517 Elizabeth Street - Old Town - Key West - The Lure of the Night-Caller

 

I am always searching for something new (or old as the case may be) to add a bit of character the the Old Town houses that I write about on my little blog. Whilst searching the Internet I found the photo of the handsome young man below who once resided at 517 Elizabeth Street, Key West. His name was Charles Olivieri. He lived at 517 Elizabeth Street and was employed by the Florida East Coast Railroad as a Night-Caller. I just love the ring of that occupation which today would likely be construed as something involving the sex trade. That's why I put his photo on here because what we see today in the old houses of Key West is usually a reinterpretation of what was once one thing and which today is something else. In the instance of the house at 517 Elizabeth Street, that most certainly is the case.

I wrote about 517 Elizabeth Street last year when it was briefly listed for sale in 2012. I said "I expect this home will be under contract (probably all cash if custom rules) within a short time. This is exactly the type of home buyers with an urge to redo want to purchase." It went under contract immediately. The new owners engaged noted local architect Tom Pope to assist in the design of the to be renovated old house that sat on a huge lot on one of the best blocks in Key West. The renovation included the demolition of a dysfunctional old building at the rear and the construction of a new great room (living, dining, and kitchen) and pool.

I got a chance to take some photos of the interior of the original (main) house a couple of months ago while construction was still underway. All sorts of trades people were working that day.  There was hustle and bustle everywhere, but the owner was present and keeping a watchful eye on everyone and on every detail.

I think the Monroe County Property Appraiser records on this house are factually incorrect because they show the original house having been built in 1953. I don't buy it for a minute. The room sizes and interior layout hearkened back to what we see in other Old Town houses built at the turn of the 20th Century, not what was built in Mid-Century America. There was a garage located at the rear, however, that had the earmarks of odd Mid-Century design (if you call it design).  And there was that rear building that attached to the house that seemed to have outlived its usefulness. The garage and rear building were razed.

 

 

I got a chance to photograph the interior yesterday afternoon. I assumed the old house would still be an "old house".  That's the problem about assuming things. The assumption is often wrong. My assumption certainly was.  Even though I had been inside the house during the renovation, I was not prepared for the new house that now occupied the space which the Night-Caller once called home.

The main entry is reversed from what I would normally expect to see. The beautiful stairway leads to the second floor where the hall leads to an office on the north and two bedrooms on the left. A large second floor front porch provides an excellent vantage point for people watching.

 

 

 

 

The master bedroom and en-suite bath is located at the front of the original house.

The Night-Caller might be as surprised to see the shiny chrome door knobs and light fixtures as I was. The particular pieces are solid brass which have been chrome plated.

The great room addition is located at the rear. What an incredible space it is.  A recessed pocket door opens to reveal the stunning space filled with light and high volume ceilings.  The new pool and gardens are located beyond.  The kitchen is located to the immediate right and the dining area sits just a tad further to the east. The far left side provide

517 Elizabeth Street is visually stunning.  I think a buyer who wants an old house would feel very much at home in this new space. It has the earmarks of an old house but the freshness of contemporary styling throughout. This is not a house trapped in any one time period.

The listing Realtor, not me, describes 517 Elizabeth Street as:

"Elegant family home in Key West's premier Old Town location. Historic home with superb curb appeal offers people watching and privacy from amazing porches.Private & spacious first floor master bedroom has beautifully restored Dade County Pine and walk in closet. Three 2nd floor bedrooms offer enjoyable and comfortable space for family and friends. Entertaining is effortless in this fully equipped kitchen with Viking and Bosch stainless appliances. The great room boasts a spectacular cathedral ceiling and is filled with natural light from large windows. This Beautifully tiled 18x35 room flows onto large terrace to a 9X20 pool, surrounded by lush landscape for privacy. Rare opportunity to own covered parking and 2 addtl parking spaces."

517 Elizabeth Street is offered for sale at $1,999,000. CLICK HERE to view the Key West mls datasheet. And CLICK HERE to view the photos I took of this wonder Key West property.

If you would like to see this home which the Night-Caller once called home please call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642. I am a buyers agent and a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Key West. Let me help you find your place in Paradise.

Key West - Open House - 618 White Street

Charming Wood Frame Home with Two Bedrooms plus Loft. Spacious Main Floor Living Space opens into Newer Kitchen with Copper Lined Ceiling, Granite Counter-tops, and Stainless Steel Appliances. Clean as a Whistle throughout. Large Backyard is Nicely Landscaped and has Room for a Pool.

Checkout the video below

CLICK HERE to view the Key West mls datasheet on this home.
Price Reduced
Now Offered at $459,000  

Hosted by Gary Thomas, Realtor, 305-766-2642

1110 Petronia Street - Old Town - Key West

Just listed by Preferred Properties Key West, that's where I work but this is not my listing, 1110 Petronia Street in the Old Town area of Key West. The listing agent describes the property thus:

"This striking and eye-catching Old Town cottage occupies a very desirable location at the corner of Ashe and Petronia Streets. The owners have just completed an impressive restoration which includes new roof, shutters, windows, doors, attractive gutters, on-demand water heater, heating/AC system (including new duct work), and a stylish new master bathroom. There is a charming small swimming pool and off-street parking."

I have been watching the transformation of this cottage for many months. The red painted board and batten siding is atypical to the white clapboard siding seen in most homes. And I find that refreshing. The house reminds me somewhat of La Casa Roja on Catherine Street. The handmade wood shutters look ever so strong.  The white picket fence on the side neatly frames the cottage for passersby to admire. CLICK HERE to view more photos of this property.

The Ashe Street side of the cottage provides gated off street parking, a luxury in a cottage home in Old Town.

There is even a pool where you can't do a breast stroke, but where you could certainly do some chillaxin'.

 

Inside this 1134 sq ft home you will find three bedrooms and two baths. This Old Town home has off street parking, a small pool, and is ready for a new buyer. It is offered for sale at $747,000.  CLICK HERE to view the Key West mls datasheet and listing photos.

The Monroe County Property Appraiser's card shows the house was built in 1934 which we all know is highly unlikely because that was in the Great Depression when Washington had to come to Key West to help save it from utter ruin. The old courthouse had burned and property records were destroyed. The WPA helped create new property records and set the date of most houses in the 1933-1934 time period unless a specific construction date was known. I found 1110 Petronia Street (corner of Petronia and Ashe) located in the 1899 Sanborn Map. CLICK HERE.  WIKIPEDIA has a great discussion of the Sanborn Maps. I described the function of the Sanborn Map to a buyer a few days ago and he suggested that it served the purpose of a census, of sorts. I liked that. Instead of people,  it counted houses and then provided data as to age, construction, etc. I found a photo that shows 1110 Petronia Street as it appeared nearly fifty years ago. See below.

1110 Petronia Street as it appeared in 1965

1110 Petronia Street as it appears in 2013

If you would like to see the inside of this cute cottage home, please call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642 to schedule an appointment. I am a buyers agent and a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Key West. Let me help you find your place in Paradise.