Key West, FL

99 Calle Uno Street - Rockland Key, Florida

Today's blog has nothing to do about the charming little cottages nor grand conch homes of Key West. Instead, I decided to write about a very large commercial property located five minutes east of Key West on US 1. (I timed the drive by the way.)

US 1 looking toward 99 Calle Uno Street

99 Calle Uno Street fronts on US Highway 1 and is located at Mile Marker 9 or just a bit east of the entrance to the Boca Chica Naval Air Station. According to the mls listing the 17,862 sq ft metal building was built in 1982, and it sits on an irregular 87,119 sq ft lot.

Three covered bays with roll up doors

The building has 18 Ft. high free span with dock height floors and 3 roll up doors. Offices have acoustical ceilings and are carpeted and air-conditioned with 2 bathrooms. Thee is a 1600 sq ft loading dock, 43 paved, striped, and lighted parking spaces. The entire south side is fenced and landscaped.

Fenced and lighted parking/storage area

We don't have a lot of commercial buildings like this in the Key West area. Nor do we have a lot of warehouse space. A new owner might consider creating individual storage units located inside the larger space. The listing agent (who is also the owner) states "Creative opportunity abounds! Great US1 frontage. Empty and ready! Building was high and dry during hurricane Wilma. Some owner financing, in terms of a second, possible for the right situation."

CLICK HERE to view a small slide show of exterior photos. And CLICK HERE to view the Key West mls datasheet on this commercial property that is offered at $1,900,000.

If you would like to see this property or any other property in Key West, please contact me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642. I am a buyers agent and a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Coastal Realty, Inc.

If you are in Key West today, February 12, 2012, and are not planning on going to the beach and don't want to start the Duval Crawl right after church let's out, please think about stopping by my Open House at 630 Elizabeth Street to see the house located at the tippy top of Solares Hill. Take a look inside at the Dade County Pine walls and ceilings. Look at the ancient forged window hangers and peer through the rippled glass. Take a peek out to the little houses below from a view nobody else in town can ever equal. Imagine what you could do to this Old House.

600 Block of Elizabeth Street

Windsor Lane heading towards to the Historic Key West Cemetery

522 Grinnell Street - Old Town - Key West

The listing Realtor describes 522 Grinnell Street as:

"There is an exceptional opportunity to continue the renovation of this beautiful home in a highly sought after location. This historically significant home built prior to 1884 has always been admired for its beautiful architecture including Dade County Pine walls and ceilings throughout, grand proportion room sizes with twelve foot ceilings on the first floor and eleven foot ceilings on the second floor. The current owner has completed all of the demolition work and this wow factor potential home is ready for completion by a new owner with the style and manner they desire. This property is licensed for two units."

522 Grinnell Street as photographed in 1965

Peeling paint of yore - now gone

Restored bay window on opposite side of the house

I have shown this property numerous times over the past several years. I fell in love with the place before I ever went inside. It has looked sad and forlorn for years. The paint was peeling and chipping away, but I knew that could be fixed. A window on the south side was broken and covered by an Al Gore for President sign, but I knew it could be replaced. An odd looking carport on the right side diminished the grandeur of the house, but I was sure there would be a way to deal with that issue. The rear of the house had a cobbled addition that looked awful, but I imagined that wreck could get removed and a new two tiered rear porch could be added in its place.

First floor front porch

Rear addition has been removed - what will take its place?

The former owner's family had lived in this property for generations. The current owner is not related to the prior owners. My remarks about the prior owners are not intended to disparage anyone. Contrarily, I relish the somewhat odd experiences I had when I showed the house. I recall the story the former owner telling that this house, like so many of the grand old homes in Key West, was built by ship chandlers. That means the house was built by the men who built great sailing vessels that could withstand strong winds and the elements. I will never forget standing with her on the second floor front porch as she recounted having watched a storm coming across from the Atlantic side of the island as it made its way toward the Gulf of Mexico a couple of blocks to the north. She remarked about how strong her father was during that storm and how well the house withstood the winds and rain.

The current owner purchased this property in 2006 after the house was marketed by not less than four different agents over a four year period. The prior owner never allowed any listing agent to show the property. The owner did it. She took charge and told and re-told the family's history in the house. I imagine she did not want some Realtor to get the facts wrong or to fail to state an essential point about the property. After one showing I remember my buyer saying something like "No wonder she hasn't sold the house..." and then said something unflattering about the owner. But I got why the former owner was so proud of the house. It is, as the current Realtor says, "admired for its beautiful architecture".


