1100 Flagler Avenue, Key West - Stunning Mid-Century Residence

1100 Flagler Avenue is a stunning example of true Mid-Century Modern Architecture and is one of Key West's most beautiful residences. The main house and guest house feature walls of glass overlooking the tropically landscaped gardens. The house was originally built in 1958 and has been remodeled and tweaked a bit by various homeowners over the decades including author Judy Blume when the home was featured in Architectural Digest in 2016. I dug into my old shoebox and found photos of the house way back when.

I actually live one block north of this incredible property. I drive by it a dozen times a week. I took the photo immediately below in 2016 which shows a banyan tree anchoring the corner lot. The two following photos show the location after Hurricane Irma toppled the giant banyan. The house was not damaged. The last photo from 2018 shows that owner's addition of a brick fence that curves the corner. 

The expanded house is now 3,522 square feet of living space situated on a massive 15,336 square foot lot located just four blocks from the Atlantic Ocean and Higg's Beach. Louie's Backyard (that is not a neighbor but a posh restaurant and Doggie Beach are located just a couple of blocks to the west. 

Blume and her husband hired Key West architect Tom Pope who added walls of windows opening to the gardens where now the inside and outside are one. Raymond Jungles did the landscaping. The current owner is the second to own since the Blume and her husband sold. Let's take a quick look.

The house had five bedrooms and five baths. The outdoor shower is a work of art. Notice the showed extending out from the wall. I use my outdoor shower almost every day of the year - even the few days that get chilly and even in the rain. I just turn the water temperature up a bit higher. Looking up at the sky and seeing palm trees swaying is just awesome. Try it. You'll love it.

CLICK HERE to view the Key West MLS datasheet and listing photos of 1100 Flagler Avenue, Key West offered for sale at $4,300,000. Then please call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642, to schedule a private tour of this very private treasure. I am a buyers agent and a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Key West. I have lived in the Casa Marina neighborhood for 25 years. You will love it.

4th of July Cancelled in Key West

I complained a few days ago about all the tourists in town walking around without face masks.  They are everywhere - enjoying their lives like there is no tomorrow. The city fathers and mothers took note.

The Covid 19 crisis is not over. It appears to be getting worse.  This afternoon the Key West Association of Realtors excecutive sent out a new directive that includes the sad news that the
4th of July Fireworks has been cancelled as well as...

EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY
The Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) issued Emergency Order 2020-09, which closes bars for on-site alcohol consumption
 

 

 

The information is as follows:

 

Establishments that derive more than 50% of their gross revenue from the sales of alcohol beverages must suspend sales of alcohol for consumption on the premises. These establishments can continue to sell beverages in sealed containers for consumption off premises. 

 

Establishments that are also licensed as public food service establishments or restaurants under Chapter 509 can continue to operate for on-premises consumption of food and alcoholic beverages at tables consistent with the requirements of Executive Order 20-139, so long as they derive 50% or less of gross revenue from the sale of alcoholic beverages for on-premises consumption.

Also in the news today:

The prospect of mass gatherings spreading coronavirus has led the Key West City Commission to rescind its original approval of Fourth of July fireworks, including all events in the beach areas that had previously been issued permits. The actions came during a special meeting of the commission on Friday morning. In addition, more detail has been added to the city's mask ordinance, requiring face coverings anywhere in public (i.e. sidewalks) if persons are within six feet of others. The commission reiterated that masks must be worn inside an establishment unless persons are seated and eating or drinking. Police will issue warning prior to writing citations that will carry a $500 fine.

Joey One Pants, A Cautionary Tale

Less than an hour ago I was exciting the Winn Dixie Shopping center onto North Roosevelt Boulevard in Key West at a controlled intersection. An older adult male was riding his bicycle on the opposite side of the street continued to ride across the intersection long after the light changed. Then he abruptly turned to cross the street in compliance with a directional light. He did not interfere with any of my driving. But he clearly violated the law and potentially put his safety and that of others in his hands.

We all see people do something like that every day. I drove to my office to pick up signs and balloons for my open house yesterday morning. There must have been a couple of hundred people walking on the sidewalks and either eating in or standing in front of restaurants waiting to get a table. Maybe ten percent were wearing face masks which are required in Key West. I guess the other ninety percent are invulnerable to Covid 19. This blog is not about Covid. It is about not following rules.

I knew Joey One Pants for about 20 years. He was the night clerk at one of the hotels in Old Town. He and I were both born in 1947.  He went to Viet Nam. I dodged the draft along with Clinton and Trump. Joey was kind of slow. His slowness agitated me. I can't abide slow people. He was a miser. He saved and invested his money. He had no children or siblings.

About five or six years ago he was riding his bicycle at that same intersection mentioned above. He rode thru the intersection disobeying the traffic light and got hit by a car. He was airlifted to Miami. People I know who knew him said they were certain he would die. But he didn't. I don't know who paid for the helicopter ride. I think it is about $70,000. He stayed in Miami for quite awhile recovering from his injuries. He eventually returned to Key West. He had lost his job and finally retired.

