816 Terry Lane, Key West - Bank Owned Duplex

 Just Listed, but not by me, 816 Terry Lane, Key West. This is a Bank Owned legal duplex located on a lane that runs parallel for two blocks between Whitehead Street on the east and Thomas Street to the west. Frequent travelers to Key West know the area because Blue Heaven Restaurant and Santiago's Bodega are located around the corner on Petronia Street. 

In his book The Streets of Key West: A History Through Street Names, J Willis Burke quoted Thomas Sanchez, Mile Zero where Sanchez describe the area today known as Bahama Village "...a place marked on the early Key West maps as Africa Town. A place still called Nigger Town, Black Town, Tan Town, or home, depending on the color of one's skin." And later Burke quoted Thomas Corcoran, Octopus Alibi who wrote "We drove into a section of town that real-estate brokers and black entrepreneurs called Bahama Village. It was the last repository of island tradition that had not been remodeled and resold". Ernest Hemingway lived less than one block away. Of the area he wrote "...and across, behind the hotel, to the street that led to jungle town, the big unframed house with lights and girls in the doorway." Those are literary references to what once was. I don't know anybody who refers to the area with those vulgar terms. Today I am writing of what might be, but I am going to throw in some old photos the Terry Lane.

The black and white photo above shows 816 Terry Lane when it was photographed in 1965. That is the the same house that exists today, although the building has been updated and expanded. There house visible next door still exists today and was featured in my blog a couple of years ago. The two buildings to the immediate north pictured below were also photographed in 1965. Both of those buildings were taken down and were replaced by two brand new houses in 2006. 

 I searched the Historic Sanborn Fire Maps to see if I could determine when 816 Terry Lane might have been built. The building was not shown on the 1889, 1899, 1892, or 1912 maps. So it had to have been built after 1912. The space where the lot is located was not occupied by another structure on the earlier maps but always left vacant. The building shown the photo two above was noted as being a "bakery" and ovens were shown as being located behind that building. The two block long street that ran from Olivia Street on the south to Petronia Street on the north was  called Tin Pan Alley on the 1889 map. The street name was changed to Terry Street on the 1899 map where nearby homes were referred to on the map as NEGRO TEN 'M' ENTS behind which was the ODD FELLOWS HALL or COLORED I.O O F HALL on Thomas Street. The area south of Olivia Street was pretty much vacant all the way to the Atlantic Ocean about four blocks to the south. Like other parts of Old Town, the houses here were situated on small lots. Little stores and community bakeries dotted the landscape since there was not such thing as refrigeration. 

The little house at 808 Terry Lane and the bakery at 810 Terry Lane were razed and replaced by new two story homes with private pools that were added in 2006.

Today 816 Terry Lane is a legal duplex consisting of the original front building which has been expanded and the 2006 addition at the rear.  The lot measures 31.5. X 96' or 3024 sq ft. The two housing units have a combined area of 1906 sq ft. There is no external separation of the housing units.

The rear unit was built in 2006 and looks to be in pretty good condition. Someone removed the appliances including range, refrigerator, washer and dryer. The bathroom mirror and some light fixtures were also removed. But the place was otherwise maintained quite well. A fresh coat of paint and the addition of appliances will make this space move-in ready. Even without offering off-street parking, I think the rear one bedroom unit ought to rent somewhere between $1500 to $1800 per month. This is very nice space for an annual rental in the Old Town area.

The main entry to the original part of the house is located mid-way on the north side. You enter into the main living area where the kitchen is located at the rear. It looks like someone took most of the kitchen away. All that remains is the kitchen sink. A spiral staircase leads to a large second floor bedroom with ample closet space. There are three more bedrooms on the main level. There are three bathrooms in the front part of the property.

CLICK HERE to view the Key West mls datasheet and listing photos. 816 Terry Lane is offered for sale at $497,500 or just $261 per sq ft. While this place needs some TLC, it does not need a total renovation. The rear unit could be rented for enough money to pay taxes, insurance, and utlities plus provide some cash towards your mortgage payment. I think there is room in the backyard to build a small pool. After you have studied the mls report, please call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642 to look at the real thing. I am a buyers agent and a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Key West.

1018 Olivia Street - Old Town - Key West

The listing Realtor describes 1018 Olivia Street this way:

"Historic Conch House remodeled to create a tropical paradise in the midst of Old Town Key West. The epitome of indoor/outdoor island living. French doors open to the 500 sf lanai, the living and dining areas surrounding the pool and spa. Two master suites with full baths, a large loft, and off street parking make this home a truly private oasis. All furnishings convey."

1018 Olivia Street in Key West first appeared on the 1899 Sanborn Fire Map. The black and white photo above was taken in 1965 and shows the small home long before the renovations transformed the property to the way it looks today. The original house is typical of the homes of the earlier era. It was a small cigar maker style home of modest but sturdy construction. The interior rooms were constructed of Dade County Pine. The house was expanded a bit during renovations when two eually sized additions were appended to the house on either side and the attic space was opened to provide a loft bedroom space. Today the Monroe County Property Appraiser shows this house as having 834 sq ft of living space capable of being air conditioned. (This does not include any of the covered outdoor living space.) The metal roof reflected heat from the sun and provided a clean surface to collect rain run-off that was often used as drinking water until potable drinking water was brought into to Key West. The lot was and still is a bit larger than many in this part of town - 47' X 72' or 3348 sq ft. Olivia Street is one of the longest continuing streets in Key West. It runs eastward a little over one mile from Fort Street at the Truman Waterfront and ends Eisenhower Drive.