If you look at the photo of the house above you would expect the front door to be the door on the front porch. You would be wrong. The main entry is actually located on the side porch to the right. The entry hall is rather unassuming. The stairway, however, is ever-so-graceful. I love the thin stiles and deep dark and delicate handrail, especially as is curves and makes a you turn toward the top handrail. Once inside there are multiple large rooms with twelve foot ceilings. Rooms of this size do not blend easily with the way live our modern lives, but there are people who crave the sophisticated single purpose rooms of yesteryear. This house has many such rooms for that buyer. One such room is the formal dining room with a fireplace. It looks sad now, but most houses look sad while they are 'under construction'. I'll bet you that it won't look sad by the time the renovation is compleed

The ever-so-graceful stairway

One of two bay windows in this home

Originally the main parlor - would this become your Great Room?

Dining room with fireplace - would this be your new kitchen?

Renovated front and side porches with new doors

The rooms upstairs have been stripped away as well. The family kitchen was located at the rear of the second floor. I remember the former owner's mother sitting at the kitchen table coddling a box of new born kittens during one showing. The older woman always sat in that kitchen and always smiled as potential buyers passed by her table. The memories of the ancient matriarch and her progeny are all that remain of the events that occurred during the hundred years her family lived in this old house

Photo taken where an old shed used to stand

Room for a pool in this large rear yard

The current owner has removed the old addition at the rear and cleaned up the interior. It will be up to the new owner to complete this house. While I am not a builder, I have a good sense of the work ahead which will include installation of all new electric throughout the house, new water and sewer lines, new HVAC, installing new bathrooms, a kitchen, a pool, and landscaping. I heard that the approved plans call for the addition of a new two story rear porch. I remember telling perspective buyers that is what I would do if I owned the house. The house did not need the old falling apart addition. It is gone and now there is room for a porch where I can imagine there will be space off the master suite at the second floor rear where the new owners can sit and ponder the meaning of life (or anything else).

The thing is a new owner can finish off the interior of this beautiful home in the way he or she or they may want.

522 Grinnell Street is offered at $1,450,000. CLICK HERE to view the Key West Association of Realtors mls datasheet and to view the listing photos. Better yet, 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 Coastal Realty, Inc. in Key West, Florida.

412 Grinnell Street - Old Town - Key West

Roger Emmons at Truman & Company just listed an eyebrow house at 412 Grinnell Street an eyebrow house that has always been a favorite of mine. Roger describes the home this way:

"This quintessential Eyebrow style home is located in the heart of Old Town near restaurants, shops and the historic waterfront. The home has beautiful street appeal including a white picket fence, shady front porch and off street parking. There are 4 bedrooms and 2.5 baths in the main house plus a large 1 bedroom and 1 bath guest cottage. The main level has an open floor plan with living, dining and kitchen and opens through multiple sets of folding French doors onto a large covered porch overlooking the rear garden and 30 ft. x 10 ft. pool and spa. Dade County pine floors and walls as well as other historic features are evident throughout this uniquely Key West home."

412 Grinnell Street built circa 1889

412 Grinnell Street as it appears in 2012

I dug into the old shoebox and found the above black and white photo of 412 Grinnell Street taken back in 1965. It says the house was built circa 1889. I looked in the Monroe County Property Appraiser's records and saw that numerous building permits were taken out in 1995 and 2003-2004 when substantial improvements were made to the property. The color photo was taken in 2012 in the same area as the black and white. The house is much larger now than when built: 1887 sq ft today. The windows, doors, and roof have been replaced. The home now has air conditioning and a new white picket fence. The original house was expanded and guest quarters built. The interiors have all been updated as well. A pool and spa were added and the driveway (and pool area) was bricked. The charm of this old eyebrow house is still in tact. And it looks prettier than ever.

Guest quarters and bricked driveway were added

Prettier than ever

412 Grinnell Street is located near so many of the places that makes Old Town so interesting. One of my favorite places to grab a pastry is the Old Town Bakery located steps away at the corner of Eaton and Grinnell Street. World Famous Finnegan's Wake is a block further to the north and just beyond that is the Historic Key West Seaport. Harpoon Harry's is located in that area as is the Half Shell Raw Bar, Turtle Kralls, and the A& B Lobster House. B.O.'s Fish Wagon is down there too. Up at the corner of Grinnell and Fleming Street you will find Azur Restaurant. One block south you can find a good (and cheap) Cuban Mix sandwich at 5 Brothers. Michael's is one block west and you can usually get a great steak there. The Cafe Marquesa is four blocks west at the corner of 600 Fleming Street - always one of my very favorite places in town. The Red Barn Theater and the Waterfront Playhouse are within walking distance as well.

