5 Cool Homes Near Circuit Trails

The Schuylkill River Trail in Montgomery County, part of the Circuit trail network. | Photo by Flickr user Montgomery County Planning Association

As we reported last week, developers and homeowners are finding that having a bike/hike trail near their property is a bankable amenity.

That’s because, as a recent Urban Land Institute report documented, “active transportation” facilities increase the value of properties adjacent to them.

One of the most extensive such active transportation networks is The Circuit, an evolving 750-mile network of dedicated bike and hiking trails spanning the nine-county Greater Philadelphia region. The ULI report featured it as an example of transformative transportation facilities.

If you are in the market for a new home, you might want to consider one of these homes currently on the market if you’d like to have the option of commuting by bike or just want to have better recreation options nearby:

516 Maplewood Rd., Wayne, PA 19087
5 bedrooms, 3 full and 3 half bathrooms, 6,791 square feet, $1,390,000

This handsome center-hall Colonial features three full floors of living space just steps from the Radnor Trail. Notable amenities include a third floor rec room, a family room with limestone floors and slate fireplace, a huge rear patio for outdoor entertaining, and a sensitively designed 1998 extension that added sun rooms on the first and second floors. In the basement is a large indoor entertainment space with home theater, wet bar, powder room and wine cellar. A detached 3-car garage sits on the property as well. [Team Pulos | BHHS Fox & Roach]

2429-41 Locust St. #310, Philadelphia, PA 19103
1 bedroom, 1 bathroom, 743 square feet, $319,900

This is a light-filled loft condo in Locust Point, one of the former industrial buildings megadeveloper Carl Dranoff converted to residences on the Schuylkill’s east bank. 14-foot ceilings and huge windows give the unit an airy feel, and the condo is nicely detailed with Brazilian cherry floors, an up-to-date kitchen and a washer and dryer in the unit. Pet lovers can breathe easy too, as the building is pet friendly, and both Schuylkill River Park and the Schuylkill River Trail are just outside your front door. [Eli Qarkaxhia | BHHS Fox & Roach]

157 Green Lane, Philadelphia, PA 19127
4 bedrooms, 1 full and 1 half bathroom, 2,859 square feet, $550,000

Of course, no listing of homes on The Circuit would be complete without a Manayunk property. The Schuylkill River Trail follows the Manayunk Canal towpath through the historic mill town in Northwest Philly, and it’s an attractive and popular spot for bike riders, strollers, residents and visitors alike. This home is part of the brand-new 10-unit East Main Manayunk development and offers a state-of-the-art kitchen, a sumptuous master suite, a lower level that’s perfect for a media room and built-in speakers on the first floor and in the master suite. There’s also garage and driveway parking for 4 cars included, but given how much is in walking distance or easy transit commute here, why would you need that many? [Keith Adams | Elfant Wissahickon Realtors]

110 Pheasant Hill Dr., Philadelphia, PA 19115
3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 2,136 square feet, $338,000

This contemporary rancher in the secluded Pine Valley section of Northeast Philadelphia is close to Pennypack Park and the head of the Pennypack Creek trail. The main living area upstairs has been redeisgned with an open floor plan that’s great for entertaining and relaxing, and there’s a beautiful Trex deck in back off the living room. The main floor bathroom has also been renovated with travertine tile. Downstairs, there’s a large family room with sliding doors to the backyard, a third bedroom, an office nook and a bonus man cave. The fenced rear yard also has a play set and shed. [Becky Krevitz | BHHS Fox & Roach]

317 Cynwyd Rd., Bala Cynwyd, PA 19004
4 bedrooms, 3 full and 2 half bathrooms, 2,996 square feet, $799,000

This lovely Colonial is close to the Cynwyd Heritage Trail, which in turn connects to the spectacular Manayunk Bridge trail over the Schuylkill River. It has many of the features you’d expect in a traditional Colonial home, including formal living and dining rooms. The kitchen was recently updated with high-end appliances, white cabinetry and white marble countertops. There’s a stone fireplace in the lower level family room and a slate patio that opens up onto landscaped private grounds in the back. [Joseph Carter | BHHS Fox & Roach]