526 William Street #4 - Old Town - Key West

Old Town Key West is known for its beautiful old homes. What was once called Delancey Hall at 526 William Street is one of the prettiest of the old girls. The building was thoroughly renovated and  converted into five condominiums back in 2001.

Delancey Hall is one of the very best renovations I have seen in Key West. The quality of the workmanship and the superior interior finishes look as good today as they did thirteen years ago when the original renovation was completed. Each Delancey Hall unit was built to high quality standards. Unit #4 located at the second floor front was just listed at the asking price of $499,000. The listing Realtor describes unit #4 this way:

"Beautifully restored one bedroom condo in the Heart of Old Historic Key West. Delancey Hall was built in late 1800's and converted into 5 luxury condo's in 2001. This particular condo is located on second floor to the front of the building overlooking William St. Spacious outdoor balcony to enjoy outdoor dining or lounging. Granite kitchen with double counter tops overlooking living area. Excellent lighting throughout, Dade county Pine walls and beautiful hard wood floors. Shared pool with brick patio and grilling area."

 Unit #4 is located on the second floor front or William Street side of the property. This one bedroom unit has 550 square feet of interior living space (almost the same size as some two bedroom units at Shipyard Condominiums in Truman Annex). It occupies the south side of the building so you will have good interior light. And unlike Shipyard, you won't have a lot of neighbors - there are just five units total. There are two units on the main level and three units on the second floor. The condo across the hall to the north is a two story unit which has an interior staircase to the third floor. These two units second floor units share the second floor front balcony that overlooks charming William Street. The entrance to the fifth unit is at the back of the second floor. That gorgeous unit has two bedrooms and a private rear balcony that overlooks the pool below.

This unit would be perfect for a buyer that wants a chic Key West getaway that is both stylish and well located. The interior walls and ceiling are Dade County Pine. Who wouldn't appreciate the gleaming new floors and crisply painted crown molding and interior trim? Note also the classic Kohler bath fixtures. Every architectural element of this unit exudes style. (P.S. There is a pool at the rear.)

I searched the historic Sanborn Fire Maps and learned that a building sat on the lot at 526 William Street as early as 1889 when the street identifier was 139 William Street. The identifier was changed to 526 William Street by 1892. I am pretty confident this is the same building as the structural dimensions did not change between the years.

 Delancey Hall has a superior Old Town location. In the morning you can walk a couple blocks north to the Historic Key West seaport and grab breakfast at Harpoon Harry's or experience fine dining at the A&B Lobster House at night.  The Waterfront Playhouse and the Red Barn Theater are within easy walking distance. You're sure to be thoroughly entertained at either live venue. The restaurants and Duval Street nightlife make for a convenient night on the town and are just a five minute or so walk back home.

CLICK HERE to view the Key West mls datasheet on this property. Please call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642 to schedule a showing of this really sweet Key West property.  I am a buyers agent and a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Key West.

1310 Newton Street - The Meadows Area of Key West

The listing Realtor describes 1310 Newton Street as

"Charming turn-key house in the popular Meadows neighborhood was fully renovated in 2004 from the supporting piers up to the roof. Home is bright and modern with great use of space. Detached 100 s.f. accessory building in the back yard has been used as an artist studio with power and water and is ready for new owner to customize."

I checked the Historic Sanborn Fire Maps for Key West to see if I could determine the approximate age of the house. The house first appeared on the 1892 map where it was identified as 208 Newton Street.  The 208 Newton Street was changed to 1310 Newton Street on the 1899 map. So we know that the house existed at least as of 1892. The entire block was omitted in the 1889 map so the could house could have had an even earlier date of construction.

I searched through the old shoebox and found a photo of 1310 Newton Street that was taken in 1965. Compare the black and white photo to the recent color photo.  The house now sits behind a white picket fence. The screened-in front porch is now open. The almost foreboding facade is now welcoming, bright, and cheerful.  Today it looks like home.

The front door opens to a long hallway that leads to the living area located midway in the  home and ends at the rear where the kitchen and dining area can be found. The two bedrooms and bath are located up front.  This configuration is typical of many cigar maker cottages where the front rooms become bedrooms and the main living spaces are located at the rear of the property.

The combined living, dining, and kitchen area offer a decent amount of living space.  The kitchen cabinets and island provide lots of storage places as well.  French doors at the rear open out to the rear deck that acts as a conduit to the stand alone cottage at the rear. The building could be an artist studio or maybe a writer's cottage or a simple hobby room. A bricked courtyard completes the remainder of the backyard. In my opinion there is not enough room for a pool with the small cottage located at the rear. 

1310 Newton Street has 972 sq ft of living space. The lot measures 24.5' X 88.5' or 2168 sq ft. which is typical of the area. Newton Street is a one-way street that runs eastward from White Street about four blocks where it ends at Eisenhower Drive. Most of the streets in the Meadows are one-way streets. The streets are narrow. The good thing is most of the homes in this area are single family residences.  There are a few apartments and condos, but they are in the minority. Parking is normally easy.

CLICK HERE to view the Key West mls datasheet on 1310 Newton Street and then 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.  Let me help you find your place in Paradise.

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1403 Olivia Street - The Meadows Area - Key West

 There is something about a simple Conch House that brings most people down from their lofty perches to appreciate everyday life in Key West.