Coffee and Baked Goodies!

Harpoon Harry's

A&B Lobster House in the background

Azur is just half a block to the south

Michael's Restaurant

Sophisticated without being stuffy!

If and when you buy your dream house in Key West and if it is located in Old Town, you will appreciate the ability to walk a block in the morning to get your morning coffee or being able to walk to the gym or yoga studio and not have to dodge traffic. You will love being able to walk to all kinds of great restaurants or to catch a play or listen to great live music and then be able to walk back home in a little town out in the middle of the ocean far away from the hoopla up north in America.

CLICK HERE to view the Key West Association of Realtors mls datasheet on this property. Better yet, please call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642, to arrange a showing of 412 Grinnell Street. I am a buyers agent and a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Coastal Realty, Inc. in Key West, Florida.

Timmy Tuxedo welcoming passersby at 812 Fleming Street

I expect the newly listed top floor condo at 812 Fleming Street in the Seafoam Condo building will be under contract any day. First, you can't find a better location in Old Town: it is near everything full time residents want and part-time owners demand. Second, it is located on the top floor of an historic building and has commanding views of the nearby neighborhood from its 223 sq ft balcony. Third, the building's incredibly beautiful interiors can be customized to a new owner's desires without getting approval from any governmental bureau (the condo association may need to approve, however). Fourth, the building only has eight residential units plus two commercial units (including Key West landmark Timmy Tuxedo) with long term residential ownership. Fifth the rear side of the building has a wonderful pool and private garden area. And the asking price on this unit is only $299,900. The listing Realtor describes this unit this way:

"Wonderful & charming Old Town condominium with tall ceilings & Dade County pine walls and floors throughout. Rarely is there a unit on the market in this great historic building known as Seafoam Condominiums. Only eight condominiums and two commercial units are in this great piece of the Rock, it's private and feels like Key West. This third floor, one bedroom, one bath unit has 613sf of living space plus a 223sf balcony overlooking Fleming Street. It is in need of some renovation in the bathroom and kitchen but really is a great unit. In the back yard there is a pool and private grounds."

Unit #5 is top floor left side

I have not been inside this building since at least 2005 when the last unit was listed and sold at a significantly higher price. The fact is there have been few units listed or sold. So not many people know about this Key West treasure. The front entry has an electronic keyed entrance. You walk into the entry hall and immediately see the dramatic open three story staircase illuminated by rooftop skylights. The geometry of the place is just awesome.

Unit #5 is less than awesome, however. Some lamebrain tenant who thought he was an artist lived in this space and decided to leave his artistic marks in the kitchen and bathroom. Both spaces need remodeled, but many owners do that nowadays anyway. Everything functions so there is no need to do anything right away, but I'd probably do it immediately myself.

lamebrain art

I would ditch the old bathtub and install a beautiful new shower and sleek vanity in the bathroom. The kitchen would get demolished and replaced with new cabinets and probably higher quality stainless steel appliances. The space is small but not tiny. You can afford to go grand when you don't have to redo a huge space. The end result could be just amazing. I would probably move some the non-load bearing interior walls and rearrange the space to give this unit a more elegant pied-à-terre feel. And finally I would create a wonderful outdoor living room on that balcony. Monthly condo fees are $415 and include building maintenance, pool maintenance, building insurance, water and cable. CLICK HERE to view the Key West mls datasheet.


I forgot to mention that this building is located on the gayest block in Key West. Four all male guest houses are located in this block including Equator, Coral Tree Inn, Coconut Grove, and the Oasis Guesthouse. Alexanders and The Island House are located in the 1100 block of Fleming Street and the guys normally pass by 812 Fleming Street once or twice each day. You don't have to be gay to buy in a place like this, but if you are gay, this is surely one hot property! CLICK HERE to view more photos I took of this property.

The Gayest Block in Key West

If you would like to see this place before it is gone, please call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642. I am a buyers agent and a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Coastal Realty, Inc. in Key West. This One Hot Property will not last long.