622 Grinnell Street - The Flavor of Key West

The listing Realtor describes 622 Grinnell Street as "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."

Three words in his description really stand out: wonderful, location, and flavor (of Key West).  I know I sometimes get a little gushy about some houses and let the superlatives fly.  This property does that to me - big time.  To say this house is wonderful is an understatement. It is the embodiment of what makes Old Town Key West so special. We have a treasure trove of wonderful old homes confined to few blocks on an island out in the middle of the ocean. You just don't get in the car and drive to Key West in an hour or so. The drive from Miami, our nearest big neighbor, takes about three hours on a good day.  For most people getting here involves booking a flight that takes several hours. Some adventurous souls take the ferry.  The time it takes to get here is worth it. It lets you decompress from whence you came and prepare yourself for what lays ahead.

I checked the Sanborn Fire Maps of Key West and learned that 622 Grinnell Street appeared for the first time in the 1892 edition. It could have built several years,for some strange reason, that block of Grinnell Street was omitted in the 1889 edition.  Whatever the case,  we know the house existed by 1892.  I found a photo of the property that was taken in 1965.  Compare that black and white photo to a photo I  recently took. 

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. 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 make it possible to convert the property into a single family residence. The property is divided with one apartment on the first floor, a second apartment that shares the second and third floors, and the cottage on Canfield Lane is the third unit.

Historic Photo of Canfield Lane Cottage

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. In my  opinion the highest and best use of this property would be to convert the main building into a single family residence and update the guest cottage. There is adequate room for a pool on the south side of the house and there is room for off street parking beside the guest cottage.

The photos below were taken a several months ago when the property was owner occupied. Tenants now occupy the property and it does not show the same.

Main floor living room

Third floor apartment

Third floor apartment with old scuttles

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 dense 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.

                                                            Third floor rooftop deck

Second floor living room with front with front porch

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 livable as is. But it could be so much more! CLICK HERE to view a slide show of photos I took of this property.

I sold the house next door at 618 Grinnell Street a couple of years ago. It was in similar condition and it was owned by the same folks that own 622 Grinnell Street. My buyer got a much better price than the asking price. That does not infer a buyer for 622 Grinnell would get the same type of deal, but you never know what price you can agree upon until you make a real offer.  My buyer did an excellent renovation of his property at 618 Grinnell for which he received a Ceramic Star for Historic Restoration. (He took out most of the old trees and vegetation, added a pool, parking on the side, and introduced new native landscaping.) Look at the before and after images of 618 Grinnell and imagine  how proud you would be to receive to similar recognition after you renovate 622 Grinnell.

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, trolley cars, and Duck Tour vehicles will not be using this street. Those vehicles 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 on 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 of this location.

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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622 Caroline Street - Old Town - Key West

 The newly listed 2358 sq ft home at 622 Caroline Street in Old Town Key West will appeal to the buyer who likes the look of of an old house but prefers the convenience of modern design, materials, and craftsmanship all set in a terrific location.  The listing Realtor, not me,  describes this Caroline Street property as a

"Gorgeous home on large lot in the heart of Old Town.Completely remodeled with new addition in 2011,designed by Key West architect,Tom Pope This home has a spacious,open floor plan, soaring ceilings, and is beautifully appointed with a Keys Eclectic interior design package including furnishings and decor.The floor plan is perfectly suited for entertaining,with a large kitchen area adjoining the living and dining areas,and a large covered deck for outside dining overlooking the pool, spa,and guest house. Four bedrooms with ensuite baths, including second floor master suite with oversized walk in closet and private balconey. Close enough to enjoy everything Key West, yet far enough for your own private sanctuary.Off street parking for 3 cars."

I found the black and white photo below taken in 1965.  I then learned the house was actually built new in 1953. I checked the old Sanborn Maps and found a house had existed on the site as early as 1889, but that house, like many others in Old Town, was allowed to be either torn down or razed.m I then realized how and why the owner was allowed to do so many great things to a non-historic house located in the heart of our historic district.  The stringent HARC Guidelines do not apply to non-contributing structures such as this. The non-inclusion made it possible for the owner to add a very large new rear addition with impact resistant new windows. 

