Sunday, March 21, 2010

By Joanna Brady Schmida Special to The Citizen

Preserving historic buildings in Key West involves overcoming many challenges, which is why the Historic Florida Keys Foundation annually recognizes the efforts of local building owners, architects and craftspeople for completed preservation projects. This year marked the 29th of the foundation's Preservation Awards, which recently were presented to the winners at a reception at the Audubon House.

The judges this year chose 17 entries for the coveted ceramic stars, which have become the hallmark of excellence in the awards program. In addition, seven entries won certificates of excellence, and some entries won in both. Certificates of merit were given to three others.

Awards were available in the categories of preservation, restoration, rehabilitation, new construction and master craftsmanship. Criteria for evaluating applications are the nationally recognized Secretary of the Interior Standards.

While most entries were related to residences, some awards were given out to historic commercial or publicly owned structures, and even to a ship.

Ceramic stars

L 302 Amelia St.

Stephen Habberstad, owner

Michael Ingram, mbi/k2m Architecture Inc., architect

This house, with a rounded balcony, was built by the owner in 2005 to replace a trailer at the corner of Thomas and Amelia streets. It is in keeping with the historic district in terms of scale and design. It won both a star and a certificate of excellence for new construction.

L 808 Carey Lane

Beverly and Richard Jenkins, owners

Peter Pike, architect

This sawtooth-style conch cottage, built circa 1889, was once the home of "Popeye" Thompson, a local fisherman. The current owners spent two years rehabilitating it and converting a shed into a guesthouse. This won both a star and a certificate of excellence.

L Curry Mansion Inn

511 Caroline St.

Edith Amsterdam, owner

A fine example of the neoclassical revival style, the Curry Mansion was once the homestead of Key West's first millionaire, William Curry. After being beautifully restored and preserved for many years by Edith and Al Amsterdam, it is available for community and charitable activities and fundraisers. It received a certificate of excellence as well as a star.

L Walden House

717 Caroline St.

Michael and Nancy McSween, owners

Bert Bender and Milka Maslovaric, Bender & Associates Architects P.A.

The cigarmaker's shotgun home was built circa 1930 as a single-family home. Later it was converted into three efficiency apartments and used as a transient rental by the defunct Jabour's Trailer Park. Flooded during 2005's Hurricane Wilma, it was barely salvageable. The owners have created a successful rehabilitation that preserves historical aspects of the house and is a wheelchair-accessible. This won both a star and a certificate of excellence.

L 920 Cornish Lane

Thomas and Gayle Norton, owners

Built around 1860, this property had suffered poor additions and maintenance. Among the restoration projects was the removal of 11 coats of paint from the Dade County pine walls and five layers of linoleum from floors. After five months of painstaking work, it was completed last November. This won a star for restoration and a certificate of excellence.

L 727 Eaton St.

Joyce Stahl, owner

Michael Ingram, architect

This elegant home, built in the early 1900s, was broken up into many apartments during World War II. It had been partially restored by a previous owner when Joyce Stahl bought it and completed the work in 2001.

This won both a star and a certificate of excellence.

L 420 Elizabeth St.

Tom Talomaa, owner

Bert Bender, Bender & Associates Architects

Matthew Stratton, project architect

The original cottage dates to 1874, and consisted of only the front section. Sawtooth additions were added in the mid-1900s. The owner added another structure to incorporate a lanai with solar panels and a pool area.

This won a star and certificates of excellence for preservation and new construction.

L 627 Elizabeth St.

Bill and Patricia O'Connor, owners

Don Sullivan, consultant

Built in the late 19th century, this house was in bad shape when the owners and their son, Shawn, began its reconstruction and new construction work. Only original corner posts, rough-cut and mortised together with dowel pins, were salvageable. They remodeled the inside, while keeping the exterior placement of the windows and doors to maintain the streetscape of the original house.

L Ernesto's Bar

512 Greene St.

Dr. Peter Braun, owner

Carlos Rojas, architect

Brian McKendry, Melvin Mackin and Tim Root, McKendry Builders Inc.

Built as a shed circa 1880, this structure had additions in the 1960s, when it became a restaurant and a store. Two small structures in the back were renovated, including the original outhouse, which even has the old seats. The owner built a new foundation for the main building, but retained the original wood studs, window and door frames, rafters and roof. Several old murals are now used in the bathrooms as stall dividers.

L 416 Margaret St.

Todd Kemp and Brian Boyer, owners

Tom Kelly, architect

Ship ballasts were used to frame the foundation of this house, built in 1890. The owners were able to retain these and features like the bull's-eye molding and original tin roof. They restored floors and walls of Dade County pine, covered for many years.

L Johnson House

612 Mickens Lane

Susan Mesker, owner

Robert Delaune, architect

Lee Mattingly, Mattingly Construction Inc.

