409 Grinnell St. Key West - Offered Furnished - Open House Today

I will be hosting an Open House Today at 409 Grinnell Street, Key West. You know the location - it is across the street from Old Town Bakery at the corner of Eaton and Grinnell Streets. 

 (Look closely - you'll see a pair a lady's shoes hanging from the telephone line stretched across the street.)

The house sits up the street just a bit adjacent to Elgin Lane. The historic house has a plaque at the front door stating it is on the National Registry of Historic Places and a Ceramic Star awarded for historic restoration in 2014.

First time guests and returning visitors stop as soon as they enter this house. They pause for a few seconds to take in the views. This isn't some old place with a new white kitchen with stainless steel appliances and Tony Lamonica furnishings (I made that name up). The reason this house was award the Ceramic Star was because the renovators preserved the genuine character of this old house that dates back to before 1889.

The current owners expanded upon the prior renovation and added the new heated salt water pool with waterfall. At night an LED light show reflects up to the coral stone wall and patio. There is a private shower tucked in the right rear corner. The front and rear grounds are irrigated and illuminated.  CLICK HERE to view the Key West MLS datasheet and see listing photos.

OPEN HOUSE

409 Grinnell Street

12:00 to 2:00 PM

Offered Fully Furnished except Art

$1,249,000

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1101 Flagler Avenue, Key West - Casa Marina District

1101 Flagler Avenue sits on a larger lot at the corner of Whalton Street at Flagler Avenue in the Casa Marina District of Key West. The Casa Marina Resort is located just three blocks to the west. The former home of R.J Reynolds (tobacco magnet and friend of Henry Flagler), is located opposite the resort. Judy Blume lived directly across the street at 1100 Flagler Avenue until a couple of years ago. Higg's Beach and a world of water fun is just four blocks south.

I dug into my old shoebox and found the above black and white photo taken 0f 1101 Flagler back in 1965. I took the color photo immediately below this morning. The arts and crafts style home sits on the lot today pretty much today the way it did fifty-four years ago.  There is a rear addition to the original house. The interior has been recently renovated. Today the house has 1687 sq ft of living space with two bedrooms and two baths.  The 4569 sq ft lot measures 45' X 101.5'.  The listing Realtor says there is room for a pool in the rear. 

 I live in the Casa Marina and love it for the location, size of lots, tall swaying palms, and laid back Key West lifestyle.  I can be in just about any part of town in five minutes or so (except when town is over-run by tourists. Then it can add on another ten minutes. But Key West is still a great place to be. And being near the beaches isn't all that bad.

  CLICK HERE to view the Key West MLS datasheet and listing photos for 1101 Flagler Avenue. The please call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642. I am a buyers agent and a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Key West, the listing brokerage. Let me show you this property and others in the Casa Marina District. There are multiple million dollar plus homes throughout the area. This home is priced among the lowest.

1109 Windsor Lane, Key West - A New Kind of Wonderful

Just Listed, but not by me, 1109 Windsor Lane, Key West. The listing Realtor describes this home this way:

"Exquisite 5 bedroom 6 bathroom estate in Old Town Key West. 1109 Windsor Ln. was built in 2005 and designed by local architect Tom Pope to be reminiscent of the finest historical homes in Key West. Uniquely situated on a lush landscaped corner lot ideal for a large family estate, corporate retreat or small event property. An old world chef's kitchen with custom cabinetry, large open living room, formal dining room and french doors providing natural light. Stone floors downstairs with Brazilian Cherry staircase leading to the second and third floors. Travertine, Bisazza tile & Calacatta gold marble tastefully finish each bathroom. Signature Royal Palms, lush tropical landscaping, private pool, waterfall and oversized spa complete this estates appeal."

Compare the top color photo of the corner of Windsor Lane at Amelia Street to the photo below which shows the former Dowling Welding shop in the exact same location in 1980. I remember driving by this location during 2004 and watching the construction of this house together with slightly smaller two story classic Conch house next door at 1117 Royal Street. I must admit I was initially  underwhelmed by the location. I couldn't fathom the site of a former welding operation becoming a place worthy of note. I made the mistake frequent visitors to Key West do and could not envision something really wonderful to come of out something not so great. I was wrong. The properties were completed in 2005. 

The black and white aerial photo above taken in 1960 shows Saint Mary Star of the Sea Church, convent, and school, plus 1117 Royal Street, 1109 Windsor Lane (Dowling Welding), and 800 Amelia Street which later became The Medicine Garden. The second photo was taken in 1965 and shows 800 Amelia before the new house was built which became a part of The Medicine Garden. These collective photos show the evolving change that has occurred to the Key West landscape over the past sixty years and particularly in the past fifteen years.

