832 Johnson Lane, Key West - Back on the Market

Looking for a "Fixer" in Old Town?  832 Johnson Lane may be the place you have been waiting to find. 

Just below is a photo of 832 Johnson Lane that was taken in 1965.  I took the photo below it to show the same house nearly 50 years later.  Our Historical Architectural Review Commission (HARC) will need to approve any exterior changes to the building.  The existing house has just one bedroom and one bath.  The Monroe County Property Appraiser says the 527 sq ft house sits on a 2633 sq ft lot or 25' x 116'.  The house sits close to the front of the lot. A new owner could seek permission from HARC to expand the size of the little house by adding to the rear. It appeared to me that the existing foundation is a bit dated. The existing piers may need rebuilt or replaced.  A new owner might seek permission to move the house back from the lane a bit further. If that were done new piers, plumbing, sewer, and electric would be necessary as well. But those improvements and the new foundation would be the start of a revitalization of this old house.

832 Johnson Lane as it appeared in 1965

As we walked through the house I knew nothing on the inside was worth saving. The rooms are very small and dysfunctional. They were built long ago for people who lived much differently than we live today. I didn't bother to take any photos because the interiors will be gutted and replaced by whoever buys this place. The house will also need new wood windows, doors, and floors.  A new kitchen and bath(s) will replace what exists today. There is some Dade County Pine which ought to be preserved.

I consider the backyard as the most attractive feature of this home. The yard is 25' wide by 116' deep or 2633 sq ft. The back property line abuts the rear of a parking lot that belongs to a guest house on Truman Avenue.  I am making an assumption that a new owner may be able to obtain permission to use the parking lot for a limited time to add a pool and deliver building materials necessary to renovate the cottage. 

The above photo was taken from the back step of the house and looks south. There is no back porch.  I have added a graphic to show the lot line at the rear.  As you can see there is a lot of open space from the house to the rear lot line. The plumeria tree seen in the photo (some call it a Frangipani) is not protected. It can be removed to provide room for lot development such as adding a pool.

The above photos were taken from the rear lot line looking toward the house.  The small addition to the rear is bathroom. The original "out house" still sits exists on the property. The plastic blue chair (two photos above) rests in the middle of the old outhouse. HARC and building rules may permit that space to be expanded into a cabana or other use.

The above photo shows the condition of the rear piers or foundation.  This is typical of some older homes in Key West that have not yet been renovated. Many of the lovely homes you see on the streets and lanes of Old Town used to look something like this. Some were much better to be sure, but others were worse.  Our local contractors are seasoned veterans when it comes to dealing with fixing old foundations which are essential to any good renovation.  Once the foundation is repaired, the creative part begins.

Johnson Lane is only one block long and runs parallel between Truman Avenue to the south and Olivia Street to the north. Entrances are located on Windsor Lane (that intersects at Truman Avenue) on the west and Margaret Street to the east.  The lane itself is a mix of very expensive town homes, some nicely updated homes, and a few little cottages like 832 Johnson Lane that await renovation.  Photos of the house next door and across the lane are shown below.

Next door

Across the lane

832 Johnson Lane is offered for sale at $580,000.  CLICK HERE to view the Key West mls datasheet for more information.

If you would like to see 832 Johnson Lane or any other house in Key West, please contact me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642 or send me an email at kw1101v@aol.com.  I am a buyers agent and a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Key West.

1025 Von Phister Street, Key West - Casa Marina Area Dream House

 

Just Listed by yours truly, 1025 Von Phister Street in the Casa Marina Area of Key West.  This dream home is tucked away behind a bamboo fence and professionally landscaped yard lush with tropical foliage, tall palms, and an orchid garden. Then the two story house is revealed. When the front doors are opened your eyes are immediately drawn through the formal entry, past the living area, and out to the covered lanai and pool. The view is unparalleled.  Your guests will be awed.

As I took photos of the house for this listing and my blog I began to appreciate the detail in the design that seems, at first glance, very simple. Upon reflection I decided that there is a great deal of planning in the the design and materials used that make this house.  Take, for instance, the formal entry. How many simple houses have such a spectacular formal entry that leads to such an impressive two story great room?

