1307 Elizabeth Street, Key West - Back on the Market

On February 12th I blogged about a then new short sale for a nice house located at 1307 Elizabeth Street in the Old Town area of Key West. I ended the blog by predicting "This will go quickly, at least as far as contract negotiation." It did. It went under contract within a couple of days but just came back on the market. The listing agent told me the prospective buyers weren't prepared for the time period to get the short sale approved. Such is life today. Almost everybody expects instant gratification. If only Amazon could do short sales. But it can't.

Buyers seeking a "fixer" that does not look like it needs all that much fixed should consider 1307 Elizabeth Street, Key West. The house looks as though the owner walked away. Palm fronds are scattered all over the driveway and bricked side and back yards. I sold another house on this block three years ago and happened to snap a photo of 1307 Elizabeth Street as it appeared then. See below. It fits in nicely with the other lovely homes on this one block stretch between United Street to the north and South Street to the south. Simonton Street is one-half block away and Duval Street is one block further west. You could not ask for a better located in Old Town - it's close to the action but not a part of it.

A previous MLS listing provided a bit of history of this former cigar maker cottage which was allegedly made in the Bahamas and floated to Key West in the 1880s for use of workers at the nearby Gato Cigar factory. In the 1920ss it was used as a bakery. I checked the Monroe County Property Appraiser records and learned the house was significantly remodeled in 1996.

The black and white photo from 1965 shows the original cigar maker cottage together with an addition at the rear. The 1996 renovation added a second addition which is where the kitchen and dining area are now located. This room is a step down from the main living level and has a shed roof. The bedroom is located at the front of the house followed by the bathroom. All rooms have vaulted ceilings except the kitchen. The interiors are modern and do not have any historic character. Not being negative. Just pointing out what exists. A new side entrance on the north side opens into the living room. The old front porch is now a place for sitting outside off the bedroom.

The renovated house has 812 square feet of living space under air that sits on a lot measuring 40' wide by 81' deep. There is off street parking in front and a washer and dryer located in the shed at the rear. It appears that all of the windows are shuttered including the clerestory windows in the living area at the rear. The north side yard and back area are brick pavers.

CLICK HERE to view the Key West MLS datasheet and listing photos. Then please call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642, to discuss. I am a buyers agent and a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Key West. This will go quickly, at least as far as contract negotiation.

327 Peacon Lane, Key West

The charming house located at 327 Peacon Lane, Key West, has been in the same family for generations and is now available for purchase for the very first time. I dug into my old shoebox and found a photo taken of the property back in 1965. The only notable difference I could see is that the front yard has been bricked to create an off street parking space.

Peacon Lane is a one block long one-way street entered off Eaton that exits onto Caroline Street.  The Key West Seaport is located about one block north and east. I then checked the Historic Sanborn Fire Maps to see if I could determine approximately when this home was built. The house first appeared in the 1892 Map when it was identified as 8.3 Grunt Bone Alley.  The 1889 Map showed houses on the opposite side of the street, but the east side and houses to the rear for the next couple of blocks were all excluded from that Map. The 1899 Map changed the street name and house number to 327 Peacon Lane. We therefore know that 327 Peacon Lane existed as early as 1892. Then I went to The Streets of Key West: A History Through Street Names by J. Willis Burke who postured "grunts and grits were long time staples on the island. Presumably, this alley became the dumping ground for the remains of a species of fish named for its ability to make grunting sounds. The alley was renamed for Richard Peacon, Key West's most prominent grocer."

Before I describe the house and grounds, I need to mention the street which is dotted with some of the cutest houses on the island. Remember, this area is the closest to the seaport. This is where the first houses and some commercial buildings were first built. The small cottage next door at 317 Peacon Lane is as cute as a button. The house across the street at 320 Peacon Lane is presently undergoing total restoration. Two completely restored homes are presently offered for sale at $2,300,000 each. Duval Street is just three blocks to the west and the seaport five minutes to the east.

The original house has been updated and now has 1413 sq ft of living space consisting of living room, dining area, kitchen, two bathrooms, and three bedrooms.  The lot measures 36.5' X 72' or 2624 sq ft. French doors open out from the dining room to the rear decks.

The rear first floor deck looks great. It is very inviting. There is room for a pool - not an Olympic pool but certainly larger than a cocktail pool. The second floor rear deck was totally unexpected - it has views looking toward the seaport.

Peacon Lane as it appeared in 1937 and as it looks today. I know you can get grits in many local restaurants, but I'm not that sure about grunts. I am confident you would find the location highly desirable and that potential renovators may see this house as a buying opportunity. CLICK HERE to view the Key West MLS datasheet and listing photos on 327 Peacon Lane offered for sale at $998,000. Then please call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642, to arrange a personal showing. I am a buyers agent and a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Key West.

You're Invited to a Three Way Open House in Key West

Three Open Houses

One Day - Sunday - March 10th

Time 12:00 to 2:00 PM

409 Grinnell Street, Key West  1688 Sq Ft Four Bedroom Home with beautiful new pool.
Offered fully furnished at $1,249,000.

