Hot House: 457 Grindall Street, Baltimore, MD 21230

Converted industrial space, circa 1900, in brick and stucco with asphalt roof and two-level roof deck. Two bedrooms, 2.5 baths over two stories and 2,516 sq. ft. Open floor plan has main floor living area with gas fireplace, large windows, built-ins. Kitchen with mosaic-tiled floor, large granite island, industrial fixtures, Verone Italian range. Bedroom and full bath on main level. Large studio/master bedroom upstairs with full bath, shower, jacuzzi tub. Central a/c. Possible garage. Possible rental unit. Extensive outdoor space, lush gardens, water views from roof deck: $645,000

What: A colorful home that stands out from the crowd of proper Federal Hill townhomes and apartments. Built in 1900 to house a brewery, it later became a mechanic’s shop. Now it’s a sleek residence that takes up three lots and offers lots of possibilities, including adding a garage. The entrance has been divided to form a coat closet and small office. The rest is open-plan, with a great industrial-style kitchen, big windows with wide sills and lots of light. There is a raised-hearth fireplace in the living room, random-width maple flooring, and nice, handcrafted wood built-ins. It rambles a bit, and some buyers will want to reconfigure the space.

Where: Grindall Street runs from Williams Street to Covington Street, two blocks south of Warren Avenue, the street that runs along Federal Hill Park. Because the park juts south to the corner of Covington Street, where this house is located, the house is actually “steps from the park.” A short walk west gets you to the heart of Federal Hill, with bars, shopping and restaurants along S. Charles Street. Heading east takes you down the hill to Key Highway, near Design Distillery, Little Havana and Digital Harbor High School. Local favorite The Outpost American Tavern is just around the corner, and a quick water taxi ride will take you over to Harbor East.

Why: Unique, with lots of quirky charm.

Why Not: Dark-green porcelain fixtures in bathroom. Plus, no parking.

Would Suit: Free spirit, with trust fund.

NB: Main-floor bedroom has kitchenette and full bath, and could easily be an income-generating rental unit.