804 Elizabeth Street, Key West - A Perfect Perch on Buzzard's Roost

I went on Realtor Caravan this morning and saw several homes in the Mid-Town and New-Town areas of Key West. Realtors are not supposed to comment negatively about other agents listings so I won't except to say many of the homes built in the mid to later part of the Twentieth Century looked pretty much the same given the year they were built and those that have been recently renovated often look like the owners and contractors got all of their inspiration from Home Depot. Enough said.

Shortly after Caravan I was invited to a Broker's Open at 804 Elizabeth Street hosted by a former colleague, Jeff Dunaway. He was sitting barefoot on a swing on the front porch of the classic Eyebrow House. I asked if I should remove my shoes. No, he said. He invited me inside to eat the catered lunch. I opted instead to look about the house as I had not been inside for several years. I was eager to see the changes. I remembered the pool as being large and very sun-lit as in not having minimal landscaping. I was eager to see the pool which appeared shortly after I entered the house. i saw the pool as I moved from the living room thru the dining room and later a small study at the rear.

The original house dates back to 1874 and has been expanded and renovated by successive owners I dug down into my old shoe box and found a the black and white photo  (below) of the house that was taken in 1965. Two saw tooth additions were added at the rear of the house which are now used as the dining room and study. A separate addition was added to the right rear where the master bedroom and bath are located. There is a small bedroom with bath at the right front of the house. There are three rooms located on the second floor which include a decent sized bedroom, hallway, ante-room, and bathroom.

French doors open from the rear of the master bedroom onto a separate porch overlooking the pool There is an outdoor shower on the far side of the pool. By the way none of the neighbors can see into the yard.

The kitchen opens into the dining room and has a separate glass door that opens out to the covered patio overlooking the pool. I sat pool side and ate two sandwiches and drank a bottle of water. I told Jeff, the Realtor, this house beast any thing we saw earlier in the day. It is among the top of the houses for sale in Old Town at the current time. It is just as cute as can be. That pool is to die for.

This home has a successful history as a monthly vacation rental. You can see why by looking a the photos. Except for the kitchen which is plain, there is nothing about this house that makes you think of Home Depot.  The Dade County Pine walls, the shutters, the pool, the additions and renovations show a totally unique house in a coveted Old Town location. There are two off street parking spaces as well.

While Key West has been inhabited since the early 1820s, most of the population was concentrated around the seaport. This house is located in an area referred to on the 1889 Sanborn Fire Map as Buzzards Roost because it is the highest point on the Island of Key West. Longtime Readers most likely know the area as Solaris Hill - the highest point in all of Key West. I kind of like Buzzard's Roost more. Look closely at the map where you will see notations as to Negro Tenements. I am pretty sure those buildings are now included in what has become the Merlin Guest House. The former convent at St Mary's Star of the Sea Catholic Church was located about three blocks south at Division Street (now Truman Avenue).

CLICK HERE to view the Key West MLS datasheet and listing photos for 804 Elizabeth Street, Key West offered furnished at $1,999,000. The 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. You will fall in love with this house!

1423 Von Phister Street, Key West - Just Listed

Just Listed 1413 Von Phister Street, Key West. This house was built in 1948 just after America began to rebuild after World Wat II and has been renovated to meet the needs of its long time owner, an artist of international repute. The house three bedroom, two bath house has 1,470 Sq Ft of interior living space and sits on a large 92.5' X 92.5' square foot lot in the Casa Marina East part of town. 

The house has a red tile roof, red tile floors, arches and French doors galore. It is unique in all of Key West. It has a giant sunny pool and sunbathing areas and gardens what's more.

The lot is nearly wrapped in greenery with bricked paths leading to urns, statues, artifacts, and treasures. The interiors are filled with collections of books, antiques, and art.

I showed this home several times when it was offered for sale a dozen years ago. I thought it was absolutely great. Not everyone can appreciate the art and collections which are not a part of the sale. Some may not be able to see the beauty of the property because of the immensity of the collection.

1423 Von Phister is offered for sale at $1,175,000 which is $142 per sq ft for land value.  A new owner may consider purchasing the site for demolition of the current house and construction of a new home which I consider a viable auction to renovation. This house is not a tear down by any means. But it could be razed and a new house built there. The location deserves to be considered.

A nearby home of similar age and construction at 1523 Washington Street sold in October 2018 for $1,034,000 or $110 per square foot for land value. That house was razed for the construction of a new home.