The listing agent describes 1403 Olivia Street as "This charming home is a very traditional Conch house and located in a fabulous neighborhood. The home has been well maintained by the current owner with much Dade County pine, original stair case, and wood floors. The homes is set back slightly from the street with an inviting front porch that overlooks a colorful garden. The rear yard is fenced with a garden shed, and decking."

The house sits behind a lushly landscaped small front yard that is separated from the sidewall by a white picket fence. The front porch is elevated just a bit and provides a perfect perch to watch the world go by. 

I dug down into my old shoebox and found a black and white photo taken nearly 50 years ago. Compare that pic with the recent color photo immediately below. The tree is much taller, the yard is more densely landscaped, the canvas awnings are gone, and shutters were added. The simple geometry of the house remains unchanged.

When you cross the threshold you enter into a small foyer. The stairway that leads to the second floor. The hallway leads to the back of the house. The living room is located up front. The two front windows provide views out toward the street and two windows on the right allow additional light. There is a faux fireplace in the living room for those few nights we might conjure up the idea of wanting a fire to keep us warm.

The kitchen and dining area are at the rear. Two large sliders allow sunlight to filter through the trees and provide gentle illumination to the space. Most of the backyard is decked where there are multiple planting areas and potted plants.  There is room for a pool. And there is good side yard access for a contractor to install a pool.

There are two real bedrooms on the second floor. I say "real" because sometimes some houses have small spaces an agent may call a bedroom. These rooms work!

This home has an "old house" feel without feeling old or tired.  You appreciate the age and architectural elements and materials such as the Dade County Pine walls, ceiling, and floors. The Monroe Count Property Appraiser shows this house as being 1514 sq ft. It has two bedrooms and two baths. The home is a full time residence that has been very well maintained and cared for by the long time homeowner. Everything here is neat and clean. CLICK HERE to view the Key West mls datasheet and listing photos of 1403 Olivia Street.  

This home is located in the Meadows Area of Key West. Bayview Park (Key West's main city park) is located one block to the south. Bayview has public tennis courts, a baseball field, an old fashioned band stand, and lots of space where the the city and civic groups host various events throughout the year. The White Street "Arts District" is within easy walking distance.  There are numerous small shops, gyms, yoga studios, eateries, and Faustos Food Palace (grocery store).  Old Town and the Historic Seaport are within walking distance as well. 

Please call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642 to schedule a private showing of this home or any other house in Key West. I am a buyers agent and a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Key West. Let me help you find your place in Paradise.

1414 5th Street - Key West Bungalow with a Place for Mom

What an inviting and pretty house 1414 5th Street is. As I got out of my car to take photographs of this home I had to stop and take in the simplicity and charm of this home. We are all aware of the Cigar Maker Cottages, Eyebrow Houses, and Grand Conch Houses in Old Town. And we all are familiar with the mid century homes and more recent new homes in the Casa Marina Area which often sit behind imposing six foot privacy fences. So it was pleasing to see an atypical bungalow framed by waving palms and perched behind a green lawn in the Mid Town Area of Key West. It immediately looked like home!

I soon learned that what I saw from the street is a much larger house and even larger property than I imagined. The irregular lot measures 100' X 100' with a "cutout" of about 50' X 50' on the northwest corner. The resulting lot is totals 8370 sq ft on which the house is located. Besides the broad front lawn, there is off street parking to the north and a large backyard with abundant space for a pool.

According to the Monroe County Property Appraiser the original house was built in 1938. It was updated and expanded and now totals 2307 sq ft of living space. The front door opens into the home that is arranged like most homes up north in America. The living room, kitchen and dining area are located up front. A central hallway leads to the bedrooms that are located on either side.

 You will notice that plantation shutters filter the view from the outside looking in which works the same way from the inside in the other direction. Also notice the travertine marble floors, crown molding, and recessed lights throughout the house. 

There are three bedrooms in the main house. Two of these bedrooms have en-suite baths. A third full bath is located off the central hallway and serves as guest bath as well. You will notice the travertine marble floors and crown molding continue into the bed and bath areas.

I mentioned this home also has a place for Mom. In 2008 the home was enlarged with a two bedroom one bath addition that includes a very large living area and kitchen. This is the perfect place for Mom or Dad or both in the golden years. There is a private entry off the front that includes a nice outdoor area. Inside, the expansive kitchen opens out to the living room and dining space. The two bedrooms are on the far side of the living room. Doors at the back of both the main part of the house and Mom's addition open out to the back yard where there is a nice deck and small shed. There is plenty of room for a pool. Perhaps a new owner might convert the shed into a poolside cabana.

The 2008 renovation included new siding, new windows and doors, new roof, new electric, new plumbing, new floors, etc. They forgot the pool. But that's an easy fix. There's plenty of room for a large pool and extensive grounds. These are the creative things new owners love to add. This home did not flood in Wilma. CLICK HERE to view more photos of this extra large property.

CLICK HERE to view the Key West mls datasheet on 1414 5th Street which is offered at $650,000. Then please call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642 to set up a showing of this very pretty home that includes a Place for Mom.  I am a buyers agent and a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Key West. Let me help you find your place in Paradise.