1 St. John’s Rd., Baltimore.
Hot House: Owned by three generations of the same family on a large corner lot; 5 bedrooms/5 bathrooms. 4,680 square feet. Asking price: $649,000.
What: When I was growing up, the local GP physician had his office in this house, and I have a memory of walking up the street to have him put some stitches in my leg. So, this is a house that features in my history and many, many people who grew up in Roland Park.
The old doctor’s office has now been re-incorporated into the house, and the charm of the whole house remains. Sited at the corner of Roland Avenue and St. John’s Road, this house has wonderfully-sized rooms, mature plantings and landscaping, and a good-sized corner lot, just over a quarter of an acre.
As you come into the house through the main entrance on Roland Avenue, there’s also an entrance on St. John’s Road, you see that this house is filled with light. The large living room with its gas fireplace also has built-in bookshelves. The doctor’s office feature a separate entrance with a sitting area with a fireplace, a large office area, another space, which could be used as a first floor bedroom, and a bathroom. The kitchen needs some updating, although it retains the original pantry (please don’t tear it out!). There is also an L-shaped sunroom on the first floor.
The second floor contains five bedrooms, one with a sitting room and fireplace and another with a walk-in closet. There is also a sun-room on the second floor which would be perfect for a yoga space or a barre. The third floor has space that could be used as an additional bedroom or play space, as well as a large attic space for storage.
The whole house features original hardwood floors, including parquet floors in some areas. The windows are plain divided light windows which bring in tons of light.
The big, expensive work, including a new roof and new boiler, has been done on this house, so all that’s left to do is add a new kitchen and some updated painting. It’s a blank canvas, with tons of room for your creativity.
Where: This house sits on the southwest corner of Roland Avenue and St. John’s Road. It’s a five-minute walk to Eddie’s, Starbucks and the Pratt Library in one direction, and to Petit Louis and Johnny’s in the other. Just a few minutes further are Roland Park Elementary & Middle School, Roland Park Country School and Gilman. Bryn Mawr, Friends, Cathedral, Poly and Western, and Boys’ Latin are within a five-minute drive. It’s just a short drive to the JFX north and south.
Final Appraisal: The house is centrally located within Roland Park, and convenient to everything the neighborhood has to offer. Three generations of the same family have lived in this house for decades. Now is the time to make it your house. The listing for the house is here.