He lived in an apartment somewhere. I think it was in Mid-town. Then Hurricane Irma happened. Joey One Pants stayed. He had nowhere to go or to be with. A day or two after the storm one of the guys at the hotel where he used to work went to Joey's place to make sure Joey was okay. Joey was not there. The door was unlocked but not open. The guy went back again. Nobody but the guy from where Joey used to work cared about him. The guy from work went to the Key West Police Department to report Joey One Pants was missing. As I recall the story, the police were not actually back in business at that time. Many had evacuated the city and went north. I think the guy convinced a cop to take a look. The guy gave the police Joey's description.

The guy from work called the police a couple times to see if they had heard anything about Joey. No, they hadn't.

A few weeks later the police called the guy from work. They located the unclaimed body of an old man in the morgue. The body was found by the side of a road after the storm passed. The guy went over. It was Joey One Pants. 

Found on the internet

You may think that a simple little act like illegally crossing an intersection does not have any consequences. Or that not wearing a face mask in this time of international pandemic is okay. The President does wear one. You might think that. And as you can see from this story, you would be wrong. Actions have consequences.

912 Fleming Street Key West - Fathers Day Open House

Happy Father's Day Open House to 

All You Daddies out there!

912 Fleming Street ~ KEY WEST

12:00 to 2:00 PM

Stop by after church or on your way to brunch.  The Seaport and Duval Street are steps away.

Two Amazing Front Porches for Great People Watching!

It's not up front that counts here. You gotta see the rear!

 A buyer of mine sent me the link to Bob Dlyan's new record about Key West. Check it out.

Total Privacy Abounds. You'll be tan allover all year long and your friends will be Green with Envy!
CLICK HERE to see more photos.  Better yet head over to see this house on Key West's Millionaires Row. It can be yours.

1019 South Street, Key West - Just Listed

One of the joys of living in the Casa Marina Area of Key West is driving streets lined with swaying palms and giant mahogany trees. I often see my neighbors walking their dogs or tourists biking thru the area pointing out houses they dream of calling home someday. While Casa Marina Court, Johnson Street, and Flagler Avenue seem refined with curbs and gutters, the rest of the area retains its original rural charm with yards extending to the street. The architecture varies from a few original Conch houses, mid-century modern, and 21st Century contemporary. Most of the lots are 5,0000 square feet or larger many of which are hidden behind six foot tall privacy walls.

Each block in the Casa Marina area is different - there's nothing cookie cutter about this part of town. The new listing at 1019 South  Street is located one block from where I live. I walked over there a couple days ago while the photographer was taking photos for the new listing. This house is located caddy-corner across from 1100 South Street, the bungalow where Ernest Hemingway lived when he completed A Farewell to Arms. The two houses could not be any more different in style or construction. 1100 South Street is a stick built bungalow to which an earlier owner added a brick veneer that now covers the original wood siding of that single story home.

1019 South Street was built new in 2008 to replace one story CBS home that previously sat on the lot. The new house has 2,928 SqFt of interior living space plus covered and uncovered decks plus pool, loggia, and privacy fencing. I have lived a block away for 25 years. I cannot remember the lot before the new house was built. That is why I do my Projects of Key West series. Memories fail. Let's take a look at the house and pool.

The house is fenced for total privacy. You enter the yard thru gated entry into the foyer and then the great room. There is an informal sitting area on the right where glass sliders open out to the pool and loggia. The kitchen is a show stopper. The upper cabinets are illuminated to showcase china and glassware. There are gadgets galore. I don't they could have spent anymore. Really! The kitchen rocks. The family room is set back behind glass panel doors. There is a dining area nook off the side plus a guest bath. The above photos shows the large master suite at the rear.

There are four bedrooms and three and one-half baths. The master suite is located on the first floor which should make seniors excited. The master bath includes a big tub and shower. All closets are outfitted with closet systems for convenient storage. All rooms have high baseboards, crown molding, impress wood trim, recessed lighting, Plantation Shutters, and hardwood floors.

Two of the second floor guest bedrooms share a huge Jack and Jill bath while the other has an en-suite. The master and two of the guest bedrooms have doors that open out to private balconies or decks.

The loggia is located steps from the house and offers shade and protection from our seemingly ever-present sun. You will love the loggia this time of the year. It's getting hot and normal people cannot take as much sun as they think they can. Look at the above photo: you will see a pass through into the kitchen so that drinks can be exchanged without going inside. (Rich people think of everything.)

The current owners have not rented this home. It looks brand new on the inside. There is nothing for a new owner to do but bring cloths and a toothbrush. And booze. If you buy from me, I'll supply the booze.

Louie's Backyard, Higg's Beach, Fausto's Food Palace and the DQ are each located within easy walking distance. There are numerous nearby eateries, salons, gyms, and yoga studios. Upper Duval Street is a five block walk. The airport is seven minutes away. (I counted it.) What more could you ask for?

CLICK HERE to view the Key West MLS datasheet for 1019 South Street, Key West offered for sale at $2,939,000. Then please call me, Gary Thomas, 305-755-2642, to schedule a private showing. I am a buyers agent and a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties. I live in this neighborhood and love it. If you like Old Town, you'll love the Casa Marina. Let me take you on a genuine tour.