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Wednesday, December 26, 2018

409 Grinnell Street, Key West - Just Listed

Just Listed - 409 Grinnell Street, Key West, Florida. This lovingly restored four bedroom historic two story Conch Home was awarded the Historic Florida Keys Ceramic Star for 2014.  
The current owners then tweaked the place ever-so-kindly with the aid of architect Rob Delaune who redesigned the kitchen, added a new Ipe deck, coral stone patio, pool with water feature, and a seductive outdoor shower.
The house first appeared in the 1889 Sanborn Fire Maps for Key West. I was surprised to learn that the adjacent Elgin Lane was named "Hidalgo Alley" in 1889. The renovated house now has four bedrooms including one of the first floor where there is also a full bath. Step out of the master bedroom onto the second floor covered porch and watch the world pass by below.
CLICK HERE to view more photos of 409 Grinnell Street, Key West. The attic provides additional storage. It is accessed via pull down staircase. There is a wood floor and the area is lighted.
You cannot beat the convenient location near the Old Town Bakery and 24 Hour Fitness. One place will put the pounds on and the other will take it off. Both can be fun. Duval Street and all that means is a quick five to seven minute walk. The Historic Seaport is two blocks to the north. Your family, friends, and guests won't want to go back home.  CLICK HERE to view the Key West MLS datasheet and listing photos of 409 Grinnell Street, Key West, Florida. Then please call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642, to schedule a private showing. I am the Exclusive Listing Realtor of this beautifully restored Old Town treasure offered TURN KEY at $1,275,000. Preferred Properties Key West.

Tuesday, December 25, 2018

Merry Christmas 2018 from Key West


Merry Christmas Everybody!  Thank you for reading my ramblings, nostalgic looks backwards, my prognostications about the future, and my buyer alerts for those true bargain properties that still pop up from time to time in Key West. I know it's difficult to accept that a "several" thousands of dollars can be a 'bargain" but who ever thought a movie actor would have become a President of that half of Americans could believe the Russians are our friends.  Key West is a tiny little island out in the middle of the ocean. Once you are here, what goes on up north in America doesn't matter all that much.  Getting to own your first home in Key West is only the beginning to the rest of your life. Believe!

Monday, December 24, 2018

317 Angela Street, Key West - A New House in Old Town

Just listed, but not by me, 317 Angela Street, Key West. This is a brand new stick built house located in the Historic District. Locals and frequent visitors to Key West know that our old houses are protected and may not be torn down to build new houses. The explanation as to how this house came to be built is simple - the prior house (see the black and white photo below taken in 1965) was torn down in 2008 when the structure was declared "unsafe" by the city. The lot sat vacant for several years and was eventually purchased by the current owner in 2015.  The new house is an homage to what used to be on the corner of Mickens Lane and Angela Street. The new structure looks like many of the historic homes which expanded over the years with new buildings added to the rear or second floor additions over earlier one-story houses. This house has each of these elements.
The above series of photos show the original house, the vacant lot, the house framed in, and the newly 2622 square foot five bedroom five baths plus two additional half baths home. The lot measures 42' wide along Angela Street and runs 100.5' deep along Mickens Lane. The owners worked around the old trees on the front and side. Though new, this house comfortably into the lot's  location and looks like it has sat there for decades.
Long time readers of my blog know a recurring theme I write about upon entering new homes for the first time. My eyes are trained to look through whatever is going on inside and seek the rear view. Was I ever amazed in this place. Wow! Who would have thought what looks to be an assemblage of historic additions would have a great room of dramatic proportion? Then I saw something I had not seen in Key West before - a ceiling suspended in air where two right angles met exposing the pool and outdoor dining area. The chef's kitchen was to my right. Though stylish in every aspect, it warranted only a moment's notice as I walked out to the terrace to look up and see how this assemblage of things worked and kept from crashing down. This was genius.
There are two bedrooms on the first floor located on either side of the central hallway. Each has a private bath as do each of the three upstairs bedrooms. Because of this location just one and one-half blocks from Duval Street and a hop-stick-and-a-jump from Ft Zachary Taylor State Beach and Park, I think this house was designed with monthly vacation rental in mind to house large family groups. I toured the second floor bedrooms with a fellow agent who I several inches taller than I at which time I remarked that tall men could actually live in a house like this.  So many of the actual historic homes in Old Town have small bedrooms and low ceilings and result in a lot of make-do efforts to squeeze in make a big man squish a bit to fit inside a diminutive house. That's not going to be necessary at this house where the rooms are large and tall to accommodate all.
The first floor front bedrooms shows the design elements carried forth in the others upstairs. A faux old wall is in every room and contrasts to the bright white walls and ceiling with tie-collars that accentuate the height and add to the drama of the space. Each bedroom has an en-suite and closet, a feature not found in a lot of actual conch cottages. You won't notice it until you actually go to this house, but the design wizards at city hall like to pinch for accuracy as much as possible so they made the builder maintain the floor level height of the original house but allows the builder to step down one step to the main living level. This adds to the sense of the houses having been built or added onto in phases.
The master suite is remarkable for many reasons beyond its size. There is, of course, the large master bath and double door walk-in closet with a lot of built in storage.  This room in particular looks like a gathering place of young siblings while being with the parents on extended vacations. Or perhaps a place for nanny to govern while the parents are away. The suite shuts off from the rest of the rest if the house to give the parents ultimate solace when required.
In real life the friends and family will spend most time in the living areas - indoor and outdoor.  Those big glass walls will inevitably disappear into the walls as the occupants use this well designed space for the purposes intended. There is necessary shade, there a spaces to sun, there is space to frolic in the pool, and there is a place to tinkle near but not in the pool.
If you are not familiar with this location, you are probably well aware of The Green Parrot which is located one half block west and one half block north. The new Truman Waterfront Park and Amphitheater is located three blocks west of the Green Parrot. Ft Zach Taylor Beach is a short stroll away. Duval Street is one block east of 317 Angela where you can walk to the Atlantic Ocean or the Gulf of Mexico in about 30 minutes in either direction. You'll probably never make, however, because there is always something exciting go on Duval Street.
CLICK HERE to view the Key West MLS datasheet for 317 Angela Street offered for sale at $2.300,000. Then please call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642, to schedule a private showing of this newly built home. I am a buyers agent and a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Key West.

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The information on this site is for discussion purposes only. Under no circumstances does this information constitute a recommendation to buy or sell securities, assets, real estate, or otherwise. Information has not been verified, is not guaranteed, and is subject to change.
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