622 Grinnell Street - Key West, Florida

If you like old houses with lots of character of have a yen to do some remodeling, the historic home at 622 Grinnell Street in Old Town Key West is a property you should consider. This place is glorious and full of charm. You won't see stainless steel appliances, marble, or granite anywhere. But you will see lots of potential everywhere.   622 Grinnell Street is listed by Preferred Properties Key West, but it is not my listing. The listing agent describes the house this way:
"Wonderful, original conch home with three legal units. Great location and superb street presence. Access to the rear cottage is from a lane.Possible conversion back to single family and would be a really spectacular property as such. Opportunity to work with a property that has been maintained while leaving a Key West flavor."
I did a quick search of the Sandborn Fire Maps and learned that 622 Grinnell Street first appeared in the 1912 edition. Prior addition was 1898 so we know it was built after 1898 and before 1912.  I found a photo of the property that was taken in 1965.  Compare that black and white photo to a photo I took last week.

The property consists of the main house on Grinnell Street and the rear (guest) cottage on Canfield Lane. The main house does not have (and may have never had) an interior staircase.  Until a few months ago sibling owners occupied the first floor, the second, and third floor. (The second and third floors were occupied by one sibling.)  The cottage has been a rental for some time. This explains the mls listing as three legal units. I have shown this property several times and have been unable to find any evidence of a prior interior staircase.  However, the house is quite large and there are a couple of alternative areas where a new staircase could be added which would then lead to the conversion into a single family residence which I believe is the highest and best use for this property.

622 Grinnell Street has 1820 sq ft of interior living space. The cottage has an additional 512 sq ft.  The house and cottage sit on a large lot on one of the quietest blocks in Old Town.  (Grinnell Street dead ends at the corner of Angela Street which is the northern boundary of the Key West cemetery.)  The value in this property is not as multi-unit income property but rather as a renovated single family home with a charming guest cottage which has room to add a pool and parking. The photos below were taken a few months back when the property was owner occupied. Tenants now occupy the property and it does not show the same.

The rooftop deck on the main house has an incredible view of the area. You can see the spires at St Mary's Basilica. Most of the lot is covered with tropical foliage and red brick pavers. The house itself has been well maintained and looks great.  Buyers who seek Dade County Pine and old glass with ripples will fall in love with this old house. There are little cubby holes and scuttles and other architectural treasures galore.

When I photographed the second floor a few months ago it almost looked like a Ralph Lauren idealized version of what a Key West home should look like.

The listing agent states that the property as a whole has 2740 sq ft of living space and sits on a 57' x 83' (4683 sq ft) lot. The house has not been touched in years and would benefit from a thorough renovation. But understand that the property is perfectly livable as is. I just think the highest and best use of this house is to make it into a single family. CLICK HERE to view a slideshow of photos I took of this property.

The 600 block of Grinnell Street is one of the quietest blocks in Old Town. That is because it ends at Angela Street which is the northern border of the Key West cemetery. That means that Conch trains, trolleys, and Duck Tour vehicles will not be using this street because they cannot traverse Angela Street. Your life will be quieter because of this. Occasionally you will still see tourists walking by or riding bikes. And you will see neighbors go across the street to use the Grinnell Street Pocket Park.

Five Brothers Grocery and Sandwich Shop is located down the block at the corner of Southard Street. The Key West Historic Seaport is located three blocks further north and Duval Street is located five blocks to the west. Most of the gyms and yoga studios are located within a five to ten minute walk.

622 Grinnell Street is offered at $1,200,000. CLICK HERE to view the Key West mls data sheet on this property. Or better than that, please call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642 or send me an email at kw1101v@aol.com.  I am a buyers agent and a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Key West. Let me help you find your place in Paradise.

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1305 Petronia Street - The Meadows Area - Key West

Sometimes when you see a house every few weeks you miss subtle little changes that occur as a homeowner paints his or her house or does some repairs to make the home look better. Sometimes when you don't see a house for several months you totally forget what a house looked like before some pretty substantial changes were made. I noticed some construction at 1305 Petronia Street back in 2010 and took a photo of the house as it looked then. Then I dug deep into the old shoebox and found a photo of the same house as it appeared in 1965 and another when the house was listed for sale a few years ago.  I took the photo above and the photo below (and others in today's blog) a few weeks ago.  

