Just Listed 1021 Watston Lane, Key West Offered For Sale at $680,000 by Preferred Properties Key West. This 744 Sq Ft three bedroom, one bath vernacular home is described by the listing Realtor this way:
"The moment you enter you will fall in love with the charm of this Old Town home. 1021 Watson Lane offers high ceilings, Dade County Pine and natural light throughout. Two sets of french doors open up to an expansive outdoor deck and garden area."
If readers try to do a Google walk on this hidden lane, you won't get too far. Sometimes Google walks amaze me, and other times they fail. This is one of those times. In fact a lot of people cannot differentiate Watson Lane from Watson Street. The lane is located mid-block between Truman Avenue to the north and Virginia Street to the south. The lane dead-ends about twenty five feet east of this house. The house sits on an irregular rectangle of 70' X 42'. It has one off street parking space adjacent on the right. Those are the facts. I found a photo of the house in my old shoebox that was taken in 1965. It sure has changed.
The historic photo shows us the sawtooth addition at the back of the house. That area is where the present day kitchen is located.
Two previously functional scuttles were covered by metal roofing on the exterior, but the original interior elements still exist. Scuttles were part of the roof structure which opened on an angle to allow hot air to vent outward. Some owners replaced scuttles with skylights.
Look closely at the upper photo. You will see the gable peak of the sawtooth addition where the kitchen is located. French doors in the living room open out to the covered deck and garden. The open and covered deck area immensely expand the perceived living area. One of the prime reasons people move to Key West is to have outdoor living space. Don't underestimate the value of this space. I can put it another way. I have shown places with tiny to teeny to non-existent outdoor areas.
I found a black and white photo of the corner of Frances Street at Truman Avenue located one block east of Watson Street that appears to have been taken sometime around World War II. The recent color photo shows the same location sixty some years later. Keeping ties with our past is another reason buyers want a place in Key West versus other places in Florida. That building was and still is used as a laundry/dry cleaners. Bare Assets is located one block east. Dion's Quick Mart is one block further east. Duval Street is a five minute walk to the west.
