1025 Elgin Lane - Old Town - Key West

1025 Elgin Lane - Key West, Florida - 2011

1025 Elgin Lane - Key West, Florida - 1965

Maybe it was serendipity that yesterday's blog was about life in the slow lanes of Key West. One of the lanes I mentioned was Elgin Lane. I know I went on and on about how sweet life can be on a little lane. And then late Friday afternoon another Realtor added a new listing to the Key West mls of a Bank Owned Property at 1025 Elgin Lane. The price is right, just $249,900 or $282 per sq ft for this stand alone 'condo' which is one of only two condos in the unique condo association. The listing Realtor describes this property this way:

"2 story, spacious home located on quiet and desirable Elgin Ln. Home renovations in 1999 included electrical, plumbing, metal roof, and central air conditioning. Classic Conch (Victorian) Architecture with front porch and shutters, and Dade County Pine walls and floors in most rooms. Excellent floorplan, and French doors leading to a shared deck. All you need to get around are your sandals or your bicycle; you can leave your auto in the off-street parking space that conveys with the unit. This home is located within walking distance to the Seaport, many restaurants, and of course Duval Street. Financing incentives available through GMAC Mortgage for borrowers purchasing this property."

The 'other' house that makes up this unique condo association is located at 1020 Eaton Street. (1020 Eaton Street is not for sale and is not offered as part of the 1025 Elgin Lane offering.) Together they are the Elgin-Eaton Condominium Association. When land and property values soared in the late 1990's and early 2000's, developers worked around the land use planning requirements of the City of Key West and used the condominium form of ownership to provide a method of sharing space to provide more usable outdoor space for property owners than might be available on a tight narrow lot. Such was the case for the Elgin and Eaton properties. The developer created a common area with a large common deck and bricked off-street parking and limited common areas for each unit.

1020 Eaton Street - the other half of the Elgin-Eaton Condominium

This large deck, the spa, and the bricked off street parking are part of the common area for the two units that make up this Elgin-Eaton Condominium. Each house is separate to itself and neither touch. CLICK HERE to view a slide show of more photos of 1025 Elgin Lane.

The "financing incentives" mentioned by the listing Realtor include "GMAC Mortgage, LLC offers One Year Basic Home Warranty and $0 cost for Pre-Approval, Loan Application, and $500 Gift Card for buyers who apply for and are approved to finance this purchase through GMAC Mortgage, LLC". The listing Realtor did not have current condo association monthly fees as of Friday.

I did a quick read of the condominium documents which are available on-line at the Monroe Clerk of Court website CLICK HERE. Click the Search Official Records button and then search Elgin-Eaton Condominium. I understood the documents to permit only 3 rentals per year for periods of not less than 30 days. A buyer who wants to occasionally rent this property as a vacation rental might have difficulty in so doing if the provision I read is enforced. Rules call always be changed. Each unit owner has an equal vote in the condo association. Read the docs and the condo rules for yourself.

Old Town Bakery is half a block away from 1020 Elgin Lane. Stop by on your way to the Historic Key West Seaport which is just two blocks to the north. There is a really nice neighborhood restaurant called Azur located up at the corner of Grinnell and Fleming Streets-one block away. There is a weekly farmer's market a block west at the corner of Margaret and Fleming. Duval Street and all the hoopla is a five minute walk to the west. The Island House gym is located just two blocks to the east at the corner of White and Fleming Streets. Blossom's and the Sunbeam market (both convenience stores) are located on White Street as well.

Old Town Bakery is half a block away from your front door.

Sunbeam Groceries & Deli - Key West

If you would like to see 1025 Elgin Lane please contact me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642 or by email at kw1101v@aol.com. I am a buyer's agent and a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Coastal Realty, Inc. in Key West, Florida.

Key West - Life in the Slow Lane

WPA photos depicting life on the lanes of Key West during the 1930s

1114 Elgin Lane circa 1965 - hanging laundry over the street would probably violate some city law today

I have written at least a couple of times recommending that readers quit their jobs and move to Key West. Some people fantasize about doing something so rash. Some people actually follow through and do the deed. Key West lures the sane and not-so-sane. People come here to find what is not possible to achieve elsewhere. Many of those who end up here adopt the manana way of looking at life and develop a system to rate things in life as to importance and then determine the speed within which tasks need to be completed. Government workers do the same thing. They just get paid a salary and receive benefits.

