Description

High tech meets classic University City architectural charm! This classic 1920s home has a traditional front sun porch, beautiful wood flooring, architectural moldings, gracious proportions, and a garage off the rear alleyway. In 2015 it was renovated from top to bottom for the owner (with 10 year renovation tax abatement remaining!), adapting the home to 21st century lifestyles without losing any of the original character.

The large, former 4 bed/1 bath home now is laid out with 3 large bedrooms and 2.5 modern bathrooms. The front two bedrooms were combined to provide an elegant primary bedroom suite rivaling resort hotel suites, with a large walk-in closet/dressing room and a spacious skylit bathroom with floating double sink vanity, large frameless shower and separate WC enclosure, and a south facing sun-kissed deck off the bedroom. Note the beautiful and unique narrow width oak strip flooring on this level.

The main floor has been opened up, skillfully providing defined living, dining and kitchen areas, as well as maintaining the south facing sun room, while giving clear views from the front of the house to the rear, flooding the space with light. The original, multi-paned front door opens to an entry area with an armoire that is included with the house, providing a space to remove shoes and coats before entering the main sitting area or the versatile front sun room, which is perfect for a quiet reading or work space. The central dining space allows for intimate seating or expanding a table for large holiday dinners. The kitchen provides expansive counter space and storage, and the current owners will be leaving the island and hanging pot rack installed to complement that space (the beverage fridge is not included).

The basement is unfinished but has very cleanly sealed walls and floors and is watertight. There is direct access to the large garage, which has room for your car and bicycles. The new washer and dryer will remain for you, as will the very useful storage shelving.

The real excitement of the basement is that it is the tech center for the extensive and high cost improvements that the current owners have installed, bringing this home to the highest level of today’s technology for sustainability, resiliency, and better living—be prepared to completely geek out! The home has 21 solar panels, with both two-way metering and a storage battery, that dramatically reduces electric bills. It also provides independence and resiliency, with the ability to bridge times without electricity, or charging to and from an electric vehicle. But the tech doesn’t stop there! The home has a water filtration and purification system, connected to the flexible whole house water manifold system. The main panel for the whole house cat 5e (internet) and coax (tv) cabling are also located here-boast of having the best and most reliable internet connectivity in the neighborhood! See the detailed description of these systems provided by the owner. In addition to these most recent high tech upgrades, all the basic home systems, including electrical, plumbing, heating and cooling, and main roof, were all replaced as part of the 2015 total renovation.

This home is located in the Lea Elementary School catchment, a school that Penn has undertaken to support through a multi-year, multi-million dollar partnership.