A ’70s Classic in Norristown for $165K
This condo with a split personality - contemporary on the outside, Colonial on the main floor inside - has aged very gracefully thanks to careful updating.
821 Stonybrook Dr., Norristown, Pa. 19403 | TREND images via BHHS Fox & Roach Realtors
There are several very attractive communities around Philadelphia that look like period pieces but have managed to keep up with the times. Chesterbrook in Chester County is one of them. The Stonybrook condominium in West Norriton Township is another.
This two-bedroom, two-story Stonybrook condo provides a great example of what an owner can do to put their own personality on a standardized space.
What this owner did with this condo apparently proved so convincing to the listing agent that, when she provided the basic data TREND asks agents to fill in, she listed the structure’s style as “Colonial.”
Not only that, the agent went on to talk about a “center hall” in the property description.
There is a hall on the main floor, but it’s definitely off center. The foyer opens onto the cond0’s bright breakfast room, and the hallway to the right after you make that left turn into the breakfast room takes you past the kitchen into the open plan living-dining room.
It’s this space that must have caused the cognitive dissonance. There’s crown molding on the walls, a traditional-style chandelier over the dining table, turned wood dowels framing the stairwell, and a handsome brick fireplace (not for show, either!) with traditional wood mantle in the living area.
The rustic farmhouse cabinetry in the newer kitchen and the traditional cabinetry in the upstairs hall bathroom also added to the confusion, no doubt.
With its roomy back patio, spacious master bedroom and great community amenities, this condo is ready for you to settle right in as is and simply enjoy its maintenance-free convenience. On the other hand, maybe you might want to emulate its current owner and do a little stylistic revision of your own. The low monthly condo fee combined with its purchase price should leave you room for some remodeling in your budget.
THE FINE PRINT
BEDS: 2
BATHS: 2 full, 1 half
SQUARE FEET: 1,440
SALE PRICE: $164,900
OTHER STUFF: The $286 per month HOA fee covers maintenance of the grounds and all community facilities, including the clubhouse and swimming pool. In addition to having Stony Brook running through the middle of the community, you also enjoy convenient access to major highways and SEPTA Regional Rail, all a short drive away.
821 Stony Brook Dr., Norristown, Pa. 19403 [Susan Nelson | BHHS Fox & Roach Realtors]
