710 Galveston Lane, Key West - Life on the Slow Lane

 

One of the joys of having lived in Key West during the past twenty-five years has been to watch the restoration of so many of the once neglected homes in Old Town. I learned to recognize the different architectural styles in Old Town and to appreciate the value of location, especially the quiet little lanes, which have an appeal more than I ever imagined.  I also have learned so much about Key West by studying the old photos and the Sanborn Fire Maps. Both have been excellent resources to understand what once was so that we can now appreciate the unique character of our little town.

 710 Galveston Lane, Key West as it looked back in 1965 and as it looks in 2018

Preferred Properties Key West just listed the cute as can be house at 710 Galveston Lane.  The listing Realtor invited me to take a look at this 1218 sq ft vernacular cottage that sits on a 42" X 71.5' (3010 sq ft) lot tucked away on one of the slow lanes of Key West.

I found an aerial photo of the area taken about fifty years ago. I noted the location of 710 Galveston Lane with a check mark. The house sits near the crest of Solares Hill, the highest point in Key West. The house is located in the coveted X Flood Zone. You will see the lane diverts off Windsor Lane where it dog legs to the east at Bill Butler Park and ends two blocks to the south at Olivia Street.  A photographer for the WPA (Works Progress Administration) took several iconic photos of Galveston Lane in the Great Depressions. Times have changed - most of the houses, like this one, have been renovated, expanded, and gentrified. Many of the houses are second homes instead of primary residences. Life on the lane, however, is still pretty quiet. I'm sure all of the residents like that.

I checked the Sanborn Fire Maps to determine when 710 Galveston Lane may have been built. The 1889 Map did not show any structures in the area which I doubt was the case as surrounding areas were all inhabited. The 1892 Map showed the house then identified as 12 Low Lane. The 1899 Map revised the address to 710 Lowe's Lane. (This must have confused locals back then as there was another Lowes Lane located just off the 500 block of Grinnell Street.) The address was revised on the 1912 Map to 710 Galveston Lane. We can therefore conclude 710 Galveston Lane was built prior to 1899. The original house has been updated and enlarged several times over the years. The current owner recently completed a new renovation which included the addition of a pool. The house is in pristine condition and is more cute in person than the great photos suggest.

The owner relocated the main entrance to the rear of the property which is accessed from the gate at the end of the driveway. Guests arrive at the garden and pool area which includes a sunny backyard plus covered sitting and dining area. French doors open into the living area and adjacent kitchen.

This home now has an open concept living area at the rear. Guest can move easily between the indoors and outdoors through French doors throughout much of the year. The cheerful kitchen opens into the living area. There is a cute little powder room next to the staircase that leads to a second floor guest bedroom and private bath. The guest bedroom bath is tucked under the rear dormer - it is so friggin' cute!

The large master bedroom is located at the front of the house. The original front porch is now a private porch off the bedroom. It provides a perfect perch to people watch, although there is not very much traffic on this little lane. The bedroom has an en suite bath and large closet. There is a lot of well planned storage which makes this house is viable as a full time home. However, it could easily become a monthly vacation rental were that to be the aim of a new owner.

I sold the house directly across the lane to a couple from my home state of Colorado. They are near completing the expansion of their home which can be viewed from the front porch of 710 Galveston Lane. Galveston Lane is a cute-as-can-be block of similar little cottages that just keep getting better and better.

Charlies Grocery is located one block to the west of Galveston Lane. The Key West cemetery is one block east of that. The historic seaport is located three blocks to the north and Truman Avenue is three blocks to the south. You can walk just about anywhere in about five minutes. People from all over the world travel for hours to get to Key West. If you lived here, you could be in someplace really special in a matter of minutes. CLICK HERE to view more photos of 710 Galveston Lane Key West.

710 Galveston Lane is offered for sale at $1,090,000 by Preferred Properties Key West. Please call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642, to set up a private showing. CLICK HERE to view the Key West MLS datasheet for more details on this listing.

2907 Seidenberg Avenue, Key West

Just Listed, but not by me, 2907 Seidenberg Avenue in sunny Key West, Florida.  I got to see this home a couple of days during Realtor caravan and immediately asked the listing agent for permission to blog about it. This home was built in 1958 and has 1963 square feet of living space under air conditioning and a pool plus a guest cottage. What separates this house from so many other mid-century homes in Key West is the thoughtful real-life livability of this house coupled with the incredible rear outdoor living area and pool. 

