710 Galveston Lane, Key West - Life on the Slow Lane

 

One of the joys of having lived in Key West during the past twenty-five years has been to watch the restoration of so many of the once neglected homes in Old Town. I learned to recognize the different architectural styles in Old Town and to appreciate the value of location, especially the quiet little lanes, which have an appeal more than I ever imagined.  I also have learned so much about Key West by studying the old photos and the Sanborn Fire Maps. Both have been excellent resources to understand what once was so that we can now appreciate the unique character of our little town.

 710 Galveston Lane, Key West as it looked back in 1965 and as it looks in 2018

Preferred Properties Key West just listed the cute as can be house at 710 Galveston Lane.  The listing Realtor invited me to take a look at this 1218 sq ft vernacular cottage that sits on a 42" X 71.5' (3010 sq ft) lot tucked away on one of the slow lanes of Key West.

I found an aerial photo of the area taken about fifty years ago. I noted the location of 710 Galveston Lane with a check mark. The house sits near the crest of Solares Hill, the highest point in Key West. The house is located in the coveted X Flood Zone. You will see the lane diverts off Windsor Lane where it dog legs to the east at Bill Butler Park and ends two blocks to the south at Olivia Street.  A photographer for the WPA (Works Progress Administration) took several iconic photos of Galveston Lane in the Great Depressions. Times have changed - most of the houses, like this one, have been renovated, expanded, and gentrified. Many of the houses are second homes instead of primary residences. Life on the lane, however, is still pretty quiet. I'm sure all of the residents like that.

I checked the Sanborn Fire Maps to determine when 710 Galveston Lane may have been built. The 1889 Map did not show any structures in the area which I doubt was the case as surrounding areas were all inhabited. The 1892 Map showed the house then identified as 12 Low Lane. The 1899 Map revised the address to 710 Lowe's Lane. (This must have confused locals back then as there was another Lowes Lane located just off the 500 block of Grinnell Street.) The address was revised on the 1912 Map to 710 Galveston Lane. We can therefore conclude 710 Galveston Lane was built prior to 1899. The original house has been updated and enlarged several times over the years. The current owner recently completed a new renovation which included the addition of a pool. The house is in pristine condition and is more cute in person than the great photos suggest.

The owner relocated the main entrance to the rear of the property which is accessed from the gate at the end of the driveway. Guests arrive at the garden and pool area which includes a sunny backyard plus covered sitting and dining area. French doors open into the living area and adjacent kitchen.

This home now has an open concept living area at the rear. Guest can move easily between the indoors and outdoors through French doors throughout much of the year. The cheerful kitchen opens into the living area. There is a cute little powder room next to the staircase that leads to a second floor guest bedroom and private bath. The guest bedroom bath is tucked under the rear dormer - it is so friggin' cute!

The large master bedroom is located at the front of the house. The original front porch is now a private porch off the bedroom. It provides a perfect perch to people watch, although there is not very much traffic on this little lane. The bedroom has an en suite bath and large closet. There is a lot of well planned storage which makes this house is viable as a full time home. However, it could easily become a monthly vacation rental were that to be the aim of a new owner.

I sold the house directly across the lane to a couple from my home state of Colorado. They are near completing the expansion of their home which can be viewed from the front porch of 710 Galveston Lane. Galveston Lane is a cute-as-can-be block of similar little cottages that just keep getting better and better.

Charlies Grocery is located one block to the west of Galveston Lane. The Key West cemetery is one block east of that. The historic seaport is located three blocks to the north and Truman Avenue is three blocks to the south. You can walk just about anywhere in about five minutes. People from all over the world travel for hours to get to Key West. If you lived here, you could be in someplace really special in a matter of minutes. CLICK HERE to view more photos of 710 Galveston Lane Key West.

710 Galveston Lane is offered for sale at $1,090,000 by Preferred Properties Key West. Please call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642, to set up a private showing. CLICK HERE to view the Key West MLS datasheet for more details on this listing.

1307 Newton Street, Key West - The Meadows Area

Just Listed, but not by me, 1307 Newton Street, Key West. The listing Realtor describes the property this way:

"Fabulous Meadows neighborhood central to all things Old Town: White Street art district, Historic Key West Harbor, restaurants and more. Two apartments, front and back for investment or live in one, rent the other. Structurally in good shape--new metal roof 2012-- but building needs refreshing and could easily convert back into a single-family property."

I searched through my old shoebox and found the above black and white photo of this property which was taken fifty-three years ago. Compare it to the recent photo immediately below. The once enclosed front porch was re-opened and the white picket fence was replaced by a galvanized fence. The interior was likely converted from a single family home to the two apartments which currently exist.  The listing Realtor does not mention that this is a legal duplex so my suspicion is that is not. More important, the highest and best use of this property would be as a single family home.

The Monroe County Property Appraiser records show that this house was built circa 1890. I modified the above 1920's aerial map of the area to show the location of 1307 Newton Street. The large area above was the former US Army Barracks which was in use from pre-Civil War and onward. The area to the south (opposite the barracks) was pasture land in the days before houses was built in this area which today is referred to as "The Meadows Area". If you look carefully at the right side of the photo you will see a sandy beach. A local politician "developed" that ground where today there are several condominiums and a couple of commercial businesses.

