317 Angela Street, Key West - A New House in Old Town

Just listed, but not by me, 317 Angela Street, Key West. This is a brand new stick built house located in the Historic District. Locals and frequent visitors to Key West know that our old houses are protected and may not be torn down to build new houses. The explanation as to how this house came to be built is simple - the prior house (see the black and white photo below taken in 1965) was torn down in 2008 when the structure was declared "unsafe" by the city. The lot sat vacant for several years and was eventually purchased by the current owner in 2015.  The new house is an homage to what used to be on the corner of Mickens Lane and Angela Street. The new structure looks like many of the historic homes which expanded over the years with new buildings added to the rear or second floor additions over earlier one-story houses. This house has each of these elements.

The above series of photos show the original house, the vacant lot, the house framed in, and the newly 2622 square foot five bedroom five baths plus two additional half baths home. The lot measures 42' wide along Angela Street and runs 100.5' deep along Mickens Lane. The owners worked around the old trees on the front and side. Though new, this house comfortably into the lot's  location and looks like it has sat there for decades.

Long time readers of my blog know a recurring theme I write about upon entering new homes for the first time. My eyes are trained to look through whatever is going on inside and seek the rear view. Was I ever amazed in this place. Wow! Who would have thought what looks to be an assemblage of historic additions would have a great room of dramatic proportion? Then I saw something I had not seen in Key West before - a ceiling suspended in air where two right angles met exposing the pool and outdoor dining area. The chef's kitchen was to my right. Though stylish in every aspect, it warranted only a moment's notice as I walked out to the terrace to look up and see how this assemblage of things worked and kept from crashing down. This was genius.

There are two bedrooms on the first floor located on either side of the central hallway. Each has a private bath as do each of the three upstairs bedrooms. Because of this location just one and one-half blocks from Duval Street and a hop-stick-and-a-jump from Ft Zachary Taylor State Beach and Park, I think this house was designed with monthly vacation rental in mind to house large family groups. I toured the second floor bedrooms with a fellow agent who I several inches taller than I at which time I remarked that tall men could actually live in a house like this.  So many of the actual historic homes in Old Town have small bedrooms and low ceilings and result in a lot of make-do efforts to squeeze in make a big man squish a bit to fit inside a diminutive house. That's not going to be necessary at this house where the rooms are large and tall to accommodate all.

The first floor front bedrooms shows the design elements carried forth in the others upstairs. A faux old wall is in every room and contrasts to the bright white walls and ceiling with tie-collars that accentuate the height and add to the drama of the space. Each bedroom has an en-suite and closet, a feature not found in a lot of actual conch cottages. You won't notice it until you actually go to this house, but the design wizards at city hall like to pinch for accuracy as much as possible so they made the builder maintain the floor level height of the original house but allows the builder to step down one step to the main living level. This adds to the sense of the houses having been built or added onto in phases.

The master suite is remarkable for many reasons beyond its size. There is, of course, the large master bath and double door walk-in closet with a lot of built in storage.  This room in particular looks like a gathering place of young siblings while being with the parents on extended vacations. Or perhaps a place for nanny to govern while the parents are away. The suite shuts off from the rest of the rest if the house to give the parents ultimate solace when required.

In real life the friends and family will spend most time in the living areas - indoor and outdoor.  Those big glass walls will inevitably disappear into the walls as the occupants use this well designed space for the purposes intended. There is necessary shade, there a spaces to sun, there is space to frolic in the pool, and there is a place to tinkle near but not in the pool.

If you are not familiar with this location, you are probably well aware of The Green Parrot which is located one half block west and one half block north. The new Truman Waterfront Park and Amphitheater is located three blocks west of the Green Parrot. Ft Zach Taylor Beach is a short stroll away. Duval Street is one block east of 317 Angela where you can walk to the Atlantic Ocean or the Gulf of Mexico in about 30 minutes in either direction. You'll probably never make, however, because there is always something exciting go on Duval Street.

CLICK HERE to view the Key West MLS datasheet for 317 Angela Street offered for sale at $2.300,000. Then please call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642, to schedule a private showing of this newly built home. I am a buyers agent and a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Key West.

Good Neighbor Pam - Keeping an Eye on You in Key West

 Another true tale of Key West. Only the names have been changed to keep me from getting sued.

I learn a lot about Key West real estate by going on Realtor caravan. Twice monthly local agents tour new listings in the Key West area. Most of us take bus but some drive their own cars. Buses are better as you sometimes get to hear good gossip and learn what agents really think about those not on the bus.

