On The Market: Spectacular Society Hill mansion for $5.775 million
Helga and Scott Levin had been living near Duke University in North Carolina for 27 years when Scott accepted the job of chief of orthopedics at the University of Pennsylvania.
"We did look at a few houses in the suburbs but we weren't really interested in living there because we did that in Durham," said Helga.
Instead, they found a four-bedroom, 6,624-square-foot manse in Society Hill.
"This is a spectacular house," she said.
Even better, it was move-in ready.
"We did not even paint the walls," Levin said.
Levin said one of the details that drew her to the home was the Society Hill neighborhood.
"I'm German and this area reminds me a lot of Europe," she said. "Brick buildings and it's just a very, very charming, exclusive area of the city. We go to Rittenhouse Square if we want a little more drama."
Built in 1990, the home was designed for a private art collection. In addition to shoring up drywall with additional wood behind it to bear additional weight, the alarm system is also wired through some of the walls.
"If someone has a Picasso – a real one – it will be safe," Levin said.
The home also features three full and two half bathrooms, as well as a solarium and gourmet Poggepohl kitchen. Downstairs is another treat.
"We have a wine cellar, which we love very much," Levin said.
Outside, the Levins spend time in their private interior courtyard as well as in their back yard. Their master bedroom looks out on a few of the home's trees.
"It has the most incredible outdoor space," she said. "We are living in a tree home."
In addition to the courtyard's sculpture garden, the property includes another man-made marvel: three-car parking. Two of the three spaces are covered.
Levin said the outdoor spaces made for years of great parties.
"We have done a lot of entertaining in this house. It flows beautifully," she said. "We have a bar here and people always hang around where there are drinks and food. They can't believe there's something like this in the city."
Levin said the home is starting to feel a little big for her and her husband. "We're getting a little lost sometimes," she said. "We really feel that someone should be in here who has children and enjoys all the space."
The home is listed by Laurie Phillips at Berkshire Hathaway Fox & Roach for $5,775,000.