No matter what street a person lives on in Key West, all of us live our lives in the slow lane. For those Key Westers who actually reside on a lane, life is much slower and much quieter. Many of the lanes are less than a block long. Some lanes dead end within a matter of 150 feet or so from the street whence they began. Other lanes, like Elgin Lane, may run two blocks long. Lanes are typically narrow and many only permit travel in one direction. Some lanes such as Hunts Lane are so narrow that cars are not permitted. And a couple of lanes are so tiny that it is difficult to walk two-abreast. Lanes attract owners that want a slow paced and quiet lifestyle.

I am speaking of course of the 104 named lanes in Old Town Key West. In 1980 a Conch (native Key Wester) named C.W. (Billy) Pinder prepared a history of Key West lanes for the City Commission which he subtitled "A Bit of History, A lot of Dimension". He recited the name and location of each lane and suggested in his forwarding Memorandum that "the Police, Fire, Sewer and our department has expressed interest in this booklet" inferring that a lot of people in responsible positions did not know where some of the lanes were located. The reason is there are several lanes that have more than one name. Also there are a few lanes with the exact same lane which are located in totally different parts of town.

Here are but a few of the Key West lanes for your edification: Billygoat Lane is now known as Hibiscus Lane, the entrance to which is located next to 512 Grinnell Street. There are several very sweet little Key West cottages on this lane.

Hibiscus Lane with its darling little cottage homes

A hundred feet or so to the south Cornish Lane intersects off Grinnell Street

This little gem on Cornish Lane was recently completely renovated.

I remember showing the Cornish Lane house many times several years ago. It had been somewhat renovated in the 1970s or early 1980s but it just did not work. Buyers looked and buyers walked away complaining of all the work that the place would require. Lucky for this little house it got new owners who took on the project and ended up with a beautiful Key West cottage. This house used to sit behind a tall wood fence unseen by the world. What a striking difference it has become. All because one couple had vision and were willing to take on a project.

Lowe's Lane is located adjacent to 525 Grinnell Street opposite of Cornish Lane.

I believe this is Lowe's Lane as photographed in the 1930s. 525 Grinnell is the first house.

Same location photographed in 201o.

Canfield Lane abuts 618 Grinnell Street to the north and runs about 150 feet west. There are several very cute houses down this very quiet lane.

Carey Lane is also known as Thompson Alley --not to be confused with Thompson Lane . And please don't get Carey Lane confused with Curry Lane which is located between White Street and Frances. Curry Lane runs paralell between Fleming Street to the north and Southard Street to the south.

There are two Thompson Lanes -- one is located between Duval and Whitehead Street just south of Catherine Street and the other is located a mile away near the new Strunk Ace Hardware on Eaton Street. Imagine the poor fire dispatcher.

Carey Lane is about the cutest of the cute lanes in my opinion!

Carey Lane is the poster child for quintessential Key West charm.

And please don't get Carey Lane confused with Curry Lane which is located between White Street and Frances. Curry Lane runs parallel between Fleming Street to the north and Southard Street to the south.

Stump Lane is located about 200 feet south of Curry Lane and also runs between White Street and Frances Street.

1116 Stump Lane is one of many adorable Key West cottages on this lane.

One of my favorites has always been Peacon Lane (also now known as Gruntbone Alley). Peacon Lane is located directly opposite the former Calvin Klein House at 712 Eaton Street.

The former home of Calvin Klein at 712 Eaton Street.

Peacon Lane a/k/a Gruntbone Alley is located opposite the Klein house

1937 photo of same location but with fewer trees

Donkey Milk Lane runs about 150 feet west off Elizabeth Street.

Love Lane runs on either side of Southard Street. Who wouldn't want to own a home on a lane named Love? They say "Love don't cost a thing". But houses on Love Lane cost a' plenty.

There are several lanes located near the Key West cemetery. They include Passover Lane, Poorhouse Lane, Petronia Lane also known as Poorhouse Lane (its named both on one sign).

I remember when a dog or a cat could sleep in the middle of a street in Old Town. No more! Life on Poorhouse Lane is the last refuge for this kitty.

Passover Lane borders the Key West Cemetery on the west side. It also has dogleg dead end off to the west where it it becomes a narrow walking lane just wide enough for an owner to carry a bag of groceries down the graveled lane. There are only four houses on this dead end lane and each is a jewel.

