You have be an unsentimental and crotchety old curmudgeon not to remember
the lyrics and more importantly the message of Mr. Rogers' opening song
to his daily program: "Won't You Be My Neighbor?".
The message to me was that as a neighbor you belong to a place, a
special place, which you share with people with common values. It's a place where you meet again and again as you share your daily routines like walking the dog, tending your garden, washing the car, and a million other little things we do in our daily lives. Our neighborhood is not only where we live but who we live near and and how we interact with each other on a routine basis. If we are lucky, our home is where we feel safe and at ease. This is where we build our nest and where we dream about tomorrow. When
Mr. Rogers sang "It's a beautiful day in this neighborhood, A beautiful
day for a neighbor" you just knew that he was singing to
you." And it is that concept of nest building that makes finding a really nice home listed at an affordable price so inviting to prospective buyers who want to find a place in Key West.
I live in the Casa Marina Area of Key West. It is the area located south of United Street from Vernon Street (where you walk south on your way to Louie's Backyard) to White Street to the east (where you walk south and end up at the White Street Pier on the Atlantic Ocean). The area is comprised mostly of mid-century homes most of which have been updated. There are some historic houses like the two pictured above and there is new construction as well. Many of the streets are flanked by giant palm trees and magnificent Royal Poinciana trees. Most of the lots measure 5,000 square feet or more and many of the lots extend out to the street because much of the area has no sidewalks. The result is a more rural rather than urban feel. And the neighborhood is better for it. Louie's Backyard, the El Ranch Motel, and the Casa Marina Resort are the only three commercial enterprises in the residential area.
I never really noticed the newly listed home at
909 South Street in
Key West until it hit our mls. I live about one block away. I have never seen through the palm trees and tropical foliage that protects this special home from the eyes of strangers passing by. But that's all changed and I am here to report my thought about this really attractive home located in the Heart of the
Casa Marina Area.
I searched through my old shoe box and found a photo of this property which was taken over fifty years ago. I was then able to see how this house evolved over the years. The
3700 Sq ft lot measures 40 ft wide by 93 ft deep. The house itself sits to the right rear of the lot. The old photo shows the original building was used as car storage at ground level with a second level living area accessed via an exterior staircase. That's all changed now. But the bungalow style of the original structure is still quite evident.
The listing realtor describes the home this way:
"Private Home In The Heart Of The Casa Marina Neighborhood. Nicely finished, two
bedrooms and two bathroom with hardwood floors, French doors, stainless
appliances, gas stove & oven, metal roof and teak wood accenting. Private
free-form kidney shaped pool with a large tropically landscaped lot and brick
paver patio. Two off-street parking spaces. Located in a X'' Flood Zone."
You enter into this home via on of three sets of French doors which open out to the lagoon style pool. A bay window in the living area looks out to the front yard and garden area. Inside this house has a real comfy-cozy feel. It's almost as if the interior were a part of a sailing ship. A metal and wood spiral staircase lead to the second floor master bedroom area. The kitchen is located at the aft portion of the house. Multiple sets of stained wood casement windows provide muted views off the rear of this home. The real wood floors blend in nicely with the stained "arches" in the kitchen. The kitchen has a bit of a galley feel.
The second floor bedroom somewhat continues the nautical theme, but only to a point. The ceiling height is a bit vaulted and gives this room a very spacious fee. The wood windows and rich wood floors play off the white walls and ceiling to make this space feel so warm and inviting. There is also a semi-enclosed porch off the upper bedroom. Perhaps a new owner might incorporate this space in the living area.
The main floor bedroom and bath are located on the far side of the pool. French doors from this room open out to the pool.
Higg's Beach, the public playground, the doggie park, the bocci courts, and Salute on the Beach are all within easy walking distance to 909 South Street. Fausto's Grocery is also within walking distance or a simple jaunt on the bike. They have a real butcher there. There are numerous small restaurants, gyms, and yoga studios in the same area just a few blocks away from the residential area. The commercial and beaches are near, but they are distinct to themselves. The residential area is just that- residential.
CLICK HERE to view the Key West mls datasheet and to view more listing photos of 909 South Street. Please call me,
Gary Thomas,
305-766-2642. I am a buyers agent and a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Key West. I live in and love this neighborhood. I am close to the beach and Old Town. I can
be at the shopping centers in about 5 minutes - even when the tourists
are in town. The area has big streets, big skies, beautiful yards and
mature, lush trees. And it is quiet. Won't you be my neighbor.
For loyal readers who wonder where I have been, I was out of town this past week attending services for a Dear Friend who suddenly passed away.
