16 West Franklin Street, Baltimore.
Hot House: 1873 Townhouse with Myriad Original Details in the Heart of Cathedral Hill. 3 Beds/4 Baths. 4,485 Square Feet. Asking price: $649,000.
What: This stunning Second Empire townhouse (not a typical rowhouse!) is nestled in the heart of Cathedral Hill, the neighborhood just south of Mount Vernon, between Centre and Saratoga Streets.
This is a “twin” house with a beautiful arched window and door on the ground floor, large bow windows and a mansard roofline. Even before you enter, the details are very evident. You enter through a small vestibule with arched doors into the main hallway. Immediately, you will notice the unique zebra-striped hardwood floors. A small sitting room with one of the numerous fireplaces is to your right, and beyond that is a formal dining room.
As you go up the sweeping staircase, topped by a magnificent skylight, you will find the formal living room with another fireplace, gorgeous plaster trim and millwork, a bow window, and two huge matching mirrors. Beyond that, the beautiful kitchen also features a fireplace, hardwood floors, new appliances, and another bow window, overlooking the neighboring Hamilton Street, one of the most historic streets in the city.
The third floor features two large bedrooms with loads of original built-in storage and bookshelves, and a shared bathroom between the bedrooms.
The entirety of the top floor is devoted to the primary suite! The space features a spa-like bathroom with a steam shower and double vanities, a dressing room with a walk-in closet, and a laundry room.
The carriage house can be used for any number of activities like a kids’ play area, or it could be a separate in-law dwelling. It has a full bath, extra storage and a separate bedroom on the second floor.
The unfinished basement has space for a workroom, a home workout room or anything else. It has its own entrance from the Franklin Street Side. There is also a garage, and parking for four cars, a HUGE asset in this neighborhood.
Where: The house is on West Franklin Street, between Charles and Cathedral Streets. The Unitarian Church is adjacent, and the main Pratt Library and the Basilica are just around the corner.
Final Appraisal: So many of the beautiful townhouses downtown are massive (I’m looking at you, Bolton Hill!), but this is quite a manageable size. The details in this house are just stunning and the 2004 renovation was handled very sympathetically. Plus, it has parking! The listing for the house is here.
At the end of this month, be sure to check out the year’s wrap up. See what sold, which houses had drastic price reductions and what the most popular Hot House of 2024 was!
All photographs from the listing.
