149 W. Montgomery Street, Federal Hill, Baltimore
Hot House: Tucked away in downtown Baltimore’s Otterbein neighborhood, this double row house has lots of space and loads of light, and it’s a short walk to the stadiums, MARC station and downtown. 3 beds/4 baths. Asking price: $619,000
If you want to live close to the Harbor, but Federal Hill is a bit too “lax bro” for you, check out this house in close-by Otterbein, one of Baltimore’s under-the-radar neighborhoods. Two row houses have been conjoined to make one large house, with updates by local architect Chip Bohl. One house fronts West Montgomery Street and the other Sharp Street, ensuring ample light.
What: Otterbein is the home to the original dollar house program, made possible by the cancellation of the proposed I-95 project that would have cut across the harbor. Tucked away between the inner harbor and the stadiums, over the last 40 years, Otterbein has settled into a charming, close-knit neighborhood, filled with traditional row houses, some new, but carefully integrated, and winding streets and small parks.
This house exemplifies the neighborhood, preserving the past while taking advantage of all of the amenities homeowners now require. From the three-story atrium at the entry to the remote-controlled skylights to the numerous fireplaces and the cozy garden, this house has been updated to an exemplary degree. A beautiful kitchen with a wood floor in the “tumbling blocks” pattern, dual-zone HVAC systems, a new roof, and the three bedrooms and four bathrooms mean that the house is move-in ready for the right owner.
If you’re a collector, this house provides ample room for your collections, and if you’re a clothes horse, the walk-in closet is something from your dreams. The house has plenty of private spaces for those work-from-home days, but wonderful space where everyone can congregate and have family time.
Where: Located between the Inner Harbor and the stadiums, Otterbein is a quiet neighborhood whose insularity belies its convenience to the restaurants, shops and bars of Federal Hill, the MARC station at Camden Yards, I-95 and the JFX. It is a short walk to the stadiums to the west and the Inner Harbor to the east.
Final Appraisal: This well-priced house is a great find. With the numerous fireplaces, private patio garden, ample storage for your collections, and professional-grade kitchen, you won’t mind spending time at home avoiding the plague. And when things finally get back to “normal,” you can take advantage of everything in the surrounding area. The listing is here.
