Key West Real Estate Throwback Thursay - No. 7

From May 2, 2015

The New Key West Fire Department is Finally Complete - The Torture is Over!

It's over!  Thank God, it's over! I won't have to deal with big burly guys pushing me around anymore. I won't have to endure being bullied and having to walk a couple blocks out to way to go to my office. They didn't demand my lunch money - no they just made life a living hell for the last year. They blocked the little lane that leads to the parking lot behind my office. They erected barriers and diverted traffic so that I could not get into my parking lot. For several weeks I didn't know which street to take to work. I had to call a friend at local hotel to ask if I could park there. And when I could park in our lot, my car got thoroughly dusted with this mixture of concrete and dust that mixed with the moisture in the air to create a tough coat of goo to cover my car.   Local politicians do what all politicians do - they invited photographers over to the construction site, smiled for the cameras, and took credit for the new fire station that was built to replace the old one.

For many, many years the old fire station was also the police station and city hall for Key West. The building located at the corners of Simonton and Angela Street was built in the 1950s and worked just fine for decades. But as the City of Key West prospered and as local government grew (governments always grow - they never contract!), the governing officials decided they needed to build more buildings to house the bulging bureaucracy.  Several years ago the police department was relocated to North Roosevelt Boulevard. And after years of debating, a new city hall is being constructed inside the walls of the former Key West high school at the corners of White and United Streets. I'll write about that some day soon. But for now I'd like to share some photos that show the history of the old building and the new one.

The aerial photo above show the former city hall, police station, and fire department located at the corner of Simonton and Angela Streets. The two story parking garage and city hall annex are located adjacent to the north. The phone company building is at the corner of Simonton at Southard.

The above photo shows the building in 1962.  There were two bays for fire department vehicles. The police department entrance was at the rear. City hall entrance was at the Angela Street doorway.

The above photo shows the back side of the building in 1965.  The parking garage had not been built yet. The city hall annex is to the left. The larger building at the rear is the phone company building.

The decidedly ugly city parking structure is shown above. City fathers tore down this eyesore several years ago. Later the city hall annex seen to the right was taken down. The photo below shows the demolition of that building in August 2011. For readers who care about governmental efficiency, please note that the current batch of city fathers are now considering tearing up the newly built parking lot to build a new parking garage where the old one once existed. I think this is how politicians work in most places. It's probably not something specific to Key West. Of course, if they had to build buildings with their own money, other decisions might be made.

The big trucks and construction equipment moved into my neighborhood in March 2014. I took this photo from the back door at Preferred Properties parking lot looking to the south. The old fire station remained active in place while the construction of the new building took place. Within a matter of a couple of weeks pre-stressed concrete slabs were put together like LEGO blocks. However, it took months of work by various trades to complete the mechanical, electrical, HVAC, roof, and interiors.

I walked over to take photos of the project last August 13th. The old fire station was still in use. As I passed by I looked over to the picnic table where fireman sometimes sat to eat lunch and noticed this bent over figure which I first though was a fireman.

I looked closer. I laughed out loud. Even the firemen were exhausted by all the commotion.

If you are familiar with the location, you know that this particular corner floods like crazy every time there is a rain storm in Key West. City fathers (the city dollars) have tried to fix the flooding at various times over the years. Part of the redevelopment of this site included new sewer and water service and a new attempt to take storm runoff water away from the site. The one storm I witnessed moved the water from the intersection about forty feet west - just about where the yellow vehicle is shown above or in front of the entrance to the Garden Hotel.

It took about three weeks to bring down the old fire station. She was a tough old broad to be sure. As she finally succumbed to the heavy equipment the visage of the new building began to emerge. Of course I could "see" the building but I was trying to figure out what it would actually look like. Now I had given a brief glance to the plans as they appeared in the paper. That was useless. I needed to look at it myself. 

The parking lot was paved. Sprinkler systems and light poles were installed throughout the space. Palm trees and ground cover appeared like magic. One day the place was barren. A couple of days later it was like Samatha Stevens had twitched her nose to dumbfound Mrs. Kravitz. CLICK HERE to see more photos I took and some that I borrowed of our old city hall, police station, and fire station and of our new Old Town Fire House.

I live a couple of blocks away from the new city hall is being built.  It's gonna be like Déjà vu all over again.

831 Georgia Street, Key West - New Home in The Meadows

Just Listed, but not by me, 831 Georgia Street, Key West. This is a brand new home located in The Meadows area of Key West. I was surprised to learn that the lot was the side yard to an adjacent home and  had never been built upon before. While I have been photographing the exterior for several months during construction, this past weekend was the first time I got to see the inside. I was impressed. The black and white photo below shows the empty lot in 1965.

The front porch is the perfect perch to people watch in this single family home neighborhood. There are not any guest houses or commercial businesses in the area. A few of the large older homes were converted to condominiums several years ago, but the character remains single family. I don't think this house is on the Conch Train route, but you should expect to see an eager tourist on bike every once in a while. 