On a recent caravan we stopped next door to a home I sold a few years ago. That owner had  contacted me a few months ago to discuss the possibility of selling. Nothing happened then, but I know that circumstances change and that owning real estate in Key West is not a forever thing for anybody.

After I finished looking at the house on the caravan, I went onto the back porch and snapped a couple of photos of the house I once sold just on the off-chance my "owner" may call upon me to list it sometime in the future. I thought having a photo from a different view might come in useful.  Later I emailed the photo to my customer.

The next day I received the email response from my former customer discussing the photo:

The husband told "Chester" (made up name) they were not pleased it had not sold. His wife "Pam" (made up name), who is a Conch and has known "Sylvia" (made up Realtor name) from days gone by, is not happy with her. Other homes in the area have been selling---maybe they are just a bit high.  She has a daughter in Miami, but they want to move up to the panhandle. They want better medical facilities than KW-- He was station there once.  Did you see the new one going up at the end of the street? Chester said it is very very big.

Chester is going down on the 1st. He has been down a few times. Thank you for the Christmas card.

One day last spring, after he closed up, Chester's flight going to Atlanta was canceled so he went back to the house for the night. All the storm shutters were up and every thing was put away for the summer. So he sat in the house watching TV. He fell asleep with the TV on and some lights on. The neighbors thought he had left for the summer. He was awakened by a voice he did not recognize
at about 2 AM asking him for his ID and to keep his hands were they could see them. It was a woman's voice and he was coming out of his deep sleep--It took him a bit to get his brain moving. He reached in to his pocket to get his ID when the voice, in a stronger mode and louder, told him to keep his hands out of his pockets! Two female cops with flash lights on and guns drawn and pointed at him. His brain was now working! He told them his flight was canceled and he went back home to sleep and his ID was in his wallet in his pants.

When all was done they told him to lock the front door (which he had left unlocked and closed the street gate) as it was a rough neighborhood!!! I ask who was watching out for the house, I wanted to thank them. It was my next door neighbor Pam. There was also a third cop, a male, just out side the door ready to shoot if one got by the two female cops in side.

I hope they do not sell --We never had such great protection. The neighbors knew I was leaving
and with the shutters closed and little slivers of light coming out they called. They had also called before when some one was in the yard, could have been the pool man?

11 Nassau Lane, Key West - Weekend Open House

With only three shopping days to Christmas, I thought I would host a Pop-Up Open House at

11 Nassau Lane 

Saturday and Sunday (December 22 and 23)

12:00 to 2:00 PM

 If you are speeding on a scooter, slow down. If you are riding on a bike or walking, turn south and walk down one of the sweetest slow lanes in Key West. 11 Nassau Lane is located mid-way up this dead end lane.  You're in for a treat!

I have written several blogs about 11 Nassau Lane, Key West.  I sold it to the previous owners about seventeen years ago who fell in love with this little house even before we made it to the inside. This was the first and only house these buyers looked at. It was love at first sight.  It is now available for purchase.

The owners believe this home was built circa 1860 just before the start of the Civil War. Although this home has been updated and expanded, the Dade County Pine walls in the living room and kitchen are extra wide boards which are indicative of very old growth wood. A previous owner replaced the original floors, remodeled the kitchen and bath, added French doors to the side and rear bedroom.

The current owners converted the main floor bedroom at the rear into a den and added a Murphy Bed (not shown in these photos.) The garden view is joyous.

Several years ago the owners added a second floor bedroom and bathroom plus covered rear porch and and created a love nest in the process. Who wouldn't fall in love with a treetop space this precious?  The vaulted ceiling with skylights, sharp repetitive angles, plus contrasting natural and painted woods are juxtaposed to the expansive open views of the surrounding trees and blue sky. As the photographer was snapping photos of this space, I noticed strands of shells suspended on the porch. They shimmered like gems. Yes. They shimmered like gems. Precious gems.

CLICK HERE to view more photos of 11 Nassau Lane in Key West. All furniture conveys with the purchase or may be given to charity. The bricked gardens and walkways are lighted and irrigated and contain numerous varieties of tropical trees and foliage, bromides, and orchids.

CLICK HERE to view the Key West MLS datasheet and view more photos on 11 Nassau Lane, Key West offered at $899,000 by Gary Thomas at Preferred Properties Key West.