How I Spent My Summer Vacation

I grew up in Colorado and lived there for the first forty-seven years of my life until I moved to Key West which is now my home. I went back to Colorado a couple of weeks ago and traveled to Aspen for an overnight visit.

I drove up to Independence Pass where I nearly passed out from lack of oxygen and took a trip to Maroon Bells where I was reinvigorated by the grandeur of one of God's best creations. I did what I assume a lot of tourists do when they visit resort towns like Aspen - I looked at the MLS listings displayed outside of real estate offices. If you think prices in Key West are high, go to Aspen. There is nothing affordable in Aspen. 

The wealth from the silver mines made Aspen the richest city west of St Louis back in the late 1800s where it was also the first city west of the Mississippi to have electricity. Many of the old houses still stand and have been restored or re-imagined beyond the comprehension of old time miners and merchants. New construction fits right into the natural beauty of the area. I saw more than a dozen renovations and new construction projects. Landscaping crews were still planting flowers even though the first frost and the turning of aspen trees is but days away.

Two days earlier I made one day trip Vail.  I remember driving to the to the west side of Vail Pass with my parents when I was a child where they would fish in two little lakes. The Town of Vail and the ski resort were first built in the 1960s. Fifty years have passed and Vail has expanded for miles to the west gobbling-up the lush valley and mountains. Money, money, money. Buildings, buildings, buildings. People, people, people. I finally found the bridge. But it is now like a Disneyland attraction amid so much modern construction. I am not being negative. Just making an observation.

I parked in a city owned parking structure and tried to adjust to the many changes in the town I remember from decades ago. I found two landmarks that had not changed: The Lodge at Vail where I stayed years ago and the covered bridge over Gore Creek. I walked the streets and eyed the new construction and renovation and upgrading of older buildings. And I checked out several real estate offices. Prices in Vail were very high. I found a reasonably priced studio condo for $449,000 and a parking space (parking space!) for $299,000. That made perfect sense. My four hour parking fee was $50.

Today I sell houses to rich people in Key West. Our architecture is as rich and varied as those two resort communities, but our prices are generally less expensive.  Our natural environment is equally beautiful. I also sell houses to people who are not rich. It just helps if you are rich.

1428 White Street, Key West - Just Listed

Just listed (but not by me) 1428 White Street in the Casa Marina Area of Key West, Florida.  This home was built in 2000 by David Wolkowsky, the man who built the world famous Pier House at the foot of Duval Street and who built many homes in Key West over the years. His properties are legendary.  This is one of those legendary homes.

Wolkowsky's homes are not reinterpretations of old Conch houses with white picket fences you would expect to see in Old Town. Instead, his homes evoke a sense of mystique, grandeur, and prominence. A story high privacy wall set off by two giant Balinese doors let visitors know that this must be someplace important.

The Balinese doors open to the a covered portico along the south side of the home which leads to the rear courtyard with its serene 34' X 10' pool with fountains at either end. The entire main floor of the home has travertine marble floors. The travertine extends out to the covered lanai. French doors in the living area are open to the lanai the garden and pool creating one magical living space.

The home has 1680 sq ft of refined living space divided between two floors. There are three bedrooms and three bathrooms. The first floor bedroom can alternatively be used as a den. The current owners use this space as a dining room. Two sets of double doors provide either privacy if the space is used as a bedroom or they can be left open and incorporate the area into the living room. The adjacent bath serves both the den/bedroom and the kitchen on the opposite wall.  Having the potential to use this space as a bedroom in later years is an option worth considering.  You never know when climbing stairs might become an issue.The kitchen has rich wood cabinets that reach to the ceiling. The kitchen door opens out to a secondary back entry off the parking area which makes bringing the groceries less of a chore.

The master suite is located at the rear. There is a dressing area just off the bedroom that leads to the bath. The en-suite bath features slate tiles on the floors and walls. The space is unexpectedly exotic. French doors open out from the master bedroom to the rear second floor balcony. The pool and garden are below.  The second floor guest suite is located on the front side of the house. The guest bedroom, bath, and dressing area run the front length of the house. Guests may feel so comfortable they may never want to leave.

The dog park, Doggie Beach, Higg's Beach, Salute on the Beach, the White Street Pier, the Queer Pier, and Louie's Backyard are all withing easy walking distance. Your dog will love you even more if you buy this house.

CLICK HERE to view the Key West MLS datasheet and listing photos of 1428 White Street which is offered for sale at $1,569,000. 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. I live in this area and can provide any buyer a wealth of information on the area and the homes.