1523 Washington Street

February 2020

1100 Von Phister Street sold in September 2018 for $1,175,000 or $134 per sq ft. That home was later razed and a new 3,300 sq ft home built there.

1100 Von Phister St before demolition

1100 Von Phister St 2020

1424 Whalton Street, also located in the Casa Marina Area, sold in March 2020 for $1.182,747 or $277 per sq ft.  I understand the new owner plans to raze that concrete block house build in 1953 and replace with a new home.

1420 Whalton SOLD March 2020

While many returning visitors usually consider buying an historic homes in th e Ole town area, others seek larger homes on larger lots venture to other neighborhoods including the Casa Marina, the Meadows, and homes near the beaches.

The Island of Key West measures four miles long by one mile wide. You can get just about any place on the island within five to ten minutes - even during peak season.  If you are seeking a place in Key West CLICK HERE to view the Key West MLS datasheet and listing photos for 1423 Von Phister 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.

312 William Street, Key West - Just Listed

Just Listed the William Kemp House at 312 Fleming Street, Key West. This home is located near the foot of the William Street which was and still is the principal harbor in Key West. I found a photo of William Street taken in 1895 that shows a smaller one story house in the location where 312 William Street sits today. I took the color photo a couple of the same location two days ago. The seaport has always been a center of commerce in Key West. In former days the commerce was shipping and sponging. Today the seaport is home to fishing and sailing trips, restaurants, bars, and other tourist related enterprises.

William Kemp brought the sponging business to Key West which eventually became a vital part of the economy. The house at 312 William Street is named after him. The house was awarded a Ceramic Star for historic preservation. And rightfully so. Look below.

The top image shows that 310 (right) and 312 William Street (left) were bridged together on the second floor in 1965.  The 1970s photo shows the bridge and first floor porch enclosure were removed.The house also appears to have been elevated since the 1970s photo. It sits at the same location but it definitely has two or three steps to the front porch.

I searched the historic Sanborn Fire map for 1889 only to learn that none of the houses on the 300 block of William Street appeared on the map. The entire block was omitted.  It was not until the 1892 map that 312 William appeared where the building used as was noted as "Cobbler". There was a much smaller house located directly at the front of the property. The Red Doors, a house of ill repute, was located at the corner of Caroline Street across the street from the seaport.

The Ceramic Star can be seen the left of the blue shutters that adorned so many of the older homes. They provided privacy for the occupants while still allowing air to flow through the homes. Air flow through window, doors, and scuttles was the way homes were ventilated before the advent of electric ceiling fans and air conditioning.

The lot measures 23.38' by 96.7' - there's a bit of jog so it is not a perfect rectangle. The house offers 1,375 square feet of living space on two floors including a small guest cottage at the rear. There are a total of three bedrooms and three baths (guest bath on first floor) plus a pool. The interiors have all been updated with recessed lights, crown molding, air conditioning, and so on. Cobblers and spongers never lived like this.

The black mesh fencing around the pool can be removed. It is meant to provide safety for small children. The cottage at the rear includes a bath. Furnishings in the home are negotiable. Not sure about the fish. Not sure I would want them either.

I used to own one of the earlier houses built in Key West. The staircases were handmade by craftsmen. They remain a sweet architectural element of the past you just do not see in modern buildings. It's little details like this that continue to make the old homes of Key West special and different form old homes in other parts of the country.

The second floor front bedroom has access to the second floor front porch. French doors in the back bedroom open to a balcony that overlooks the pool and cottage below. The ceilings in both bedrooms are vaulted to give the rooms a more spacious feel. The windows and doors introduce wonderful daytime lighting. The shutters provide privacy all day.

312 William Street is located about 150 feet from the newly revitalized Caroline Street Corridor and all of Key West including the once notorious Red Doors.

The Red Doors - 1975

 The Red Doors - 1980

The City of Key West renovated and upgraded the Historic Seaport shortly after I moved to Key West at the end of 1993. A new boardwalk was added that eventually will wrap all the way to near Fort Zachary Taylor State Park and Beach. Tourist related businesses in the area flourished. All of the homes near the waterfront benefited from the revitalization. Two years ago the city completed a separate revitalization of the Caroline Street Corridor. The area is abuzz with activity during the daytime but returns to quite by late afternoon - that's the time tourists head back their inns and hotels to get ready for their adventures later in the day.

Sponging Docks in 1902

 CLICK HERE to view the Key West MLS datasheet and more photos of 312 William Street, Key West offered for sale at $1,495,000. Then please call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642, to schedule a private showing of this home. I am a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Key West (listing broker of this home).