House of the week: A 19th-century historic townhouse in Fitler Square for $735,000
The home has oak floors with an open-concept first floor and a garden.
When she moved into the 1860 Fitler Square townhouse in 1979 with her husband, Sharon Dooley particularly loved the original details and the living room mantelpiece. Soon, she realized that she was moving into a community, not just a neighborhood.
“The area is more like a village atmosphere,” she said. “People know each other through their activities.”
A retired software engineer, Dooley also found time to become active in her church, cook for the homeless, and maintain a plot in the community garden where she raised Concord grapes. She made textiles on a loom that is part of the house and is also for sale.
During her roughly 40 years in the home, she made major improvements, including a full kitchen renovation. But recently she moved to a Logan Square senior residence because she needed a single-floor living situation.
The 1,725-square-foot house, which is in a historic district, has oak hardwood floors, a decorative fireplace, high ceilings, a garden and terrace, and a solid straight staircase.
The lower floor is open concept, and the kitchen has a Bosch dishwasher and KitchenAid microwave. It overlooks an open brick garden with perennial foliage, Concord grape vines, an herb garden, and annuals.
The second floor has two bedrooms, including the primary, and a full bathroom with washer and dryer.
The third floor has an unfinished terrace, two more bedrooms, and space to add another bathroom.
The large unfinished basement is currently used for storage.
The house is close to the Goddard School Childcare Center, Fitler Square Park, the University of Pennsylvania, and the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, and it’s just minutes from 30th Street Station and other public transportation, dog parks, and Markward Playground.
The house is in the Albert M. Greenfield School catchment area.
It is listed by Lora Hemphill of BHHS Fox & Roach Center City Walnut for $735,000.