Just Listed: Modern Rehabbed Rowhouse in Fishtown
A builder who takes his cues from the world of fashion got his hands on this house, and that has made all the difference.
1628 E. Hewson St., Philadelphia, Pa. 19125 | Photos courtesy Compass
“Our goal is to deliver a comfortable modern home that the design-savvy people of Philadelphia will appreciate and one that will mesh with the existing fabric of the neighborhood.”
That sentence appears in the very brief “About” section describing London Parc Development, the creator of this boffo rowhouse rehab in Fishtown.
If this house for sale is indicative of London Parc’s work, the company can be counted on to exceed its own goals.
And if you’re considering redoing a rowhouse, I’d like to suggest that you’ll get better results hiring a builder whose background is in fashion design.
That’s where London Parc founder and principal Scott Latham learned his chops. And that fashion sense comes through in both the design and the staging of this ultra-chic house.
The attention to style, quality and detail announce themselves in the address next to the front door. This isn’t just “1628,” it’s “1628 Hewson” — a very specific place.
You will also note how nicely this house plays with its neighbors the moment you lay eyes on it. That’s because London Parc didn’t mess with its strong bones. Instead, it created a house that played to its strengths.
Main floor
Living room
The renovation transformed its main floor into two distinct spaces: an open main living area and a bedroom wing in the former kitchen ell.
The exposed brick party walls, found on both above-ground floors, are variously coated or painted depending on the condition of the original brick. The resulting contrast adds visual interest.
Master suite hallway
The exposed roof beams on the upper-floor master suite do the same. (What had been a middle bedroom got divided between the bathroom and a huge walk-in closet.)
Throughout this house, you will find quality construction, attractive design and features one usually doesn’t find in houses in this price range.
Kitchen
Slide-out spice rack
One particular example of intelligent design that caught my eye is found in the kitchen. In addition to a pot filler, one of those features you don’t find at this price point, you’ll find a slide-out spice rack tucked between the range and the refrigerator. There’s also a built-in double trash can rack.
First-floor bathroom
Master-suite bathroom
Master bathroom shower
Or consider the showers in the house’s two bathrooms. Both have rain heads and wands, and the one in the master suite bathroom upstairs has separately controlled body sprays.
Master bedroom
And the master suite bedroom has USB outlets next to the bed.
Rear patio
Then there’s the rear patio. In contrast to those concrete-paved patches, this one’s already eco-friendly: The crushed stone between the paving stones allows rainwater to filter into the soil.
Finished basement
This house for sale is perfect for a single individual or couple with relatives who find stair-climbing difficult, for instance, or for a family just starting out on the road of homeownership.
It’s also very conveniently located. It’s just off the Frankford Avenue shopping/dining strip and a mere six-minute walk from Berks station on the Market-Frankford Line. Riverwards Produce is also just around the corner.
The listing agent’s description goes into more detail about the materials and workmanship that went into this house. However, it lacks a piece of breathless prose found in many agents’ descriptions. Because it’s true in this case, I’ll say it here: This house won’t last long on the market. If it strikes you as a potentially appealing place to live, better contact the listing agent right away.
THE FINE PRINT
BEDS: 2
BATHS: 2
SQUARE FEET: 1,182
SALE PRICE: $397,000
1628 E. Hewson St., Philadelphia, Pa. 19125 [Michala Costello | Compass]
