House of the week: A three-bedroom rowhouse in South Philadelphia for $399,000

Anyone walking along Ritner Street in South Philadelphia the pre-dawn hours on Thanksgiving morning would have come across one of the city’s odder sights: People carrying turkeys lined up outside Cacia’s Bakery.

Each holiday, the bakery turns itself over to the South Philadelphia community and cooks their holiday birds for them. This is just one of the neighborhood quirks that drew Theresa Smith and her husband, Damian Potenzone, to the three-bedroom, two-bathroom rowhouse they bought in 2014.

“I loved the open brick, the open light pouring in,” said Smith, who works as a consultant with a life sciences firm.

Potenzone, an IT specialist for a clothing retailer, liked the fact he could walk to work. And both were drawn to the plentiful green spaces, and South Philadelphia’s rich history and friendliness.

But now the couple, and their 8-year-old daughter, Marceline, have moved to nearby Dickinson Narrows because “there’s more room for her to grow,” said Potenzone.

The house, which the couple thinks is about a century old, is 1,756 square feet. Neighborhood attractions include Guerin Recreation Center and Stephen Girard Park.

The first floor of the rowhouse has the kitchen, dining area, and living room. All bedrooms and bathrooms are on the second floor.

Potenzone said the finished basement, large for South Philadelphia, “was really a draw.”

The couple have upgraded major features, including a new sewer line, upper roof, heat pump, and dryer. There is a new stove, microwave, and refrigerator in the kitchen.

There are oak and walnut hardwood floors, and new carpeting on the stairs.

The basement has room for a home gym in addition to storage.

There is easy access to bus and subway routes.

The house is listed by Nancy Serpentine of Compass Realty for $399,000.