The Property Appraiser records show the 857 sq ft house sits on a 32' X 83.5" lot (2743 sq ft) lot. Note the existing off street parking space. The interior has been divided into two separate apartments, each with small rooms. The rear unit is entered through a gate at the end of the driveway. There is an existing back yard with a storage shed.  I think a new owner would gut the interior and do a complete renovation. I would open up the enclosed portion of the back porch to expand the porch area to look out to a new pool. In my opinion the lot is large enough to support the addition of a pool. 

It was almost five years ago when I wrote a blog about the house next door at 1309 Newton Street pictured above. That was one of the most viewed blogs I wrote. That house was renovated and is stunning. See the photo below. Imagine how attractive 1307 Newton Street could be if renovated and the trees trimmed.

CLICK HERE to view the Key West MLS datasheet and listing photos of 1307 Newton Street in Key West offered for sale at $659,000. 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.

813 Frances Street, Key West - Just Listed Old Town Charmer

Just Listed 813 Frances Street, Key West. This truly is one of my favorites houses in all of Old Town Key West. The listing Realtor, not me, describes this home thus:

"Picturesque Key West Cottage filled with an abundance of Charm and wonderful architecture. Located right in the Heart of Old Town, this two bedroom/two bath Southern Belle has all the qualities of the perfect Key West home. Completely open from Living Room to Kitchen to Pool and Patio. Double Hatch Windows open from Kitchen to Pergola so you can enjoy the balmy breezes. Wonderful private pool with Privacy fence surrounding the property and access to full bath/shower from inside and out. Master suite on ground floor with additional bedroom on second floor and a spot for an office or reading nook. Dade County Pine, soaring cathedral ceilings, Central AC, Custom Built Shelving, Stunning Stained Glass, Gorgeous Hard wood floors and so much more. Off street parking and X Zone."

I looked in my old shoebox and found the above black and white photo taken back in 1965. Compare it to the color photo above. The original louver windows and the galvanized chain link fence have been replaced but the classic bungalow style is the remains. The inside is totally renovated and expanded.

I'll bet you were not expecting such a dramatic interior. The living room ceiling rises to the rafters and makes the inside every bit as inviting as the exterior is charming. The stairway leads to the second floor bedroom which opens to the living area below. This is the perfect space for the occasional guests.

As if this home wasn't comfy enough, the kitchen and family room make life here downright enviable for those who desire a relaxed life style. Two windows lift back into the kitchen space creating counter space when entertaining out by the pool.  The family room is bathed in light during the daytime. Note the stained glass window at the far end of the room. That it is the guest bath which may also be accessed by a separate door off the pool.

The master bedroom and bath are located on the first floor. Custom panel walls, crown molding, high baseboards and trim are among the details that make the interiors of this home so appealing. CLICK HERE to view the Key West MLS datasheet and listing photos for 813 Frances Street offered for sale at $1,199,000. 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. You will love this home.

Key West, My MeToo Moment in Real Estate

 Before you read, know this. I am a gay man and I am not a victim of anything. What I write really happened. It was a metoo moment when it occurred. Looking back more than twenty years later I consider what happened amusing, but it still should not have happened. 

I first read about Key West in a magazine in 1979 way before the internet. I didn't actually visit Key West until 1984 but instantly fell in love with this magic island.

I worked with the same Realtor for several years before I actually bought a place in Key West. I made absurd offers on several properties over the years all of which were rejected. One of my biggest regrets was failing to purchase the Sheridan Apartments located at the corner of Eaton and William Street. The main building at 802 Eaton Street was, and still is, one of the most beautiful buildings in Key West. It is a Grand Conch (or Revival Style home) with wrap-around porches on the first and second floors. Some of the porches were enclosed years ago to create more interior living space and a widow's walk was added to the top of the building. You can see the sea from there. The Key West seaport and the Gulf of Mexico are located two blocks north. A smaller Bahama style house was located next door on Eaton Street and a different two story house was located around the corner at 409 William. There was a very large rear yard behind 409 William Street where I could have added a pool.

A few years later I became a Realtor in Key West. One day in 1997 or 1998 Mr. Sheridan Crumlish, the owner of the Sheridan Apartments, invited me over to discuss listing the property for sale. He was a tall older (I believe) gay man. He must have been in his seventies. I was fifty at that time. He lived in the second floor apartment at 802 Eaton Street. I met him at the property and he showed each of the apartments. The place was as interesting then as I remembered from years earlier - a gem. His apartment took up the second floor at 802 Eaton. The windows and doors in his apartment were all opened allowing a slight breeze to cool the space naturally. I remember the white Dade County Pine walls, re-purposed furnishings, and art. The simplicity of it all was quite memorable. 

We sat in his living room to discuss the property. I told him about my half-hearted attempt to buy the property years earlier. He laughed a bit. And somewhere things got uncomfortable. He was wearing a caftan that looked something like the beige outfit above. Sheridan sat opposite me. His legs spread apart and I got to see what was a very private part of him. It was deliberate. It was not an accident. I had no desire to list the place and got out of there as soon as I could. Amusing now, not then.