft lot. Local architect Matthew Stratton designed this project.
I have not discussed the project with the architect or builder. I think we are seeing three different parts of the new house emerge which will have the old house be the focal point where guests arrive. The formal living area and kitchen and dining will likely be at ground level on one side. Perhaps the family or guest bedrooms will be on the upper level. I suspect the master suite will be in the opposite building. Perhaps there will be a stairway from the master suite that leads down to the pool at the rear.
I think the "weathered" look of the front facade is intentional as the boards are crisp and clean. The sides are crisply painted. I like the juxtaposition if that is the fate of this front porch.
909 Flagler Avenue circa 1965 |
July 3rd - notice the firecracker Royal Poinciana Tree at the rear |
909 Flagler Avenue is another project designed by Matthew Stratton. I think the building on the far right will be the master suite as it is separated by what I think is the main living area in the center. I'll bet family or guest bedrooms will be located to the rear of the garage.
924 Flagler Avenue circa 1965 |
You probably can't see it, but the original jalousie windows in the upper photograph are now replaced by custom made French doors made of mahogany with newly crafted paladin windows above. It's my theory, but only my theory, that the original paladin windows were meant to compliment the design of the Casa Marina hotel just one half a block away to the west. I found the photo below of the old dining room.
Slowly, but surely, the windows and doors are being replaced. The original roof has also been replaced by new age materials that replicate the look of the old roof but that provide windstorm insurance credits the former roof was unable to do. Even the double garage got a new roof and copper gutters that will last this Casa Marina beauty well into the next century.
Another Casa Marina area home located at 817 Waddell Avenue has just been completed and is awaiting clean-up of building materials. This beautiful home was designed by Tom Pope. It is located at the corner of Reynolds Street and Waddell Avenue opposite the grounds of the Casa Marina Resort. I wrote about the vacant lot when it was for sale a couple of years ago. Construction has taken about one year if my recollection serves me well. I live a couple of blocks away and have taken progressive photos of the space from vacant lot through the stages of development. Landscaping was recently installed. I assume the interiors are complete as plantation shutters protect the interior from prying eyes and there is a nice chair on the second floor front porch for people watching.
December 2010 from Reynolds Street |
817 Waddell Avenue - Key West |
Another new house is the property being built at 615 Thomas Street in Bahama Village, just opposite to the parking entrance to the Shipyard Condominiums in Truman Annex. An old relic of a falling down house used to sit at this location. Today a substantial new two story home is being constructed where the former cottage once stood. Instead of old school carpentry, this new house is using many modern day building features that will make this home a notable addition to the area.
Frequent readers will recall my former listing at 630 Elizabeth Street (below). The house sits at the very top of Solares Hill - the highest point on the Island of Key West. Passers-by could not help notice how badly she looked. The big old girl is getting a major face lift as well as new dentures, a tummy tuck, hip replacement, intestinal bypass, and breast augmentation. I kid you not (well just a little).
630 Elizabeth Street built circa 1887, photographed in 1965 |
The new owner hired an experienced contractor and work has begun on the restoration. The ground level floor was removed and new foundation built in place. The second level floor and some of the super structure were removed as well. New headers were placed around much of what will re-emerge as the second floor. I included a couple of photos below that permit you to see this great example of balloon framing where the exterior shell is built first. The second floor is then added. And finally interior framing and part ions are added at the end. In this instance, the second floor balcony will get replaced and new and the old columns either replaced or repaired. I am eager to see how this turns out. Anticipation!
Early photo showing balloon framing |
Something akin to intestinal bypass |
517 Elizabeth Street half a century ago |
A block to the north the house at 517 Elizabeth Street is being given a new lease on life. Note the fake brick veneer and clam shell awnings that were added to modernize the original house decades ago.
517 Elizabeth Street looked like this in late March 2012 when this house sold in just a couple of weeks. The new owners engaged architect Tom Pope who worked with the new owners to develop a plan to update the house and to provide living spaces that we expect in contemporary Key West homes.
The "new" facade is beginning to appear. Specimen palms have been planted in front. The old garage and part of the rear will be demolished to make way for improvements at the back side and the addition of a pool.
A couple of years ago I wrote a blog about the then "bank owned" house at 1030 Fleming Street. There was a flurry of interest in that property because of the size, location, and relatively cheap price. One buyer got a really good deal and started the renovation which has taken nearly two years to get to its present status which appears to be nearly done.
1030 Fleming before it became bank owned |
Before it became bank owned |
Renovation in progress December 2011 |
September 2012 renovation nearly complete |
The house at 1030 Fleming Street sold for $530,000 in March 2010. I had a cash buyer who offered just a bit less. My buyer's wife was "iffy" on the project and wasn't committed to spending that much money on a bank owned house. My buyer drew a line in the sand and refused to go higher when presented with a 'best and final' opportunity. I have no idea how much the new owner will have spent on this property to redo the place, but I can guarantee you every dollar spent will have been worth it. The place looks great. This is the kind of place you drive by and remember that you could have had it if only...
909 Pohalski Lane in late 2010 |
I sold the little doll house shown above on Pohalski Lane in early 2011. A few months later most of the house was nearly destroyed by a fire. The owner and I learned the lessons of build back after damage. HARC and the City of Key West Planning Department have rules regarding how a house damaged by fire or storm can be rebuilt. The owner engaged noted local architect Tom Pope who designed a new house to fit into the space occupied by the former building. The front facade and part of the front roof were saved. Everything else will be brand spanking new. I will share more details when this house is completed. Until then look at the fire damage below (that section of the house was razed), and look at the front facade and part of the newly built two story house to the rear.
Living room Dry walling in process |
Work in Progress |
Nearing completion - September 27, 2012 |
730 Southard St - 1970 |
730 Southard Street - September 27, 2012 |
2008 |
Rear View |
730 Southard Street. The new owners undertook an ambitious project when they decided to restore this wonderful part of Key West history from the ground up. See the photos below which track a bit of the process.
Original Kitchen being rebuilt from ground up |
First and Second story wrap around porches re-engineered and newly built |
Insulation under layment for new roof |
this old gal back to glory.
The projects of Key West, aren't they something!
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The information on this site is for discussion purposes only. Under no circumstances does this information constitute a recommendation to buy or sell securities, assets, real estate, or otherwise. Information has not been verified, is not guaranteed, and is subject to change.