320 William Street #4, Key West - Penthouse Condo

 

The penthouse condo at 320 William Street #4 in Key West, Florida is located within a block of the historic Key West Seaport. Most of the houses in this immediate area were built in the last half of the 19th Century. The seaport was the hub of Key West commerce. The seaport was located on the north side of Caroline Street. Businesses lined Caroline Street. Merchants, spongers, and seamen lived in the nearby houses and boarding houses. I looked in my old shoe box and found the black and white photo of 320 William taken in 1985. It looked nothing like the beauty today.

I found another photo of the 300 block of William Street taken in 1885. I took the color photo two below standing in front of 320 William Street earlier today showing the same view 136 years later. The old street appears much wider, but there were no cars and few trees back then. The legendary Red Doors is located at the right side of the photo. The note on the back of the black and white photo says circa 1889 meaning it probably existed as of that date. You can see there were no porches in 1965 The property was originally multi-family and converted into condominiums in the early 2000s. 

The Red Doors at 800 Caroline Street was a house of ill repute, or so I understand. The photo below was taken in 1975 looking north and east across Caroline Street. The old steam plant can be seen in the background. They City of Key West renovated the seaport in the mid 1990s and created a new boardwalk that now wraps around to the west near the Harbour Place Condominiums. I love the seediness of the old pic but the revitalization of that area created the on-going boom in Key West historic housing and economy.

 

The above photo of spongers was taken at the seaport in 1930. So much as changed over the years. I would absolutely love to have experienced what life was like back then - including wearing long pants and a fedora.

The listing Realtor describes this 782.50 Sq Ft second floor condominium this way:

"Nothing else like this elegant penthouse in heart of Old Town. Just steps from KW Harbor and boardwalk. Entire second floor of 1880s renovated Great House has 2-beds/2-baths plus 80sf loft and features 200sf of treetop balconies. Great room has soaring ceiling with original Dade County pine fretwork, walls, floors and 5 sets of French doors that open to 3 balconies: Sunrise balcony. Sunset balcony. Moon rise balcony. City living at its tropical best. One of only 4 units in upscale, downtown condominium, where living is exclusively dedicated to home ownership. No rentals. HOA fee includes insurance and most building maintenance."

 

Take a moment to view the building sketch two above. You will notice an exterior staircase lands at a porch bring guests into the unit where they are greeted by odd looking stairs. Don't worry. Those stairs go up to the loft storage area which is not used for sleeping. Three sets of French doors on the east facing wall open out to the covered balcony overlooking William Street.

I took the photo below from the neighboring house in 2014. I love this street and watching the people ogle and awe over the houses dreaming someday they may live in one of these homes.

French doors open from the kitchen to a private covered porch that faces south not viewable from passers-by.

CLICK HERE to view the Key West MLS datasheet and listing photos and also a Matterport video of the 320 William Street #4, Key West, Florida offered for sale at $895,000. 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. This unit will be on open house this coming Sunday 12 to 3. Drop by and tell the agent you read about the unit in my blog. 

Novel Hovel

A few weeks ago I was taking photos for my ongoing series The Projects of Key West. One of the houses I have been photographing is located on a quiet little lane in Old Town. Some lanes are actually streets in that they allow street traffic in both directions and may have on street parking on a least one side. Others are  more narrow and may allow vehicle traffic in one direction. Some lanes like Carey Lane dead end and require cars to back out because there is not turn around space. Still others are quite narrow and only pedestrian access is allowed. Or not allowed. That's the true story today. 

Several years ago I was having a planned phone conversation with buyers in a faraway city. We were discussing a house hidden away on a one way street that was only one block long where it dead ended. It was a genuine street in another locations so it was officially a street and not a lane. Except it functioned like a lane where the house was located. The house and lot were intriguing and would require a lot of money to renovate but which would have resulted in a truly epic home on a large lot which hardly anybody would ever see because it was so hidden. That' rub for some men or women - having spent so much time and money to create such an incredible place that nobody would see. How would people recognize your talent? Your worth? If a tree falls in the woods does it make a sound? You get my point. Other men and women build small or big houses in more prominent locations so that the public can absolutely see their accomplishment. 

I have sold several houses on small lanes. Owners have told me how they feel about living on a lane - mostly nothing ever happens there. Life is quite. Neighbors mind their own business. That is probably why they chose lane life in the first place. In fact I know it is for at least this one dude who I encountered taking photos. These are all photos and not of the house or location described today.

So this guy who lives in what I would call a novel hovel. Some would call it a house. Not I. There was a wood fence protecting it from prying eyes. Which I was accused of having done. He sprang out of nowhere and said I was photographing his home. I was not. I was photographing the renovation across the lane. I suggested two things. One that he call the police. I said I would wait until they came because the evidence or lack thereof was in my camera. Two referred to what he could do to himself. That made him more angry. I took more pictures and left. I'm sure he had a pleasant rest of the day in his novel hovel.