During renovation the original wood ceilings were removed to create a vaulted ceiling. This allowed the prior owner to create a loft sleeping area. The front room has sectional seating which may also be used for occasional sleeping. The back section of the original house became the core of the new home. New additions of 8' X11' were added to both sides which created new bedrooms and baths. A large covered lanai was added to the rear.

The house is located on Olivia Street at Watson Lane which runs just one block from Truman where it appropriately dead-ends at the Key West cemetery. Two of the most understated properties in Key West are neighbors on Watson Lane. The house across the lane is an abandoned brothel. It's Key West. The location is quiet, quaint, and quirky!

1018 Olivia Street is offered at $1,195,000. CLICK HERE to view the Key West mls datasheet and listing photos. It is outfitted to rent as a monthly vacation rental and is offered fully furnished. Please call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642 to schedule a private showing of this really pretty Key West home. I am a buyers agent and a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Key West.

628 Frances Street, Key West - Price Reduction

The asking price on 628 Frances Street was originally offered at $899,000. The new asking price is just $769,000. This Old Town home is a really sweet miniature eyebrow cottage complete with a white picket fence and garden. Some of the prettiest, and a couple of the most expensive, homes in town are located on this block which is within easy walking distance to the Historic Key West Seaport, Duval Street, and Sunset Celebration.

Before starting today's blog I checked the Historic Sanborn Fire Maps and learned that this home first appeared on the the 1899 map. (This entire block was omitted from the 1889 map which does not infer the houses were not built then.) I learned the house was previously numbered 626 Frances Street but appeared as 628 Frances St. on the map which suggests to me the house was around much earlier than 1899. I then got out my shoe box and found a photo of this property taken fifty years ago. If you compare it with the color photo above you will note several structural changes including replacement of the windows and door, addition of shutters,  replacement of porch columns and addition of railing, and the replacement of the picket fence with a minor increase in height. What has not changed is the salt box shape of this small house turned on its side. The eyebrow house though not unique to Key West is rare - especially in this smaller size. There are approximately 75 of these special houses on our island. At first glance you will note the individual metal roof shingles as they rise to the gable. Then you will may notice the sawtooth addition at the rear. If you stand at the front gate you will see the house has five bays - two windows down and three windows hidden below the steep sloping roof line which creates the extended porch. These upper windows were designed to permit the windows to be open to provide ventilation even during a rain storm.

The listing Realtor describes the property this way:

"Location, Location, Location!!! Time to think seriously about this property. Wonderfully maintained cottage in an absolutely superb location in Old Town. Move in ready with some nice upgrades; granite counters in kitchen, Pergo flooring on first floor, recently installed central A/C and washer and dryer. Some Dade county pine and great front porch. A well kept side yard and fencing all around. Move in now or renovate to your taste. Motivated Sellers."

I had the opportunity to see the property late Friday afternoon - in the rain. I only had my Nikon pocket camera so the picture quality is not as good as I would like, but the photos I took are representative of what this home has to offer. When I stepped inside the front door the very first thing I noticed was the staircase in the left corner. The dark wood contrasted to the new blond Pergo floors. Then I noticed the compact size of the living room. I have been in many small homes before so I knew this place would not be large. The walls have wallpaper which tends to visually shrink the size of the room to the mind's eye. I am not being critical - just making an observation.

According to the listing Realtor this house has 1017 sq ft of living space which includes two bedrooms and one and one-half baths. The main floor bedroom is located just off the front entrance. A set of petite French doors provide entry to this space. You should notice that there is no closet in this bedroom. An armoire provides a place to hang one's clothes.

The second bedroom is located on the second floor. This room measures 24' X 18' from eave to eave - but not interior living space. The ceiling drops down to knee walls which provide a vertical space for placement of furniture. It appears to me that the wall unit air conditioner visible in the photo below is located in a space which most likely was a scuttle when this home was first built. A scuttle is an opening in the roof which allows hot air to rise through the house to the outdoors.

This is not the first time I have seen a toilet and sink in a place like this. A home designer friend of mine totally changed a similar space and installed a real bathroom with a shower.

In his description of this property the listing Realtor said the house is move-in ready but opined a new owner might want to renovate. I am not being critical of this home which I think is really cute. I think it could be better. I think the Pergo floors ought to go away as should the wall paper. The enclosed porch on the side ought to be more fully integrated into the kitchen.The kitchen could be upgraded and reconfigured to provide more storage and utility. This might be accomplished by removing the half wall that separates the kitchen from the dining area. I would create a small island with a new quartz counter-top with a dining extension. The opening between living area and rear sawtooth addition might be expanded with the installation of a steel beam. Finally, I would create a real second floor bath or remove the existing toilet and create a regular closet.

This house could work as a full time residence for a single person or couple who are minimalists. There just is not a lot storage space in this house so whoever lives here full time will need to be well organized. CLICK HERE to view more photos.

If renovated correctly, I think this place could look absolutely magical. I think it could also work as a monthly vacation rental. I think a lot of people love small spaces like this. While this place is cute as is, it could become something better. There is a large side yard that might provide enough space to add a swimming pool. Our Historic Architectural Review Commission and the City Planning Department would have to approve the addition of a pool to the lot. 

CLICK HERE to view the Key West mls datasheet on 628 Frances Street which is now offered for sale at $769,000. Please call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642 to schedule a private showing of this lovely eyebrow cottage. I am a buyers agent and a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Key West.