Preservation Awards & Resources
Since 1981, the Foundation has presented awards to recognize excellence for preservation, restoration, rehabilitation and new construction.
The application deadline is January 10th, 2025 at noon.
Who is eligible?
Properties anywhere in Monroe County are eligible, including historic properties, usually at least 50 years old, and newer properties located in historic districts. Past winners of Preservation Awards include private houses, hotels, restaurants, retail stores, forts, cemetery plots, industrial buildings and museums. Winning entries vary from lavish, multi-million dollar restoration projects to restrained, modest examples of good maintenance and stewardship.
The Process
Top winners receive a Ceramic Star and a Certificate of Excellence, along with architects, designers, builders or craftspeople who contributed significantly to a project’s success.
Applications are accepted until noon, January 10, 2025; please see application for more direction. A panel of judges convenes in February and will evaluate all nominated properties, and awards are presented in early March.
1419 Truman Avenue
Owners: Vincent and Rosalie DiMattina
Management: Lisa Carmack-Gross
Certificate of Excellence
317 Amelia Street
Owner: Debbie and Clifford Fischer
Builder: Gary the Carpenter
519 Frances Street
Owners: Don and Jean McDougall
Architect: Haven Burkee, Bender & Assoc.
Builders: Brent Teixerira, Carlos Guerra, and Dennis Piscopink
532 Margaret Street
Owner: Bean Job, LLC
Architect: Bill Horn
Builder: DNA Construction Services
620 William Street
Owner: MDS Holdings-Florida, LLC
Architect: Haven Burkee, Bender & Assoc.
Builder: Kanga Construction
722 Ashe Street
Owners: Lowry and Jennifer Baldwin
Architect: A2O Architecture, LLC
Builder: Bird Construction
925 Whitehead Street
Owners: Paul and Pam Misch
918 Fleming
Owners: Eric and Connie Douthit
Architect: A2O Architecture, LLC
Builder: Bird Construction
816 Ashe Street
Owner: Brett Tyler Smith
Architect: Chris Liddle
Engineer: Annalise Mannix
Builder: DNA Construction Services
1018 White Street
Owner: Barry Barroso, Jr.
Key West Aquarium
Owner: City of Key West
Tenant/Steward: Tropical Shell and Gift
Builder: Falby Builders
Key West Lighthouse
Owner: Monroe County BOCC
Architect: Bender & Associates
Builder: Marino Construction
Preservation Resources
2020 FLORIDA BUILDING CODE FOR EXISTING BUILDINGS:
Chapter 12 Historic Buildings.pdf
Keys History
The Historical Preservation Society of the Upper Keys
For the history of a specific key, click here and select area.
City of Key West
Official site of Key West, Florida
County of Monroe
Official site of Monroe County, Florida
State of Florida
Official site, direct link to the Bureau of Historic Preservation
Old Island Restoration Foundation
Oldest House/Wreckers Museum
ARTICLES:
Big Pine Key History.pdf
Sugarloaf Key’s Historic Resources.pdf
Electricity in the Lower Keys.pdf
Historically Black Churches.pdf
Preserving Pigeon Key.pdf
New Orleans.pdf
OTHER INFORMATIVE PDFs:
Monroe County Cultural Resource Grant #F1503.pdf
Monroe County Cultural Resource Assessment II.pdf
Tavernier Historic District Preservation Guidelines.pdf
BOOKS:
Preserving Paradise: The Architectural History of the Florida Keys
Historic Florida Keys: An Illustrated History of Key West & the Keys