Today 1305 Petronia Street is better than ever and is offered for sale at $1,250,000. The totally revamped house now has 1437 sq ft of interior living space which includes gracious (but informal) living space on the main floor, main floor master bedroom with en-suite bath, two guest bedrooms and shared bath on the second floor, and seductive rear deck and garden, and off street parking.

If you are looking for a very attractive permanent home in Key West or a second home that is prime condition, please contact me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642 to show you 1305 Petronia Street.  I am a buyers agent and a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Key West.

2920 Seidenberg Avenue - Open House - Key West

Open House 

Sunday July 7th

12:00 to 2:00 

2920 Seidenberg Avenue 

Totally remodeled three bedroom, three bath home plus guest cottage, new pool, off street parking, located in a very nice Key West neighborhood. Asking $599,000.

1410 Grinnell Street - Casa Marina Area - Key West - Short Sale

Just listed by Preferred Properties Key West, that's where I work but this is not my listing, 1410 Grinnell Street in the Casa Marina Area of Key West. This 1104 sq ft home is currently configured as a two bedroom home with a pool and off street parking. It is a Short Sale and is offered at $435,000 or $394 per sq ft for a great Casa Marina location.

The listing Realtor describes 1410 Grinnell Street thus:

"Great potential in Casa Marina neighborhood. Short sale listing in need of some TLC. CBS structure with good square footage. Former 3/2 converted to 2/2. New hurricane grade windows. Small pool in private back yard. Nice gardens and foliage surround the property. Not a drive by... once behind privacy fence great potential for the right Buyer."

The house was built in 1949. I found the black and white photo above that shows how it looked in 1965.  Just below is a photo of how it looks today.  The house sits on a 3572 sq ft lot (45' x 80'). The yard is now lush with trees and tropical foliage. The pool is in the rear. A new owner may want to clear out decades of vegetation and create new outdoor spaces. The house was originally a three bedroom. Two of the bedrooms at the rear were combined into a larger master suite. A new owner could convert the space back to three bedrooms but a new owner might want to do some significant changes to the property as well. Many of the homes in this area are much more expensive. This house sits on a small lot compared to most in the area. I think any money spent on improving this property would benefit a new owner in the years to come.

 CLICK HERE to view more photos I took.  The house needs some TLC, a new kitchen, a new roof, and some creativity with the front and rear yards. The Casa Marina Area is a vibrant part of Key West. With the expenditure of some new money couple with some creativity and hard work, a new owner, maybe you, can give this Mid Century home a new lease on life.

Higg's Beach is a couple of blocks away

CLICK HERE to view the Key West mls datasheet and then please call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642 to schedule a showing. I am a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Key West. I live in the Casa Marina Area and love it. Let me show you this house and the area. I think you will appreciate the value in this new listing.

 

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2920 Seidenberg Avenue - Key West, Florida

Just listed by yours truly 2920 Seidenberg Avenue in Key West.  This large ranch style home in located in a family neighborhood in the Mid Town Area of Key West has convenient access to schools, shopping and more. The home was just completely remodeled, and is ready for a new owner to enjoy carefree and maintenance free living for years to come. The home has a great floor plan with large master suite on one side, the family living area in the middle and two additional bedrooms which share one bath on the other side.  And there is a potential guest suite with full bath located poolside.

The house sits behind a gated privacy fence. The main entry opens into the great room which has a vaulted ceiling.  New wood floors have been added throughout most of the house. The floors in the kitchen and baths are marble.

This beautifully renovated 3 bedroom, 2 bath home awaits a new owner. Stunning features include a new gourmet kitchen with custom wood cabinetry, granite counter tops, and  stainless steel appliances. All new wind impact resistant windows and doors throughout the house.   New swimming pool plus a separate storage building that could be used as a pool cabana or guest cottage.  CLICK HERE to view more photos of this great new property.

 

2920 Seidenberg Avenue is offered at $599,000.  CLICK HERE to view the Key West mls datasheet. Or better yet call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642 to schedule a viewing. I am the listing Realtor on this property.  I am a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Key West. Let me help you find your place in Paradise.