The listing Realtor describes the home this way:

"Brand New Construction Now Complete. Nestled on the Corner of Georgia & Olivia, this Meadows Stunner offers Pure Luxury and is sure to please the most discerning buyer. Designed with a Coastal Flair with Nickel Grooved Walls, stunning hard wood floors. coffered Ceilings featuring Dade County Pine & Impact Windows and Doors. Spectacular Chef's Kitchen with Quartz countertops & Viking Appliance Package expands out to exquisite Pool with waterfall and Separate Guest Cottage through Large Pocket Sliders. All 4 Bedrooms are en-suite with custom walk in closets and stunning bathrooms finished with Marble, Quartz and iridescent tile. Exterior is finished with decorative shutters, irrigation, lighting, tropical landscaping, composite decking, Chicago Brick Walkways & Off Street Parking. X-Zone."

While the house may look old on the outside, everything on the inside looks and smells like new - brand new. Of course the interiors pay homage to yesteryear but are planned for modern living.

Just to the right off the front entry is a good sized guest bedroom with en-suite bath. Note the stylish new Nickle Grooved Walls contrasted by Dade County Pine walls and clear hardwood flooring.There are window views to the front and side. Unlike some of the renovated houses in Old Town, the ceilings are high, the room size is actual comfortable living space.

I am presenting this house to my reders the same way I saw it. I checked out the first floor buest bedroom and moved toward the open living area. I sensed how large the house is, then notice the coffered ceilings in the living room, a feature I did not recall from the MLS. Two competing features called for my attention - the pool and bright white kitchen, I confess I walked out side, looked at the pool, parking, and guest cottage. I stood at the edge of gthe pool and looked at the side and rear of thehouse. I was impressed more than before. Viking Kitchen Package include. The real range is on the way.

Looking at the photos of the front and rear rooflines I think I can see some HARC interference in the design of this home. HARC likes builders to contrast renovations and new construction from historic so that the public is not tricked into thinking a property is historic when it is not. HARC also does not want to introduce a full two story house in an area where there were none. The dormer look achieves the second story to a point. The photos show the ease oc moving  between indoor and outdoor living. 

The fourth bedroom and bath are located in the guest cottage. While the guest bath is on the wee side, it has all the facilities.The second floor guest bedroom continues the use of modern design materials. Look closely and you will see the implied recess to this room being a dormer. It is not. It was placed and gracefully executed. En-suite bath too. The windows and doors throughout the house are wind resistant impact glass. Ajd the house is located in the X-Zone. Both features will greatly reduce insurance rates.

The second guest bedroom with en-suite is located at the front of the second floor. HARC has this disposition to disallow full two story homes in area where they are not predominate. Here, the allowed the designed to create the fiction this new house looks like a house where front and rear dormers were added to increase living space. This bedroom is located iin the front fake dormer. The height and size are not effected.

The master suite takes up more than half  of the second floor, or so it appears. The bedroom is huge. the two chairs seem dwarfed in real life. Imagine that space with lush rugs on the floors and art on the walls. The ceiling height in all rooms, but especially here, is welcoming to a tall man. So many of the renovations in Old Town require tall men to duck when moving about and to kneel a bit when taking a shower. Not so here. The bath is located in the "rear" dormer. It is huge. Dual sinks, WC, shower, bath, and outfitted closet plus windows to let the light of the outside world in.

CLICK HERE to view the Key West MLS datasheet and more listing photos of 831 Georgia Street, offered at $2,295,000. Then please call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642, to schedule a showing. I am a buyers agent and a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Key West. 

Key West Real Estate Throwback Thursday No. 6

From: 11/19/2014

Key West is the Opposite of Ohio

While speaking at the Key West Literary Seminar poet Mark Doty said that although “he was never actually here,” Hart Crane “loved Key West.” Crane loved Key West because by all reports it was the opposite of Ohio.*

Hart Crane

A while back I watched HGTV's Urban Oasis giveaway of a sleek high rise condo at Miami's Paramount Bay.  I mused about winning the $900,000 condo and then thought to myself "Self, if you win, you will have to pay income tax on that thing. Do you really want to own a condo in Miami where people get shot and killed daily for no reason? Do you want to live in a place where most people don't speak English and have a culture that is alien to you? Do you really want to live up in the sky?" I must confess that I filled out the online registration. I figured if I won I could sell the condo and make a few bucks because I really, truly, would never want to live in Miami just as much as I would not want to live in Ohio.  

If you live in Ohio, please don't be offended. I'm sure that a lot of nice people live there. I sold houses to two different Ohio couples in the past.  They area really nice people who really didn't like living in Ohio in the winter when it was so cold and miserable. And they didn't like Ohio much more in the summer when it is so muggy. No, they dreamed of owning a little house in Key West where they could live a much more comfortable climate and a lead a less harried pace of life. One young couple bought a house I wrote about in my blog. I saw the mom and the two girls in their stroller one Sunday morning as I was taking photos for my blog. I asked how things were going, and she responded "I'll never leave Key West!" The other couple is older and don't have children. They bought a house a quintessential Key West cottage. I saw them driving their Key West convertible with the top down.  They were in the turn lane at White and Truman. I asked how they were doing and they said something like "loving life".  