Tom Pope's created a present perfect Classic Revival structure of temple design. The three story house has a dignified if not regal appearance framed by a white picket fence. The front of the house faces Windsor Lane has five bays. By recessing a portion of the south side, Pope created the appearance of a four bay house on the Amelia Street side. First and second floor wrap-around balconies frame this architectural gem. Petite French doors are used on the first and second floor south facing side. Transoms are located over the first floor doors.

The first thing you see when you enter the foyer is the graceful stairway and a door to a large first floor bedroom. Take a look at the bedroom and note the petite French doors with transoms, large crown molding, recessed light fixtures, and stone floor. What you can't see in the photos, but which you will appreciate in person, is the top quality paint job done by Nipper's Painting. (He's the best!) The entry hall leads to the great room, kitchen, and dining area at the rear.

Notice the transom theme is replicated in the upper cabinets in the kitchen. Also notice the intricate casements over the French doors and and windows. The crown molding wraps the entire space. The south facing windows and doors bathe the area during the daytime. Doors at the rear open out to the covered deck, pool, spa, and rear garden. The cut stone floors continue out to the deck and pool. There is a garage located on the Amelia Street side as well.

This 3,428 square foot house has five bedrooms and five and one-half baths (guest bath off main entry).  There are two guest bedrooms with en-suite baths on the second floor plus the master suite at the rear. The third floor has a large open bedroom plus en-suite. The home could become a fantastic monthly vacation rental. The home furnishings are negotiable.

Second floor front guest bedroom

 Second floor rear guest bedroom

The master suite is quite large - in fact very large

The third floor bedroom also has an en-suite

CLICK HERE to view the Key West MLS datasheet and lots of listing photos of 1109 Windsor Lane, Key West offered for sale at $2,850,000.  The furnishings are negotiable. Then please call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642, to schedule a private showing. I am a buyers agent and a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Key West. This neighborhood has evolved and include many restored homes and some new ones. It's close to Duval Street, a stone's throw from Saint Mary Star of the Sea Basilica, and within walking distance to so many places that draws guests to Key West year after year. I think you will agree this home is a new kind of wonderful.

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1200 Whitehead Street, Key West - Buying Oppotunity!

Just Listed, but not by me, 1200 Whitehead Street, Key West. I saw and photographed this classic eyebrow house yesterday afternoon on one of the few "gray days" we get in the Florida Keys. I apologize for the lack of color.  I also did not use a tripod so the photos are less than perfect.  Half of this home has been renovated and the other half remains to be completed. Use the photos and your imagination to see in your mind's eye what the property could become.

I dug into my old shoebox and found a photo of 1200 Whitehead Street that was taken more than fifty years ago. I took a similar photo yesterday. The architecture of the original house still reigns supreme on this ample 7496 sq ft (74. 58' X 100.5') lot at the corner of Whitehead and Catherine Streets.  Two large Royal Poinciana trees anchor the lot from either side.

Eyebrow houses are particularly unique to Key West. They are two story homes which vary in height, width, and size. These houses get the name "eyebrow" because the second floor windows are sheltered by the front roof eave which extends out over the house and supported by columns or posts.  Before electric fans and later air conditioning, shade and natural air flow cooled homes. The windows of an eyebrow house can be left open during rain storms which allows air to flow to cool the rooms.

The MLS datasheet shows this house was built in 1948. This information is drawn directly from the Monroe County Property Appraiser records which we know are sometimes (often!) misleading or downright incorrect. 1200 Whitehead Street first appeared on the 1892 Sanborn Fire Map. A substantial two story addition was added to the property after 2005. That addition was never completed. Let's take a brief look at the original house.

The original eyebrow house is 1,617 sq ft consisting of living room, two bedrooms with en-suite bath rooms, a bonus room (theater) with adjacent bath outfitted in travertine marble. The original portion is in move-in condition except that there is no complete functioning kitchen.

The addition has 2,242 sq ft of new unfinished space under air. While I am not a contractor nor inspector, I can attest the framing impressive both in size, dimension, and craftsmanship.

I understand the concept behind the addition was to create large living spaces for the owners. The roughed-in second floor master suite is one of the largest I have seen in Key West. The listing agent told me a new owner could remove the wall at the rear of the great room to expand the space. The addition includes a ground level sitting room space plus two story stairway to the master suite. The agent suggested an alternate use might be to add a floor in the two story space which would then allow for the creation of another bedroom and bath. CLICK HERE to view photos of the property.

CLICK HERE to view the Key West MLS datasheet and listing photos of 1200 Whitehead Street, Key West. Then please call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642, to schedule a private showing. I am a buyers agent and a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Key West. This is a lot of house for the money. I do think there are ways to deal with the size of the house to make renovation economical sensible even for Key West.