As I clicked away I began to see numerous design elements emerge. The built-in bookshelf walls in the photo just above provide display spaces. Consider they are the same size but the opposite of the other. How clever! The kitchen island seems so spartan. There's more storage and utility than meets the eye.  There is under island storage under either side of the island. A large pantry is located just off the kitchen that provides a huge amount of storage for food, cookware, and seldom used items that all of us seem to have. This house a place for all the stuff. And everything is tucked away right and proper.

 

There are two bedrooms on the main floor each of which has a private porch. Both share one bath. The larger bedroom has a huge built-in closet with lots of do-dads.  The other has immediate access to the covered outdoor lanai just off the orchid garden. 

Note the shared bath has both an inside and an outdoor shower which has a little awning to keep rainwater off.  I use my outdoor shower all the time. Everyone that I that has one does the same.  This is one of the joys of living in Key West - being able to take a shower in the middle of winter outside when the friends and family up north are freezing the behinds. 

The bamboo stairs and banister lead upwards to the second floor which is the master suite. The bamboo continues on and becomes a second floor railing that overlooks living area below and the pool beyond. The vaulted bedroom ceiling provides dramatic relief from hum-drum flat ceilings seen in so many homes. The drama continues at the front where French doors open out to a little Juliet balcony where two can sit and ponder the worries of the world - or not.  A private office is hidden away in the west side.  The master bath is tucked in the opposite side of the house.

The living room opens out to the outdoor dining area. A single lounge chair is located at one end.  A pedestal monument is located at the opposite end with the word "DREAM" engraved thereon. A twenty-five foot pool with waterfall runs in between. There's a little Tiki hut hidden in the bushes at the very rear amid all the palms.  CLICK HERE to view more photos.

CLICK HERE to view the Key West Association of Realtors mls datasheet.Then please call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642 to show you this Dream Home come to life.  I am a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Key West.

1006 Packer Street, Key West, Florida - New Listing

The listing Realtor, not me, describes 1006 Packer Street as

"This handsome freestanding two story home in the Truman Gardens Homeowners' Association has it's own large and sunny swimming pool. The open plan great room opens through two pairs of french doors to the pool deck. The kitchen is bright with plenty of cabinets and both spacious bedrooms have well-appointed en suite bathrooms. The appealing front porch overlooks a tranquil private lane. There is one off-street parking space."

If you have never been to one of these homes before, get ready for a treat.  Once you enter the gate you head down a bricked path to the home. Three homes use this gated pathway to their respective homes. The yards are lush with tropical plants. The palm trees have matured since the last time I walked down the path. This place is so damned wonderful.  Each house is different - no cookie cutter houses here. 

1006 Packer Street sits at the end of the pathway. The house appears quite large and almost imposing from the pathway. The front porch offers a place for quiet contemplation on the joys of owning a home in Key West.

The exterior is Hardiboard siding. This is a man-made material that resembles wood siding, but is much easier and less costly to maintain. The house has a metal roof and crisp shutters to project the look of an old Key West house without all the work and maintenance costs of one.
 
While the house has the look of an older home, it is anything but.  The formality of the beautiful entryway dissolve when you see the two sets of French doors that open out to the private pool. That's a real "Gotcha!".  The living room is quite spacious as it merges into the dining and kitchen areas. 

There are two good sized bedrooms each with en suite baths on the second floor.  Too many Key West houses have pretend bedrooms. These are real.  This is a home - not a hotel room.

The reason most people want a place in Key West is to enjoy our wonderful weather - especially in the winter when everybody up north are freezing to death.  In Key West the French doors are opened out to the pool where the inside and the outside become one large living space.  The pool at this home is beautiful.

 This 1296 sq ft two story home was built new in 2001. The house and the 2354 sq ft lot on which it sits are owned in fee simple - just like your home up north in America. There is a shared common area that includes shared walkways with other homes and parking. Each owner has a deeded parking place. The annual fee for the association is $255.91. Each owner is responsible the maintenance, repairs, and insurance on his or her respective home. CLICK HERE to view more photos I took of this lovely home.

1006 Packer Street has a successful history as a vacation rental. The home is located four blocks from Duval Street and an equal distance to most of the gyms and yoga studios in the White Street area.  The beaches are an easy bike ride.  But the peace and serenity are right here.

CLICK HERE to view the Key West mls datasheet on 1006 Packer Street #8. This property is offered at $869,000.  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.