Originally built in 1890 by the Johnson family, this house had been vacant for 16 years. During rehabilitation, the owners restored the original tongue-and-groove ceiling, board and batten siding, and shotgun floor plan. This project won both a star and a certificate of excellence.

L The Monastery

1214 Olivia St.

Curt Douglas, owner

Tom Pope, architect

Jeffery Hagel, Hagel Builders

This home, built in 1903, is nicknamed "The Monastery" because it once belonged to the Catholic Church. After several years of rehabilitation, it is now one of Key West's historic treasures. This won both a star and certificates of excellence.

L 300 Petronia St.

James and Nancy Marsh, owners

Dennis Beebe, architect

John Castro, Castro Construction of the Florida Keys Inc.

This new building is home to La Creperie restaurant, two residential units and a commercial space. An excellent addition to the commercial core of Bahama Village, it complements the neighborhood in scale and height.

L Steamplant Condominiums and Railway Condominiums

Ed Swift, Old Town Key West Development LLC, developer

Michael Ingram, mbi/k2m Architecture, architect

The Steamplant building, with its striking art deco motif, ended its operations in 1978. After seven years of work, it opened last November for residential use as the Steamplant Condominiums.

The neighboring Railway Condominiums provide affordable housing. Together with the Steamplant, these two projects transition well into the surrounding commercial structures.

L Truman Hotel

611 Truman Ave.

William Kemp, owner

William Horn, architect

Thirty-five guest suites and parking were fitted into the original footprint of the old Deja Vu hotel. The central pool area is surrounded by mostly new structures of varying heights and rooflines that add interest.

L The Ingham

Built in 1936, the Ingham served the country during World War II and Vietnam. In 1985, she became the oldest active-duty naval vessel serving in the United States, and in 1988, was designated a National Historic Landmark. The ship has received two presidential citations, and is the most decorated in the U.S. Coast Guard. After restoration work by Miami-Dade Historical Maritime Museum and many volunteers, she was towed from South Carolina to Key West last November for further restoration work. The Ingham is now part of the floating maritime museum at the Truman Waterfront.

Certificates of Excellence

L Traveler's Palm Inn & Guesthouse

815 Catherine St.

Roxanne Fleszar, owner

Thomas Kelly, architect

Steve Kriezer, Finer Lines Designs Construction

A single, large, non-contributing building has been replaced by three conch-style, prefabricated houses. It is now a guesthouse with a beautiful pool area and lanai.

L 322 Elizabeth St.

Mr. Darryl Fohrman, owner

This house was built in 1890 by Capt. Benjamin Saunders, captain of the schooner Magnolia out of Key West. It was in a deplorable condition when Darryl Fohrman bought it in 1989. After a two-year renovation, he continues to preserve it as a historic treasure.

L 1405 Newton St.

Jackie and Donald Gray, owners

The original cottage was built circa 1892 and consisted of only the front section. Sawtooth structures were added over time. Today's owners have added a third sawtooth structure and restored the original house, bringing it back to its original appearance.

L 1120 Packer St.

David McClinton and Susan Kane, owners

Paul Semmes, Florida Building Consultants Inc.

A historic cigarmaker's cottage restored with the addition of a newly built wing, this is now a very livable home. The rear addition echoes the original cottage and appears from the street as a cluster of small houses. Of particular interest is the historic brick oven preserved at the back.

L 1022 Roberts Lane

Mike and Jane Moschel, owners

Carlos Rojas, architect

Built as a garage in 1920, it had a number of later additions. With a complete rehabilitation, the building is now safe and strong with a new addition set well back from the front faÃßade.

L Union Lodge #47

328 Truman Ave.

Bernard Thurston, owner

Michael Ingram, mb1/k2m Architecture

Jordan Holtcamp, Holtcamp Construction

This building needed an elevator that was compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act. The architect built a simple frame enclosure and a balcony that integrates the structure into the rest of the building and the residential neighborhood.

L 326 Whitehead St.

Jim and Kathy Haymaker, owners

Richard Bird, Bird Construction

Steve Bringle, Hansen & Bringle Cabinet & Millwork

Tom Pope, architect

This house in the Truman Annex was one of two built for Navy admirals in the 1800s. It was built in the Caribbean colonial style, with high ceilings, narrow high windows without screens, narrow French doors and brass fittings. These features were restored during the latest renovation.

L 1007 Whitehead St.

Wendy Coles, owner

Nils Meunch, consultant

Called "Coconut," this cigarmaker's cottage was built in 1874. During a previous rehabilitation, the original front entrance was replaced by a side entrance. The exterior has been preserved and the interior has been updated to serve today's needs.

Winners of Certificates of Merit

• Diane Nicklaus, for restoration of 1321 Angela St.

• Javier Garrido, for preservation of the San Carlos Institute, 516 Duval St.

• Nils Muench for preservation of 700 Margaret St.