When I entered the house I was not prepared for what I was about to see. Instead of seeing a quaint little Key West cottage, I found myself awed by a big handsome grand property that is hidden from view if seen from the street. Like many houses in Old Town, this place has bedrooms located at the front of the house on the main level. It appears that the ceiling in the original house was vaulted to allow the front two bedrooms to now have high ceilings to give the otherwise smallish rooms a feeling of more space. I'm not being critical - just observant. 

The central hallway opens into either bedroom at the front but more importantly leads to the great room at the rear. The ceiling soars. The space is so expansive that the room almost explodes. Impact windows and doors at the rear and sides allow a profusion of sunlight into the area.  The covered outdoor lanai provides a cool respite from the unexpectedly large rear yard filled with grass, a cool pool with waterfall and spa, and a guest cottage.  More on that shortly.

The second floor is devoted to the master suite.  The bedroom and bath are equally spacious. There is a small balcony that overlooks the pool and rear yard with guest cottage.  None of the adjacent properties can view down into the pool.

The guest cottage has a mini-kitchen (but no stove).  I cannot be rented as an apartment.  But the space is nonetheless incredible. It would be a great place for your brother-in-law who cannot hold down a job.  He can return home after a night on nearby Duval Street or equally near Seaport by walking down the bricked off street parking for three cars and entering into the rear garden area.

A potential buyer who might want to rent this property as a vacation rental would probably be very successful in such an endeavor. The property as a whole has four bedrooms, four baths, lots of space in the communal rooms, and plenty of privacy when that is needed.  CLICK HERE to view more photos I took of this property.

CLICK HERE to view the Key West mls datasheet and to see listing photos of 622 Caroline Street that is offered for sale at $1,950,000.  Please call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642 to set up a private showing. I am a buyers agent and a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Key West.

1413 Grinnell Street Key West, Florida

Just listed by Preferred Properties Key West, that is where I work but this is not my listing, 1413 Grinnell Street in the Casa Marina Area of Key West. I live in the Casa Marina Area, in fact I live a little over one block from this property, and I love this part of town.  I vaguely remember the house as it looked in the latter part of the 1990s when the house was thoroughly renovated. I remember going inside the house as the general contractor was doing the renovation. He started with a simple box with a shed roof and a dormer in front. The renovated house is anything but simple, and it no longer resembled its former self.  I looked for but could not find a photo of the house as it looked in the 1990s. I did find a much older photo that was taken nearly fifty years ago, see the black and white photo below. I also found an old aerial photo of the Casa Marina Area that was taken in 1930.  I added an arrow that proves 1413 Grinnell Street existed in 1930. (County records show the house was built in 1943. Clearly the county records are incorrect.)

1413 Grinnell St in 1965

Click this photo to enlarge

The current house barely resembles its old self. That's because the old house has been enlarged and gentrified into a 2487 sq ft home with four bedrooms, four baths, an expansive great room with living, dining, and kitchen that flow out to the covered rear deck that looks out to the pool and spa. 

There are two main floor bedrooms each with bath. Notice the heart pine floors throughout the house. All floors have been recently refinished and the house freshly painted just before the house went on the market.

Upstairs you will find a very comfortable master bedroom (that was added to the rear of the original house) complete with ensuite bath.  French doors open out to the second floor rear deck which provides a place for private sun worship or a shady spot for reading or viewing the goings-on in the pool below. A fourth bedroom and office complete the second floor.

The 1990s two story addition to the rear of the property includes the two tiered deck that wraps around the house. The ground level portion provides an outdoor sitting and dining area. French doors open out from the great room and kitchen onto the main level deck.  On the second floor French doors open from the rear master suite and the office out to the covered deck.  The views from the either level reveal a great pool. The views of the house show a beautiful home with lots of space for a family or a couple with plenty of relatives and friends. CLICK HERE to view more photos I took of this home.

1413 Grinnell Street is offered at $1,895,000. CLICK HERE to view the Key West Association of Realtors mls datasheet and listing photos. Then please call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642 to schedule a private showing of this beautiful Casa Marina home.  I am a buyers agent and a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Key West.  Let me help you find your place in Paradise.