New Construction in Old City: Ben Franklin Views for Miles

Winter is dead. We’re all drinking outside now and wearing open-toed shoes and counting down until we get to this place so we can lay in hammocks adjacent to the Delaware and forget that snow ever happened.

The blush of spring is when bright, fresh places like this modern Old City townhome look especially appealing. Yes, the appeal of living in Philadelphia is often found in period details and cobblestone streets. But sometimes we just want a brand new bathtub.

The home is four stories tall and a generous 20 feet wide. At ground level there’s a one-car garage just off the quaint and lovely Quarry Street as well as an office and a powder room (it would seem that your new-construction tax abatement will now almost universally include a standard-issue first-floor garage/office/half-bath). The second floor is laid out in an open plan, with a modern kitchen with a wine refrigerator and PORCELANOSA cabinetry, over which the listing fawns.

PORCELANOSA, we’ve learned – in addition to being alternately caps locked and title cased – is a luxury bath and kitchen brand apparently endorsed by the ultimate silver fox himself (scroll down; it’s worth it). Bathrooms – of which there are three full and two half – are similarly outfitted with the magical stuff.

The third floor has a guest suite with an en-suite bathroom and a laundry room. Upstairs on the fourth floor is the master suite, which includes a walk-in closet and a master bath with a Jacuzzi bathtub and separate shower with rainfall features and built-in waterproof speakers. Also on the fourth floor? A wine bar with another wine cooler and roof deck access. Which seems eminently wise to us, mostly because we cannot abide the thought of being made to traverse several flights of stairs to drag our wine up to the roof deck.

And oh, the roof deck. There are unobstructed Ben Franklin views (just imagine the sights!) and the outdoor space is fitted with natural gas and water hookup, outdoor speakers and a television hookup. Not to be outdone by the roof, the dining room on the second floor also provides spiral staircase access to a private, enclosed patio out back.

THE FINE PRINT
Beds: 4
Baths: 3 full, 2 half
Square feet: 3,200
Price: $849,000

Listing: 114 Quarry Street, Philadelphia, PA 19106