This essay is about a block of a street in the Casa Marina district of Key West. Casa Marina is the name given by Flagler to the hotel he built in the city as a suitable destination for his railway travelers to the Southernmost City in1912, when he brought a rail connection to the islands. Not to put too fine a point on it, Casa Marina is the upper class neighborhood in Key West, what the realtors call "desirable."
Imagine my surprise when I found this block of Waddell in something less than a desirable state, quite run down actually.
There were two newer buildings across the street (behind my very desirable Vespa) and one had a for sale sign in front. Perhaps they got tired of looking at decrepitude, perhaps the vicissitudes of the economy.
On this side of Waddell we have this house with the splendid brick chimney and advanced state of decay:
A neighbor with a wobbly roof line:
And these flowers that i thought looked pretty even if unidentifiable (by me, as usual):
Then there's this picturesque apartment building showing signs of wear and tear...
...with a student-like Volkswagen which reminded me of my impecunious youth in Santa Cruz, California, plastic bags on the seats and stuffing popping out everywhere:
I did like the shabby apartment building, I thought it excessively photogenic.
It reminded me a bit of apartments I've seen in Los Angeles, relics of a more prosperous past perhaps, seedy with the passage of time, yet romantic in their shabbiness. I'm not sure I'd feel that way if I had to live here.
I suppose a lot would depend on the quality of the neighbors.
Winter sunshine produces a lovely contrast in colors around the Keys:
Let us not end our look at this unusual block of Casa Marina with decrepitude:
A place to sit and sip a gin and tonic as the sun sets on another splendid day in Key West:
Key West, city of contrasts.
This essay is about a block of a street in the Casa Marina district of Key West. Casa Marina is the name given by Flagler to the hotel he built in the city as a suitable destination for his railway travelers to the Southernmost City in1912, when he brought a rail connection to the islands. Not to put too fine a point on it, Casa Marina is the upper class neighborhood in Key West, what the realtors call "desirable." 
On this side of Waddell we have this house with the splendid brick chimney and advanced state of decay:
...with a student-like Volkswagen which reminded me of my impecunious youth in Santa Cruz, California, plastic bags on the seats and stuffing popping out everywhere: 
I did like the shabby apartment building, I thought it excessively photogenic.
It reminded me a bit of apartments I've seen in Los Angeles, relics of a more prosperous past perhaps, seedy with the passage of time, yet romantic in their shabbiness. I'm not sure I'd feel that way if I had to live here.
4 comments:
I know this 90 year old lady. She's a sweetheart. Her dress and mannerisms are that of old money and social grace. Although I'm pretty sure she's not well off these days. It's old elegance in an ever crumbling body.
I admire her, but wouldn't want to be her. Same with "once elegant" neighborhoods. I don't have the money to fix up a place like that. If I had the money I'd probably spend it on something else.
Guess that makes me a shallow wannabe or something.
Nice post as seen from your desirable Vespa!
I looked at a "fixer upper grand ole dame" of a house in a "desirable" neighborhood in Fort Myers (contrary to conchscooters belief, there are some redeeming qualities for FM).
This place was pretty bad off, but had a good foundation/base, good size yard, and great location that was on the up and up. The owner picked it up for a song before the boom.
There in lies the rub. Like Iron Dad, I had the money to restore it, but didn't have the money to buy it.
The current owner thought she had the bird that laid the "golden turd". She wanted something close to $600K and based on estimates from 3 contractors, it would take $200K to restore the thing to be even liveable, doing most of it myself.
I would have given a reasonable price of the house (what she paid and some profit, but not 10x profit like she was asking).
Nah. At last look, the place was "red tagged" (meaning severely not inhabitable) and was still not being worked on.
Shame. Not that I think people should have to give their stuff away, but that part of town could have been nicer.
Mr Conchscooter:
AHHH, the elusive youth. Don't you wish we could turn back the clock ? I used to have a VW Cabriolet, a VW Westfalia & a VW beetle (without gas gauge), not all at the same time but over the years.
Exclusive areas should not be left to decay. Perhaps the wealthy moved somewhere else ? Elderly homes are not fuel efficient where we struggle to keep heat in, you want the heat out.
It was -2C this morning with heavy frost. No vespa riding today, desirable or not
bob
bobskoot: wet coast scootin
ps: I have a lead thumb, plants are not my friend, they wilt, get overwatered, underwatered, get neglected. The last thing in the world that I would want to do is to pay admission to a Bloedel Conservatory to look at plants, trees and leaves. I have a hard time just cutting my grass and doing the yard trimming during the summer. Thank goodness winter is here and I don't have to worry about such things until next Spring
I think Irondad sums it upnicely- if we'd got the money we'd be doing other things (more Bonnevilles...). I like downtown Fort Myers, the old homes and the river front area along the royasl palms. It's just the anti abortion billborads I can't stand in South West Florida.
bobskoot search fairchold gardens and see what a south Florida open air conservatory looks like. we will go and eat jackfruit and wander the gardens and talk of many things.
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