On the market: Northern Liberties townhouse for $359,900
After living in the same Northern Liberties home for 27 years, Janet Unger and her husband, Gene Smith, have no complaints.
On the Market profiles homes for sale in the Philadelphia region.
After living in the same Northern Liberties home for 27 years, Janet Unger and her husband, Gene Smith, have no complaints.
They loved the "eclectic mix of neighbors," the local shops and restaurants, and enjoyed seeing the transformation of the popular Philadelphia neighborhood in the past few decades.
"Today it's a new generation of new families moving in," Unger said. "It's a much more vibrant neighborhood now."
It's a mix of emotions for Unger and Smith as they say goodbye to their townhome located at 970 North Randolph Street. The couple is leaving city life altogether as they relocate to a ranch house overlooking farmland in Lancaster. The move is due to Smith's retirement.
Unger and Smith have put the 2,232 square foot townhouse on the market for $359,900.
When the couple first purchased the four bedrooms, two baths property back in 1986, they didn't realize the home's full potential.
"Many of the things that we now enjoy and appreciate were not immediately obvious when we first bought it," Unger said.
The couple restored the townhome's original pine floors as soon as they discovered they were hidden under a layer of vinyl flooring.
They also removed a drop ceiling on the first floor, which gave the home more of an open feel.
"The low ceiling tiles made the rooms seem smaller and darker than they are now," Unger said.
Throughout their time living there, Unger and Smith made several other renovations. The first room they touched was the kitchen.
"We completely gutted it, restructured the opening between the dining room and kitchen so that there was room for more cabinetry, built a coat closet, added oak cabinets, porcelain tile floor, tile backsplash, and stainless appliances," Unger said.
The couple also renovated the backyard patio, which they say is their favorite feature in the home, especially during this time of year. They would often use the outdoor space for grilling, gardening, or just to relax after a long day of work.
They got together with their neighbors when they first moved in and took down a tall board fence that bordered their patio. They replaced it with a trellis and shrubs for a more natural border.
"It is now much more open, green and welcoming," Unger said.
The location of the home is also something the couple appreciated while living there. It's convenient to get to Center City and I-95, and is only three and a half blocks from The Piazza at Schmidt's.
"We like that it's close to all the amenities but removed from the noise," Unger said.
After nearly three decades, Unger says she and her husband will miss the "charm and character" of the home, as well as their friendly neighborhood block.
"Above all, we will miss living on a wonderful block with great neighbors," Unger said. "We made lifelong friends on Randolph Street."
Click here to view the listing >
Contact Mike McCann at Prudential Fox & Roach Realtors about this property at (215) 627-6005.