Not the house I photographs.  But sort of like the house that is being built which you will see in a few months time. I respect why people choose to live on small lanes and in prominent locations. Some people want privacy and others notoriety. That guy got me all wrong. I am judgmental of him after the fact and probably shaming where he lives (that's bad). It is his castle and I respect that. Not him.

 

 
 

724 Windsor Lane, Key West - Open House Events

724 Windsor Lane

OPEN HOUSE

Saturday and Sunday

12:00 to 2:00 PM

One bedroom cottage with loft and off-street parking located in the heart of Old Town on Solaris Hill. Bill Butkler Park is located one block to the south where local pups meet. Duval Street and Seaport are a short stroll. Asking price reduced to $679,900. 

 

1121 Southard Street, Key West - Unique Eyebrow House

I've said it before and I am saying it again - I think you're gonna like this picture. What's not to like? 1121 Southard Street is the poster child for Key West eyebrow houses. to prove that point I nosed around in my old shoebox where I found a photo taken of the property in the 1930s by the WPA and another random shot from the 1960s. The architectural lines and details are just perfect.

I searched the Historic Sanborn Fire Maps and learned this house existed in 1889. It is located just a couple of houses west of White Street and across the street from the Key West Armory. The Army Barracks were located on the east side of White Street. That site dates back to prior to the Civil War. 

I got to see the house this past Tuesday, the first day it was on the market. The home is tenant occupied and showings in the future will be restricted. Perhaps my blog will help potential buyers appreciate value of this very pretty Key West home.

Key West has changed so much since the black and white photo was taken in front of 1121 Southard Street in the 1960s. But this house looks pretty much the same if not better than ever. I knew I was in for a treat when I stepped up on the elevated front porch and range the door bell.

The entry view is killer: that pool. Those palms. The lifestyle. 

The first floor powder room is located just to the right of the front door. It is so cute. There is deep storage under the stair case as well. More important than that is the crisp white painted trim, Every piece of trim glistens. The wood floors are deep and rich.

A few days ago I blogged about the sameness of so many kitchens across America. This is not one of those. Look how cute this is. The kitchen cabinet plate rack shelf with open shelving above is so practical. The butcher block cabinets add texture and warmth to the space. Windows from three side allow ambient light to enter during the daytime. 

Eyebrow houses get their name from the  construction of the house. The  roof eaves extend out from the body o fhte house a few feet where columns support the weight. Windows on the second floor actually touch the floor allowing light and veneration to enter inside the second floor space. Eyebrow houses vary greatly in physical size as well as how they have been renovated to meet current living requirements. I have never seen two eyebrow houses that are exactly alike. 

This is the master bedroom  which is located on the west side of the house. The bath faces Southard Street while the rear faces the pool. The wide angle lens distorts the room sizes. The second floor landing is located not quite mid-distance between the east and west bedrooms. The master bedroom is the larger.

The back of the house is about the pool - it is the first thing you see because the blue color is so intense opposed ot the red tinted wood deck that wraps the rear. Not seen is the outdoor shower and storage shed on the east side of the house. The back is fences and landscaped. Nobody can see inside. The west There is off street parking for two cars on the west side front.

CLICK HERE to view the Key West MLS datasheet and listing photos of 1121 Southard Street, Key West, Florida offered for sale at $1,295,000. Then please call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642 so that I can get you inside this special home. I am a buyers agent and a full time Realtor at preferred Properties Key West.

Imagine All the People

The tree-top bathroom pictured above is located at the end of one the slow lanes in Key West. It once belonged to a famous woman author. Each time I went up here to the turn on lights in preparation for a showing I would imagine all the (famous) people who showered with her in that space. I'm not kidding. 

The Next Suicide

 

A year ago I wrote a blog about a customer of mine who had to endure the suicide of a tenant. It was gruesome. For some people giving up on life is easier than dealing with it. Today's blog is a true story with a better ending.

Some people move to Key West to start of a brand new life. Others come because it is the end of the road. Moving to Key West works out very well for some. And it ends tragically wrong for others. Key West is not the fault. People bring their angles and demons with them to this Isle of Bones.

While some Key West transplants are content with salaried or hourly pay, others aspire to buy a business or to create wealth in real estate. Some have big visions and take moderate to big risks. Some end up very successful. Others do not. A chap I will call "Frank" was a good looking gay man in his early forties. He moved here from a mid-west state and got a real estate license. He paired up in business with another gay realtor I will call "Calvin". They started a real estate company and began selling houses in the mid 2000s when the Key West real estate market was booming. They were successful from the start. Later Frank bought a big fixer-upper in a great location and began to renovate it. Some people think gay men have taste and talent. That is absolutely false. But some gay men have great taste and great talent. Frank was one of those - to a point. He had great vision and undertook a superior renovation project. He overbuilt the house. He ran out of money to complete the project. He tried to sell the unfinished house. The price was too high for the time and location.

