514 Elizabeth Street, Key West

JUST LISTED

Just Listed 514 Elizabeth Street, Key West. I have written about this house a few times over the ten years I have written my blog, not because it has been offered for sale but rather to share with my Dear Readers that this is the first house I sold in Key West.  It has been owned by the same people these many years. As I recall there were three factors that influenced their decision to buy this place. First, the house really is historic - it is one of the very oldest homes in Key West. Second, it has a great location equal distance to Duval Street and the Historic Seaport. And three it had off street parking and a deep back yard with room for a pool. The owners built that pool, the old house charm and the location never changed. Today this home is offered for sale at $1,500,000.

Ludwig Mies van der Rohe famously said, "Less is more."  The simplicity of design and original construction make it stand out among the many homes in Old Town that have been over-renovated. My research shows the house as having been built circa 1855. The photo directly below shows the house in 1965. Below that is a photo I took a about then years ago. The bottom photo was taken in 2013 from 517 Elizabeth shorty after it was remodeled and offered for sale. The present owner is an architectural historian. He told me  that 514 Elizabeth is "is typical of the conch or Bahamian house built in the Bahamas from the 1780s and in Key West prior to the Civil War. The original architectural moldings that survive are typical of the 1835-1860 period."

The facade is so simple. The front porch is meant for setting. The front door opens into a wide hallway with the formal parlor on the right and the ground floor bedroom on the left. There is a main floor bath at the left rear. The stairway to the second floor bedrooms is located on the right. The original Dade County Pine walls and floors are still intact throughout the house. The only noticeable things I saw that has changed is the front scuttle no long is visible inside the second floor bedrooms. The house has central air conditioning and that vitiated the need to use the scuttle for ventilation.

You probably can't tell it from the photos but the wood walls also help us date the house. The wood planks are much wider than typical houses from the 1890s and beyond. That means the Dade County Pine walls were "old growth lumber" which means earlier construction. The floors and walls have settled a bit with age. Purists who want a genuine old house will appreciate this. People who want something is all perfect will not. I remember staying at the Lygon Arms in the Cotswolds many years ago. We stayed in the room that Oliver Cromwell stayed in the night before the Battle of Hastings in 1620. The room tilted a bit. The hotel had a fancy new addition. I preferred the tilt. And that is why I find this house so utterly charming.

 The previous owner added a new kitchen and dining area more than twenty years ago. It is showing its age a bit. A new owner might update the space.

One of the joys of living in Key West is the ability to open the doors in the winter and allow the sunshine inside and merge the inside with the outside at night. Two separate spaces become one environment to share with family and friends. It's meals on heels instead of meals on wheels here.

During the daytime the pool is the perfect place to get than Key West tan that will make your friends from the frozen north green with envy.

A new owner might build a rear cottage on the north side of this L-shaped lot where the current lower level dining area is located. The new structure could be built at the same height as the laundry cottage across the pool on the north. There appears to be enough ground to comply with set back and lot usage requirements. If this were done, the new owner could end of having a four bedroom home in an ideal Old Town location. CLICK HERE to view more photos of this home.

CLICK HERE to view the Key West MLS datasheet on 514 Elizabeth Street which is a Pre-Civil War home in Key West offered by Preferred Properties at $1,500,000. Then call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642, to schedule a private showing. This is a great location and a precious home in our community.

OPEN HOUSE SUNDAY ~ 1500 Albury Street, Key West

OPEN HOUSE TODAY

11:00 - 2:00

Grand New 2240 Sq Ft Custom Built Home situated on a corner lot and resembling the charming historic architecture of Old Town Key West, this 4 bedroom 3 1/2 bath is all new. With 9 foot ceilings and 7 foot doors, the spacious rooms are filled with light. Architectural details include coffered ceiling, crown molding, extra high baseboards and trim, custom wainscoting, and two story grand staircase. 

The gourmet kitchen has Kosmos Granite counters, Thermador stainless appliances, and an incredible amount of storage. Built with long term cost saving features including Hardy Plank Siding and Wind Impact resistant windows and doors throughout. Sunny heated pool, waterfall, light display and outdoor shower. sprinkler system, exterior lighting, plus whole house generator. LED lighting and smart house technology throughout the house.

I would like to thank the Key West Citizen for messing up our display ad again today.  We are on the map.
This home is offered by Cory Held, Jeffrey Grosky, and Gary Thomas at Preferred Properties Key West. $2,199,000.  Preferred Properties Key West  ~  305-294-3030.

1106 Grinnell Street, Key West

Just Listed, but not by me, 1106 Grinnell Street, Key West. The listing Realtor describes this property this way:

"This property has Dade County Pine behind the drywall in Main House and very large attic. Backyard has workshop/shed and tiki hut/guest room - permit built in mid 1970's. With a gated backyard, carport, stainless steel appliances and enclosed front porch - this property is very structurally sound. Live in it as is or restore and renovate, remove shed and add pool for the perfect Old Town Oasis."

I dug down into my old shoe box and found photos of 1006 and 1108 Grinnell Street which were taken in 1965. The top photo shows 1108 Grinnell Street with a partially completed concrete block fence block fence. The lower photo shows 1106 Grinnell Street with what appears to be a semi-enclosed front porch together with a wood carport adjacent. I then searched the Historic Sanborn Fire Maps and learned that what is now 1106 Grinnell Street was shown on the 1889 Map when it was then identified as 127 Grinnell Street. The street numerator was changed to 906 Grinnell on the 1892 map and changed to 1106 Grinnell on the 1899 map. Most of the houses in this neighborhood were cigar maker cottages (shotguns) with a long narrow hall on one side with all rooms located to the opposite side.

