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718 Olivia Street - Old Town - Key West

By
Real Estate Agent with Preferred Properties Key West


718 Olivia Street - Old Town- Key West

If you are looking for a "project house" on a big lot and situated in a good Old Town location, you may want to take a look at 718 Olivia Street which was just listed at the asking price of $679,000. The listing Realtor describes the property thus:

"A grande historic house built between 1899 and 1912. 5 bedrooms. 2 bathrooms. Large LR, DR and kitchen. Beautiful hardwood floors. High ceilings and 23 large windows create a steady flow of light and air. 9401 sqft lot with BIG 85' x 65' back yard. Easy walk or pedal to anywhere in Old Town."


The listing Realtor states "Sanborn Insurance map shows house built btwn (between) 1899 and 1912".  I found a photo of the house from half a century ago that shows the house without all of the current trees and assorted foliage.

Photo from 1965

 

Photo from 2011 - note the cinder block front fence

 

Photo from January 2012


A huge Royal Poinciana tree dominates the front yard today. The front porch today still has the same wrought iron posts as shown in the 1960s vintage photo as well as the jalousie windows and the concrete block front fence.

East side of the property


CLICK HERE to view the Key West Association of Realtors mls datasheet and listing photos of this home. You will note that the listing states this house has 1538 sq ft of living space. The property site is much larger than the photos suggest. The front parcel (where the house is located) occupies only about 2600 sq ft of the entire 9401 sq ft lot. The remaining lot is located at the west rear of the front parcel. That is the space where one would likely add a pool and/0r guest quarters.

If you are looking for a renovation project in the Old Town Key West area this may be the house you have been searching for. The house certainly has street appeal and the yard space is just huge. Creating a viable plan for the property as a whole is the key to making a project like this work. We have several knowledgeable local architects that could help a buyer develop a winning concept for this one of a kind property.

I sold the beautiful home next door at 716 Olivia Street a couple of years ago. Before it was recently updated 716 Olivia looked similar to the way it appeared for decades as shown in the old black and white photo.

716 Olivia Street as it looked in 1965

 

716 Olivia Street as it appears in January 2012


What could you do to improve 718 Olivia Street? Please call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642, to schedule a view of this property. I am a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Coastal Realty, Inc. in Key West, Florida.




Anonymous
Key West a great place

This is a tough project for development as the only access to the rear lot is thru the house itself as there is no easement across the neighbors driveway which appears in most of your photos.

Jan 27, 2012 12:41 AM
#1
Gary Thomas
Preferred Properties Key West - Key West, FL
Realtor to the Dreamers

You have a valid point. There is some space between 716 and 718 which would provide access to the rear if a new owner were not able to make accomodation with the neighbor to the east.  I have no idea if that is or is not possible.

Gary

 

 

Jan 27, 2012 02:06 AM
Anonymous
Key West a great place

That said, these types of constraints are not uncommon in the Old Town area with its odd shaped lots.  Folks find a way to work thru the issues and turn a diamond in the rough to a real gem.

Jan 27, 2012 04:37 AM
#3
Carl Winters
Canyon Lake, TX

Interesting property with lots of history.

Jan 27, 2012 05:22 AM