Velia Villas

This historic cottage court was built in 1939, ostensibly to house residents at the nearby Old Sacred Heart Hospital in the historic East Hill neighborhood. Velia Villas may be the only example of a cottage court in Pensacola, a type of missing middle housing where small cottages are organized around a courtyard. Missing middle housing is housing that falls between single family homes and large multi-family apartments and was largely outlawed by zoning codes across the country in the post-war era. The small missing middle property blends seamlessly into the surrounding single family context.

Rather than demolish the neglected cottage court and build several spec homes on the large lot, the owner chose to preserve a piece of local history by breathing new life into the unique property as a short term rental property. The owner’s goal was to create five distinctive guest experiences by styling each individual cottage with its own theme inspired by the five birds of alchemy: Crow, Swan, Heron, Pelican, and Peacock. Each themed cottage features a particular color scheme and artwork corresponding to the respective bird. The five cottages can be booked individually or together for small gatherings.

Original finishes were retained and refinished where feasible—hardwood floors, wood wall and ceiling paneling, wood windows, and period paneled doors—while new finishes were employed in kitchens and bathrooms to provide a modern guest experience. The result has been a business success for the owner and a historic preservation win for the local community.

Architect and Contractor: Longleaf Design Build

Photographer: Steven Gray