917 S 48th St

Property Description

Every neighborhood has its magical block—in Rittenhouse it’s Delancey St., in Fairmount it’s Green St., and in Cedar Park it’s got to be Windsor Ave. This striking home sits on the corner of Windsor and one of the prettiest stretches of 48th St, which, coupled with its being one of just a handful of properties in the area with a turret, makes it one of the neighborhood’s most special. Truly a labor of love, this home has been restored over the years with a keen eye on both historical significance and function: Local restoration expert Louis Tannen rebuilt the mahogany porch; the kitchen’s backsplash tile was salvaged from the Divine Lorraine Hotel; the second floor features a hand-restored solid walnut armoire salvaged by the University City Historical Society; an energy audit prompted new insulation throughout; two energy-efficient woodstoves were installed; and the big-ticket items have all been done: dual-zone HVAC and mostly new plumbing and electric. Intact historic details include oak floors with pecan inlay, plaster crown molding and original tiling and millwork. Through the foyer entrance and formal living and dining rooms is the renovated eat-in kitchen with Bosch and Kenmore Elite stainless steel appliances, Corian countertops and an exposed brick dining area with a woodstove with oven. Beyond the powder room is an outdoor space that can’t simply be called a yard: The porch leads to a large brick patio and, beyond that, 260 square feet of organic raised beds, 10 fruit-bearing trees, and over a dozen berry bushes. Back inside, the second floor has a large rear bedroom with en-suite bath whose fireplace is flanked by built-in shelving; a charming middle bedroom with curved plaster and bay window; and a large front bedroom flooded with light from the absolutely delightful turret. The hall bath with original Victorian tile walls, pedestal sink and penny tile floor also connects to the front bedroom. Finally, the third floor is an in-law suite, which is actually zoned as a rental unit with separate utilities and has a brand-new kitchen and large bathroom with laundry. The standing-height attic with skylight offers great storage space or potential for more usable living space. This great house is two blocks to the Baltimore Ave strip, where you can get all your yoga/coffee/dining/shopping needs met, and convenient to both the 34 and 13 trolley lines.

• SOLD: $479,000
• 3bds/2.5ba + in-law suite
• 3,105 sq ft
• Legally zoned as 2-units

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