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420 v. 620 Elizabeth Street

Now that much of Florida is in foreclosure, UD has almost decided which house to buy here in Key West.

It’s either 420 Elizabeth Street, or 620 Elizabeth Street.

Neither house has a for sale, let alone bank owned sign in front of it. But all in good time.

420 has a slight edge at this point, though every time she walks by 620 UD wavers.

420’s smaller (UD likes small houses) and so fine. A white palmy house with a wide porch on which black urns display purple impatiens, the place conveys calm and sunniness, but also a sort of classical restraint. It looks across Elizabeth Street to a planting of riotous bushes and trees.

UD snuck down the alley, stuck her nose between some slats, and can confirm a pool.

620 is about the lavish overgrowth more typical of Key West houses. It’s got a much bigger front yard than 420, and the yard gushes green. Island winds whip up the bougainvillea and buttonwood and laurel, and high above them the palms rattle like mad.

It’s a jungle, and UD leans over the white picket fence and shakes her head at the unsubdued elations when the forest blooms of it.  Makes you feel like you’ve just snarfed some hot sauce.  Whoo hoo.

Margaret Soltan, March 3, 2009 4:25PM
Posted in: snapshots from key west

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2 Responses to “420 v. 620 Elizabeth Street”

  1. Sherman Dorn Says:

    You buy a house in Key West and I’ll visit. I’ve never been to the Keys, though I’ve lived in Florida for 13 years. It’s a big state…

  2. Margaret Soltan Says:

    It’s a date, Sherman.

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