The Monroe County Property Appraiser records show this as a 916 square foot home sitting on a 2345 square foot lot (26.2" X 93.5') sitting in the South of Truman Section of Old Town Key West. A buyer who is looking for a simple house located in a nice Old Town location may want to take a look at this property just as much as a buyer who is looking for a renovation project.

A new owner who wants to restore this house would gain many Brownie Points by taking down the existing carport and enclosed front porch. I know the porch area adds some usable square footage to the house, but a new porch that relates back to the style typical of cigar maker cottages would certainly dress up this house and give it a more appropriate facade. The ceiling could be vaulted to create a dramatic great room. 


Inside a new owner would probably replaces the existing metal louvers with six over six windows. This would then allow the owner to install a new air conditioner. CLICK HERE to view the Key West MLS datasheet and view more listing photos. Please contact me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642, to schedule a private showing on 1106 Grinnell Street which is offered at $550,000.  I am a buyers agent and a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Key West. Let me help you find your place in Paradise. 

Know Nothing Realtors

I will bet just about every middle aged and older reader of my blog recognizes the face of Sergeant Schultz of Hogan's Heroes.  He's the guy who when confronted with direct evidence of wrong doing simply looked  the other way and stated "I hear nothing, I see nothing, I know nothing!" By his action (or inaction) he avoided responsibility for dealing with whatever substantive issue may have given cause for concern.

A couple of weeks ago a fellow Realtor pulled me aside during a showing and told me I talk too much. I do.  Unlike Schultz, I probably would have ratted out Hogan and the show would have been cancelled because the POWs would have been exposed for their acts of sabotage. Hogan and his band of men would no longer have been merry.

Several years ago while showing a property to a buyer, I pointed out some issues that the buyer needed to be aware of. The listing Broker called me aside and told me I should not point out issues like that - that it is the buyer and the buyer's home inspector who should look for issues that may be of concern. I told her that is not how I view my responsibility. My buyer bought the property in spite of the issues.

A couple of years ago I recall showing a local couple a house located a couple of blocks from the Atlantic Ocean. The entire area around this particular house flooded during Hurricane Wilma in 2005. Everybody in town knew this part of town flooded because furniture and debris from theses houses littered the streets for a couple of weeks until removed by the city trash trucks. My buyers  knew the area had flooded when I asked the listing Broker the simple question "Did this house flood in Wilma? to which she replied "I don't know. I wasn't here." Maybe she was in Miami - or Germany - when the hurricane happened.

I remember a different showing with a different buyer who was both a Realtor and an insurance agent in Connecticut as I recall. We were looking at a house which had just been totally renovated. It looked very good. I asked the listing agent a simple question about the remodel to preferredhe replied "I don't know."  A couple of minutes later I asked a different question about something else. The agent again said "I don't know."  As we were walking toward my car my buyer said something like "I would never buy anything from that guy. I don't trust anything he says." 

My purpose is not to discuss the Realtor Code of Ethics or Standards of Practice, but rather to address my propensity to talk too much. I am not a Sergeant Schultz. I will point out things that are wrong about a property as well as features that are beneficial or attractive or both. Being a "know nothing" is of "no use" to a buyer.

104 Southard Street #2, Key West - Waterfront View

Buyers who are looking for a Key West getaway which they can rent to help defray some of the cost of purchase should take a look at the newly listed Shipyard Condominium unit located at 104 Southard Street #2. I got to see this unit during Realtor caravan earlier this week along with about 50 other agents. It was bedlam, but I sized up the potential value of this particular property as soon as I walked out on the deck and took in the view. This is money.

The above photo shows construction in progress of the new City of Key West Truman Waterfront Park. The Outer Mole docks are located in the background.  NAVY vessels are docked there on occasion. Other times the view will be of the water and cruise ships beyond. The area adjacent to the buildings in the foreground will be open park spaces. I think the view the from this unit is about as you can get for the price.

The listing Realtor describes this unit this way:

Enjoy an unobstructed Ocean view from the deck of this second story condo which has been totally renovated. New Kitchen, appliances, carpeting, etc. Large outdoor deck which is partially under roof for outside dining and shade or enjoy the sun with room for lounging. This condo has a dedicated off street parking spot in front of condo.

This is a one bedroom one bath unit with 523 square feet of living space located on the second floor. there is a large balcony which overlooks the waterfront.  The Shipyard pool is located about a 90 second  walk to the east. The dedicated parking space for this unit is located adjacent to the building so neither you nor your guests will have to walk through a maze to get to it. Fort Zachary Taylor State Park and Beach are within easy walking distance as well. At night, the wonders of Duval Street are a safe five minute stroll to the east.

CLICK HERE to view the Key West MLS datasheet and listing photos. 104 Southard Street #2 is offered at $519,000. Please call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642, to schedule a private showing.  I am  buyers agent and a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Key West.  I think this unit could be nicely decorated and turned into a money machine as a monthly vacation rental. Let's take look at the view and the potential. And if you choose not to rent, you get to keep this special view all to yourself.