720 Passover Lane, Key West - Just Listed

 

Passover Lane, Key West as photographed in 1973

 

 

I have often written about the virtues of living life on one of the slow lanes of Key West. Passover Lane must be one of the slowest of the slow lanes as possible because it dead-ends about one hundred fifty steps from where it begins across the street from the Key West Cemetery. The gravel lane is but six feet wide. No cars allowed - they would not fit.Three other cottages are sited on this lane. 

This is how the listing Realtor describes this special Key West cottage:
"Tucked away at the end of a quiet, walking Old Town lane sits this beautifully renovated jewel of a historic home. Twice on the OIRF tour, this lovely home has it all. Beautiful finishes highlight this wonderful property with fabulous vaulted ceiling, chef's kitchen and open floor plan making this a true gem. Lovely master suite with loft and ensuite bathroom, bamboo floors and decorator finishes. Granite floors add elegance, stained glass accents and Rick Worth painted doors add Key West charm. Newly constructed rear deck provides perfect outside peace and quiet. Make this historic oasis your own Piece of Paradise."

I dug into my old shoebox and found the above photo taken in 1965 which shoes what i assume is pretty much the original home. Note two gabled roofs met on a common plane where the covered front porch provided access to the home.  Compare the black and white photo to the2919 color photo below which shows numerous additions and enhancements including new foundation,addition extending the living area under the second gable, new porch, and so forth.

The 924 Sq Ft two bedroom cottage has been thoroughly renovated including new windows, plumbing, electrical, air conditioning, roof, plus brick pavers  and fencing. All new interiors as well.

This home is offered for sale at $799,000 or $865 per square foot. It is comparable in size to a Presidents Walk town home but priced less expensively and since it is on one level, it offers more real living space. Five Brothers Coffee Shop is located two blocks away to the north and east. The Historic Seaport is four blocks north. There's a gym and several yoga studios four blocks south. And of course Duval Street is but four blocks to the west.

CLICK HERE to view the Key West MLS datasheet and listing photos. Then please call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642, to schedule a showing of 720 Passover Lane. I am a buyers agent and a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Key West.

1420 Whalton Street, Key West - Won't You Be My Neighbor?

Just Listed by Preferred Properties Key West (that's where I work but this is not my listing) 1420 Whalton Street, Key West. This Casa Marina Area home was built in 1954 and was updated around 1997. I happen to live nearby and know this house and this neighborhood quite well. That is why I invoked the plea of kindly Mr. Rogers to be my new neighbor. The area is known for its tall swaying palms sitting on large lots as contrasted to the tighter environs of Old Town. The area was developed later than Old Town and has a variety of mid-century to current new construction. 

The property is an estate sale. The house has been used as a rental for the past couple of years and does not show as well as it could. I will share some photos I took a few weeks ago. CLICK HERE to view the album. The interiors are cluttered and dark. The palm trees have become over-grown diminish the landscaping potential. Don't let the photos scare you.

The Monroe County Property Appraiser shows the house as now having 1,666 Sq Ft of interior living space under air. This includes an enclosure of a former porch area abutting the pool. (Bedroom number 3 in the above sketch.)

Since 1420 Whalton Street is not located HARC it is a candidate for demolition and rebuilding a new home on the 47' x 91' corner lot - see top photo.

Proximity to Higgs Beach and Louie's Backyard are two of the reasons buyers seek homes in the Casa Marina, but there are a thousand and one other reasons as well. I have lived there for nearly twenty-five years. The lots are bigger, the palm trees taller, the skies brighter, the streets less used, the parking more abundant. Many of the homes are second homes. Fewer houses are rented as vacation rentals than in Old Town. Less density means more living space and slower paced neighborhood.

The Casa Marina Area is named after the Casa Marina Hotel built by Henry Flagler. Two restaurants on the beach and one small motel on Washington Street are the only commercial businesses in the area. There is a local grocery store, a new butcher market, and an old time Dairy Queen nearby. There are several gyms and yoga studios within easy walking or biking distance. The Key West Airport is about a five to seven minute drive as are the three local shopping centers. Old Town is also a five minute drive on most days.

The listing Realtor advises that only highest and best cash offers will be considered. The highest offer will be submitted to the Court for approval. CLICK HERE to view the Key West MLS datasheet on 1420 Whalton Street. 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. Let me show you my neighborhood. It's always a beautiful day in my neighborhood.