Frank borrowed money to purchase his property from Countrywide Mortgage. Countrywide recklessly loaned millions of dollars to home buyers in Key West in the mid 2000s when the real estate market was booming. A lot of houses were renovated and flipped at a nice profit. Countrywide also loaned millions to locals who bought investment properties like the transient licensed condos at Beachside Resort and the four story condos at Seaside Residences. When the real estate market tanked in 2008 many of the investor wannabes became the has-beens. There were foreclosures and short sales everywhere. Frank and Calvin split-up as business partners. Frank did not have enough money to complete his renovation project. He attempted suicide. He failed at that as well. Countrywide collapsed and was acquired by Bank of America which foreclosed on Frank's property. I sold Frank's house the day after it was listed for sale as a bank owned property. My buyer out-bid an offer made by one of Calvin's customers. 

Frank left Key West and went back up north. I don't know what happened to Calvin. He disappeared as well.

1901 S Roosevelt Blvd #103 West, Key West

Take a few seconds to contemplate looking out to the Key West Salt Ponds each morning as the sun rises over Smathers Beach. The newly listed two bedroom / two bath unit was 2012 completely renovated and designed by a renowned interior designer in 2012. It is offered turnkey with McGuire dining and lounge chairs, Baker furniture, Angelo Donghia lighting and furnishings, custom bedding and window treatments and a gorgeous Currey & Co Hedy Turquoise and Jade glass bead chandelier. Donghia was a world famous designer who owned a couple of Key West houses back before Key West was "discovered" including the "Calvin Klein House" and his residence across the street which I blogged about two years ago. CLICK HERE.

How restful is this wake-up view? That bed looks awfully comfy. Glass sliders open out to the deck overlooking the salt ponds to the east. 

 

Another set of glass sliders open out to the salt pond views from the open concept living area where a set on windows in the kitchen bring west light into that space. This is Key West where outdoor views are so important.

The guest bedroom and bath are located opposite the kitchen. A center hall bisects the spaces and leads into the living area. This unit has 1099 sq ft of living space and is offered turnkey at $719,000. Consider that a Shipyard Condominium unit with 780 sq ft is being offered for sale in the $699,000 range. It makes sense to me to take a look at this to compare.

La Brisa Condominiums have a beautiful pool, tennis courts, spa, bar-b-Que area, and off street parking. And  the complex is located across the street from the largest beach in Key West. I dug into my old shoebox and found a photo taken in 1985 which shows La Brisa and 1800 Atlantic Condominiums still under construction. The west building at La Brisa was built in 1996. Key West has changed so much since then. The gardens at La Brisa are now lush. The beach is still sunny and inviting.

CLICK HERE to view the Key West MLS datasheet and listing photos of 1901 S Roosevelt Blvd #103 West, Key West, Florida. Then please call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642, to set up a privater showing of this property. I am a buyers agent and a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Key West.

Twitter House Shaming

 

The pandemic has opened my horizons to so many places I never ventured before. With a click of a button I can find beautiful images on Instagram, stupid people tricks on TikTok, and a lot of interesting stuff on Twitter including a new account I follow Crappy Cheapo Architecture 

Followers can chime in and comment on the author's postings as they did on the house above. I looked at it and thought it looks like Denver where I grew up. The snow was clue number one. There is a tag at bottom right which also says it is from Colorado.

One guy re-posted the pic which he marked-up with his critique:

this house's geometry contains shapes i cannot comprehend from this angle. does anything in the blue area touch or does that tower just poke up for no reason independent of the second porch

Another added: 

Half the time I see these things, it's holding the hvac ducts and/or air handler because there was nowhere else to put it with that screwed up roofline and randomly placed cathedral ceilings all over the house

The best:

I love it! it's like a bad layer cake!

Another property

 

Seriously, you gotta check out the link. Somebody actually paid money to build that thing or buy it.

I have resisted shaming some of the crap I see in Key West. I did post a pic a few months ago. Nobody picked up on it. Maybe I am a snob. Confirmed. I am. 

 

This was added so I must ad it.

724 Windsor Ln, Key West - Open House - Directions

 Open House

Sunday

March 7th

12:00 to 2:00 PM

724 Windsor Lane, Key West

 

Directions from the Key West MLS: "From Simonton Street Go East on Angela, Proceed to Right on Windsor Lane. Located at Corner of Galveston Lane. If you reach the cemetery, turn around. You do not want to go in there."

 

CLICK HERE