Another couple from the northeast decided to buy a big lot in the Casa Marina area where they  built their dream home from scratch.  They hired a noted Key West architect, an accomplished landscape architect, and a very competent builder to turn their vision into reality.  The photos above show the view from their master bedroom and the new pool and gardens.  The pool view is a dramatic alternative to the view from the high rise Miami condo. Which place do you think Hart Crane would have preferred?

If you are thinking about buying a place in Key West, please contact me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642. I am a buyers agent and a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Key West.  Let me help you find your place in Paradise. 

*CLICK HERE to read this most interesting account about Hart Crane written by Key West's Mark Howell in ABOUT THE BEATS.

 

208 Angela Street, Key West - A Renovation Project

 The road must eventually lead to the whole world.”
― Jack Kerouac, On the Road

When I first came to town I felt Key West was falling apart. I remember walking back to  the guest house at night. Big palmetto bugs fell from the huge trees landing on the cracked sidewalks. The bugs crunched under the soles of my shoes. It was creepy. The longer I stayed here the less I cared about the bugs and more about how down this place was. I figured out the derelict old houses would get fixed up and that sidewalks would get repaired. It turns out the country created an agency to deal with mosquitoes which also killed off many of the palmetto bugs. 

US 1 runs 2,369 miles from Fort Kent, Maine to Key West where it ends. The little house at 208 Angela Street in Key West is located just a couple hundred feet west of where US 1 ends. You can look at the road ending here or starting here. I prefer to view it as the end of the road. The place to getaway from the rest of the world. It takes a long time to get here. Good the distance keeps the thugs and suburban women from coming here. Key West in the year 2020 is totally different in so many respects than when I first came. But it is still a great little town out in the middle of the ocean.

When I first came to Key West Truman Annex did not exist. Thirty-five years later some people make it their permanent home while others rent out their properties. There are condos and town homes than single family residences. That development and its proximity to Duval has spurred growth in the Old Town area. The surrounding homes to the east and south are part of Bahama Village. This part of town has not been restored as quick as other parts of Old Town, but that is changing at a faster pace now. This particular home is very well located in my opinion.

208 Angela Street is now offered for sale at $599,000 and is described by the listing agent this way:

"You will be seduced by the charm of this conch style home tucked away on a quiet street alongside the vibrant neighborhood of Bahama Village. Brimming with lifestyle credentials, it's located a short distance to Truman Waterfront park, Fort Zachary State Park, dining, shopping, & nightlife of Duval Street. Open-air porch, coveted off-street brick parking, & mature trees make for easy, low maintenance living. Inside the home, the abundance of windows allow natural light to penetrate the living spaces and bedrooms while giving the house an open, airy feel. Both bedrooms have built-in storage, tall ceilings, and ceiling fans. This home's original condition is perfect for those wishing to create and design their own property or a flipping opportunity for those with an eye for remodeling."

 

I remember being inside this house several years ago. Angela Street at this location is more like living on a one-way lane. I consider that highly desirable feature. After all those owners across the street in Truman Annex bought the approximate same location for the same reasons I am espousing except that their homes are 30 years newer and some have transient rental licenses. While all units in Truman Annex have parking, some parking spaces are located far from the unit. And all tend to have weekly or monthly changes of neighbors.

The above diagram is from the Monroe County Property Appraiser website. It and the MLS show 208 Angela Street as having 924 Sq Ft of interior living space. The diagram show 440 Sq Ft is not being  included as living space. But it clearly is. 

The above photo shows the interior of the 440 Sq Ft which the Property Appraiser does not show as interior living space. That is appraiser fiction that enures to the benefit of the owner. CLICK HERE RIGHT NOW to view the MLS datasheet and photos for this listing. This house is in livable condition. It has been used as a long term annual rental for years. It could continue to be used that way or as a permanent home without doing anything substantial. 

Or, this home could be totally renovated. I believe renovation is the highest and best use of this property. The photos show there is no possibility of adding a pool. That will save you $35,000 or more. But there is plenty of room to create nice outdoor living area. There is bricked off street parking right in front of the house.

Consider the recent sale across the street at 225 Southard Street in Truman Annex. That 960 Sq Ft 2/2 town home sold in April 2020 for $825,000 (or $860 per sq ft) in just five days on the market. It was built in 1993 and was nicely but not recently renovated. I think $200,000 in renovation costs to 208 Angela Street could create a more desirable single family home free of home owner association rules , restrictions, and expenses. Not all buyers require a pool nor want the monthly electricity and pool boy expense. 

I think 208 Angela Street will sell immediately. If you are looking to buy a place in Key West, please give me, Gary Thomas a call at 305-766-2642 to schedule a showing. I am a buyers agent and a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Key West.