Wolseley is one of the most attractive neighbourhoods to put down roots.
Residents can walk or bike to nearby restaurants and businesses, the mature trees provide a serene ambience and it's close to the Assiniboine River and Omand's Creek.
However, it's a tad difficult for young families to find a starter home in the area. Luckily, one has just come up for sale, and it isn't a handyman special, says Realty Executives First Choice's Eric Neumann.
"This is a home that will provide a young family with the opportunity to get into a straight, solid home in a great location at an affordable price," he said. "While this is an older home (built in 1907) that has loads of character, it's been updated, so there's not much to do to it to make it livable. Previous owners updated the things that needed to be done while making a genuine effort to maintain the home's classic character."
The list of updates performed on the 1,280-sq.-ft., two-storey home are impressive: newer windows, siding and roof, as well as the electrical system, plus newer laminate flooring (dining room) and newer stainless-steel appliances in the kitchen.
"There's also a low-maintenance, nicely landscaped backyard with a private patio and a newer, oversize single garage. Many older homes have older garages that aren't very functional, so having a bigger, newer garage is a definite bonus," said Neumann. "Each home in Wolseley has a different story, and the story of this home is that it's been maintained extremely well in all key areas, and in its character."
That character is apparent the moment you enter the foyer from an enclosed porch. An original, hand-hewn oak staircase, 12-inch baseboards, lintels over entranceways and original oak hardwoods in the living room to the right serve as reminders of the home's turn-of-the century roots.
The hallway that leads into the kitchen is up to date.
"You get the best of both worlds here," he said. "All the previous owners have made an effort to retain most of the home's original character, which isn't always the case. (Medium brown) cork flooring takes you into a kitchen that's been nicely updated with (tan) marble countertops, cork flooring, French white cabinets, a white subway tile backsplash and an undermounted stainless-steel sink. It's not your typical turn-of-the century kitchen because it's bright and there's plenty of room to move."
Unlike many homes built in the early 1900s, the dining room/living room area is bright and accessible. An eight-foot-wide entrance unites the two spaces, while allowing light to flow freely.
"If desired, you can close the entrance with a pair or original pocket doors that still work perfectly," Neumann said. "Both rooms are larger than normal, with nine-foot ceilings. The dining room can handle a table for eight to 10 without a problem, while the living room has plenty of room for a big flat-screen TV and a reasonable amount of furniture. Flow from the kitchen through the dining room into the living room is excellent, making it an area that's great for entertaining."
Head upstairs via the ornate, well-preserved oak staircase, and another pleasant surprise awaits: three (rather than two) bedrooms, with each room being a decent size.
"I love the fact that the second level is full of natural light, which enters through large windows in the bedrooms, and a frosted window on the bathroom's front wall. The master bedroom is quite large with a big closet, and the other two bedrooms come with armoires," he said.
"The bathroom features a classic clawfoot tub that's great to soak in, and classic features such as original five-panel doors with crystal handles and the staircase, which is full of beautiful hand-crafted details."
Another of the home's major assets is the fact its basement is fit to develop, which isn't always the case with turn-of-the-century homes.
"There's plenty of ceiling height and a decent amount of space, which isn't typical," he said. "You can put in a nice rec room, bathroom and possibly even a bedroom."
Last but not least is the location, he added.
"The home's in an excellent spot: a block from Omand's Creek, close to Robert A. Steen Community Centre, Wolseley Avenue, the Sherbrook Street strand with all its restaurants, coffee shops and stores -- and you're only minutes from Polo Park. You get the best of both worlds -- classic and modern -- in a great location that has so much to offer a young family."
lewys@mts.net