When you enter this home it feels like a brand new house as opposed to a house that is half a century old that has a new kitchen or baths or both. The ceiling in the open concept living area was vaulted. Then my eyes were drawn past the kitchen where French doors opened to the water feature. I knew this house was going to be different.

The four bedrooms and four bathrooms share similar features yet each is distinct. Unlike to many houses of this era, these bedrooms are large offer more space for the way we live today. Each bathroom has new fixtures and tiles. While I am a fan of those cute mid-century tile bathrooms, this house is on point with current styling. You will notice contemporary baseboards and trim throughout the house. Even the closets are lighted and prepped for storage. And ceilings were vaulted as allowed.

The 49 foot pool includes side "benches" for chilling while others swim. It is genuinely inviting. The new Trex deck wraps the pool and joins the main house with the guest cottage that offers self-sufficient living space for the guest who refuses to go back up north where he or she belongs.

CLICK HERE to view the Key West MLS datasheet and lots of listing photos of 2907 Seidenberg Avenue. Then please call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642, to schedule a private showing of this contemporary revival of a mid-century home. I am buyers agent and a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Key West. I think you will really like this home. I did.

And no that is not me in drag. I detest drag.

1311 Catherine Street - Just Listed - Adorable Renovation

Just Listed, but not by me, 1311 Catherine Street, Key West. Long time readers of my little blog may recall seeing the same house featured here four years ago when it was a bank owned property. I took the photo below in 2014 to show the "potential" about which I wrote. That potential was achieved to a greater extent than I could have imagined.

 The listing Realtor describes 1311 Catherine Street this way:

"This ideal conch cottage is perfectly located to enjoy everything Key West has to offer. On the edge of Old Town, this 2 bedroom, 2.5 bath is sure to impress! The main house was completely renovated with attention to detail that blends modern convenience with historic character. With vaulted ceilings, the open and bright living room and kitchen flow effortlessly onto the covered deck; perfect for indoor/outdoor living, dining and entertaining. Central AC, new metal roof, stainless steel appliances, quartzite counter tops, on demand propane water heater, and gas range are among all the many updates that round out the property. The vaulted master suite has french doors that open onto the covered veranda and en suite bath with walk-in closet. Connected by a breezeway, the second bedroom."

The original cottage shown immediately above was quite small. Previous owners made two separate additions including a bedroom on the right side and a stand alone cottage at the rear which is now bedroom number two. Every part of the original house and the attached bedroom addition were totally renovated including new piers, floors, and roof. The house was but a shell when purchased. During the renovation the walls were insulated, new historically correct windows were added to the front of the house and wind impact resistant glass windows and doors were added everywhere else.

The original house is now the "great room".  The vaulted ceiling carries through to the rear door which leads through the breezeway to the rear cottage. The laundry and a full bath are located at the rear side of the kitchen. All of the interiors are new including the wood floors, electrical, plumbing, HVAC, and so forth. The so forth includes down lights in the main house. The structural renovations  were done by a licensed general contractor. Various design features such as the facing of the kitchen island with Dade County Pine salvaged during the renovation were added by the owner. 

A new master bedroom en-suite was added. The owners designed and built a poured concrete sink on a vanity base they purchased. Various tones of gray tiles are used the various bathrooms.

The master bedroom on the right was increased in size and the ceiling vaulted just a bit to give the area a more spacious feel. Glass panel doors were added to the bedroom and off the dining area. The new partially covered rear deck (breezeway) immensely increased the living area of the house and provides a covered transition to the second bedroom located in the rear cottage. Key Westers spend a lot of time living outdoors during the daytime and night time all year long. This area will be used constantly.  CLICK HERE to see more photos.

The rear cottage was updated a bit but not renovated. It has a half bath. The new full bath located to the rear of the kitchen includes a new porcelain tub and vanity which also incorporates wood salvaged during the renovation.

The west side yard includes a storage shed and the air conditioner unit. That space is fairly large and probably provides lot ratio coverage to permit the inclusion of a pool on the east side of the house were the flagstone patio new exists.

CLICK HERE to view the Key West MLS datasheet on 1311 Catherine Street which is offered for sale at $879,000. Then please call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642, to set up a private showing of this adorable home. I am a buyers agent and a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Key West.