I'm not trying to confuse you, Dear Reader, but Passover Lane becomes Windsor Lane where the two meet at the Key West Cemetery. Passover Lane ends and Windsor Lane begins as it jogs to southeast and then jogs south up to Truman. Windsor Lane has intersection with upper William Street about 150 feet before Windsor and Passover Lanes merge. William Street runs south and then bends east at the Bill Butler Park. All of a sudden William Street is gone and that becomes Poorhouse Lane if one moves east toward the cemetery or it becomes Petronia Lane or continues to be Poorhouse Lane if one heads south to the corner at Olivia Street. A street sign designates that same lane with two different names -- Petronia Lane and/or Poorhouse Lane.

Upper William Street doglegs off Windsor Lane as it prepares to merge with Passover Lane

Petronia Ln or Poorhouse Ln intersects with Olivia St between Elizabeth St and Windsor Ln

Confused?

Carsten Lane runs to the south of Southard Street and takes a lazy curve between Margaret St and William St.

Some friends own a house on William Street and we often walk past this Carsten Lane cutie on our way to Michael's Restaurant.

If you have been dreaming of buying a place in Key West and are not working with a Realtor, please consider working with me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642 or contact me by email at kw1101v@aol.com. I am a buyer's agent and a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Coastal Realty, Inc. in Key West. Experience life in the slow lane, no matter what street you may live on.

1110 Curry Lane - Old Town - Key West

1110 Curry Lane - Old Town - Key West

Curry Lane looking east toward White Street - a world away

The delightful home across from 1110 Curry Lane to the east

The rear entrance to a larger home fronting on Fleming Street (west of 1110 Curry Lane)

The home immediately east of 1110 Curry Lane

For most of us fortunate enough to live in Key West year around, we live life in the slow lane every day. We don't have skyscrapers. We don't have big stores with escalators. There are no Interstate Highways. Our rush hour usually lasts five minutes or so. Many of us transplants have learned to live with less and certainly feel the need to buy less. We are not deprived, but we are content. Our lives are simpler than before. No matter our religious beliefs or our political persuasion, most of us subscribe to the notion of One Human Family. For Key Westers who actually live on a lane, life is more slow and much more quiet.

1110 Curry Lane is an ideal example of the perfect cottage located on a quiet little lane in Old Town Key West. This Old Town gem is tucked away on one of Key West's slow lanes between Frances and White Streets. The cottage has been lovingly restored to maintain the character you would expect in a custom restoration.

The listing Realtor describes 1110 Curry Lane like this:

"This charming home is tucked away on a pleasant, quiet lane in the heart of Old Town. It received the Historic Florida Keys Foundation Preservation Award. It has Dade County Pine walls, reclaimed Georgia heart pine floors with great attention to detail. The open floor plan and mature landscaping create a wonderful indoor/outdoor lifestyle in a lush tropical setting. There are two bedrooms and two baths. Serious cooks will appreciate the kitchen's utility with a commercial range, stainless steel appliances, and soapstone counter and sink. River rock decking surrounds the lagoon pool and waterfall. Private outdoor shower. Off-street parking."

Neighbor-friendly front porch & off-street parking

I have written about 1110 Curry Lane before. It was priced higher then. Today the asking price was reduced to a point where there could be multiple offers just because this place is so cute and so well located that any serious bargain hunter will realize this is kind of property and the price point he or she has been looking for. 1110 Curry Lane is offered at the price of $799,000 or $700 per sq ft per sq ft for this 1207 sq ft treasure that sits on a 2321 sq ft lot. If you bought this house you could walk to Duval within 5-7 minutes. Same for the Historic Seaport. Or your job-if you have one and if it is in Old Town. There are two convenience stores within a two minute walk as well. You won't hear the noise of Harleys roaring down your street or the clang of a trolley car filled with tourists passing buy snapping photos, because they never get near the house. All manner of motor vehicles pass by the entrance to Curry Lane on a daily basis but normally only people who live on the lane actually drive a vehicle there. Even your creditors will have difficulty finding you. You see, life on a slow lane has lots of advantages.

CLICK HERE to checkout the Key West mls datasheet and accompanying photos of this charming cottage. If you are looking for the perfect Key West cottage style home, this may be the place you have been dreaming about. Please call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642 to schedule an appointment to see this hidden gem. I am a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Coastal Realty, Inc. in Key West. Give me a call and let me show you how slow life can really be in Key West.