11 Nassau Lane, Key West.  Priced to Sell Fully Furnished at $749,000.

1413 Von Phister Street, Key West. Brand New 1924 Sq Ft Three Bedroom Home with 20X10' Sunny Pool.  Now offered at $1,499,000.

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1115 Southard Street, Key West - Beautiful Eyebrow Home

"A thing of beauty is a joy forever. Its loveliness increases; it will never Pass into nothingness."

                                                                                                                                       John Keats

I ask readers to pause for a moment and look at the photos of 1115 Southard Street, Key West. Won't you agree that is one beautiful house. Take look at the same house in the black and white photo below which was taken in 1965.  This home is an example of a Key West eyebrow style home. The roof eaves extend out over the porch protecting the second floor windows from rain or wind. In the days before air conditioning, residents had to rely on natural ventilation and trees to provide cooling. When you think about it, eyebrows really don't keep wind or rain out of your eyes - it's the eyelids, but that's not as romantic sounding.

I searched the Historic Sanborn Fire Maps and learned it appeared in the 1889 Map when it was then numbered 514 Southard Street. The house number changed to 1115 Southard Street on the 1899 Map. The Sanborn Map also identified the lane behind this house as Barracks Lane which was renamed Stump Lane on the 1899 Map.

I dug down into my old shoebox and found the above aerial photo taken of the area where I identified 1115 Southard Street. Study the photo and you may recognize the tall building at the corner. That is the Armory. The Army Barracks was located across the street to the right. The houses in the foreground are in The Meadows Area of modern day Key West.

I entered this home for the very first time a few days ago during Realtor Caravan. I actually paused at the front door and felt a sense of anticipation before entering. The house exterior is striking. The grounds are very well maintained. In fact the yard maintenance guys where clipping and blowing as we Realtors wandered about the property.

I have written before that every eyebrow house I have been inside is different. This is as good an example of that variation as any I have seen. Though varied in size eyebrow houses were typically built with a center staircase rising to the second floor where there would have been two bedrooms on either side. Downstairs there would have been Dade County Pine walls on either side of the staircase with bedrooms or sitting rooms followed by a kitchen in the rear. In many instances the kitchen might have been an addition to the house.

As soon as I entered recognized the renovations as having been made in the 1980s. The interior first floor Dade Pine walls were removed. Additions were made to the east and west sides of the house where a bit of space was added but more importantly that space introduced ambient daytime light. This type of addition would never be allowed by our Historic Architectural Review Commission (HARC). They put the kibosh on just about anything innovative. Saltillo tile floors were a big deal in decorating four decades ago - not so much now. The original ceiling was replaced by a new wood ceiling. The wood theme is carried throughout the house.

The renovation architecture is interesting.  But it's dated. That does not mean it is bad. It means a buyer who wants either a more historic looking home or a home with current contemporary features will have to renovate.

The staircase to the second floor was relocated to the backside of the living room wall where the sofa is located. The staircase lands directly into the master suite which includes the bedroom, a niched study, closets, bathroom, and exit to the glorious private roof top deck. The architect who designed this house did a damned good job. A dormer lifted and extended the back end of the second floor. (Modern day HARC would never allow this. And that's a shame. Note the original roof line was captured and noted in the built-in closets which have an ascending line that bisects the new from the old. The past is preserved.)

I stood on the second floor deck and took in the view which I found so charming. The old house next door looks delightfully deplorable. It will be offered for sale some day. It sits on  a huge L-shaped lot with access on Southard Street as well as Stump Lane (as does 1115 Southard). It will sell for way over a million dollars. In the meantime (which could be ten years or longer), the house will just sit there exuding its potential.

The house has 1400 square feet of interior living space under air plus covered porches, decks, and patios. The two guest bedrooms have baths, one of which is in the cute cottage at the rear. A gate at the rear opens out to Stump Lane. The 4,939 square foot lot measures 50.3' X 97.5'. The pool is both sunny and enormous by Old Town standards. 

CLICK HERE to view the Key West MLS datasheet and listing photos. Then please call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642. to schedule a private showing of 1115 Southard Street, Key West offered at $1,250,000. I am a buyers agent and a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Key West.

Key West - Price Reductions Meet Three Important Dates

Selling Season in Key West is more than half-way over. Reality is setting in for many sellers and many sellers have reduced the asking price on their properties.

409 Grinnell Street, Key West. Originally offered fully furnished at $1,275,000 now offered at $1,249,000.  Save these OPEN HOUSE dates - Saturday and Sunday (March 9 and 10). 12:00 to 2:00 PM. CLICK HERE to view the MLS details.

11 Nassau Lane, Key West. Originally offered fully furnished at $899,000, reduced to $849,00 and just reduced to $749,000. Save this hot date to view the OPEN HOUSE - Sunday March 10 from 12:00 to 2:00 PM.  CLICK HERE to view the MLS details.

1413 Von Phister Street, Key West. This is a Brand New 3 Bedroom Home. Originally offered at $1,549,000. Price has been reduced to $1,499,000. Save this date, Sunday March 10th to attend the OPEN HOUSE between 12:00 to 2:00 PM. CLICK HERE to view MLS details.

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