Park allure: Brick beauty offers modern amenities, historic location

Area: Park Street
Year built: 1987
Square footage: 4360 finished, 344 unfinished
Acreage: .39
Assessment: $1,043,800
Asking Price: $950,000
Curb Appeal: 9 out 10
Listing Agent: Karyn Trumbull, Nest Realty Group, 434-989-4847

Once a portion of Coursey’s Road, c. 1730, Park Street is rich with grand old homes and a good bit of history. It was once home to The Shanty, the house— relocated from the small community of Milton about three miles east of town— where John “Jack” Jouett spent the night after his legendary ride warning Thomas Jefferson that the British were coming. And Comyn Hall, the former home of convicted wife murderer Samuel McCue, who holds dual honors as being both a three-time mayor of Charlottesville and, with his 1905 hanging, the last person executed in Charlottesville.  

Situated at the outmost boundary of the historic district described by the Virginia Department of Historic Resources is a 4,700+ square-foot brick Queen Anne-style home constructed in 1987, but carefully designed to incorporate the characteristics of its older neighbors. A large porch wraps around the left front corner of the home and a screened porch tucked along the back offers an alternate spot for enjoying the outdoors if weather or mosquitoes threaten to spoil the fun.

The generous front entryway is flanked on one side by a formal dining room and the other by a spacious living room with lots of natural light. Situated along the back of the home, a large family room features a wet bar, a bay window, a fireplace and built-in bookshelves. Across the hallway, a commodious kitchen is equipped with a full complement of modern appliances, a tidy breakfast area, large amounts of counter and cabinet space, and separate entrances to both porches. The comfortable floor plan is ideal for entertaining and with a detached two car garage, a driveway and plenty of on-street parking along both Lyons Court and Park Street, there’s plenty of parking for guests.

Upstairs, the master suite encompasses a large bedroom, attached bath with double vanity, separate shower and jetted tub, a walk-in closet, and additional finished storage space. Three other bedrooms, a second full bath and a laundry room finish out the upper level. The finished basement contains a library, a den, a study and another full bath. With ample storage areas and several flex spaces, it’s easy to envision this lower level as a prime place to house teens who want their privacy or a mother-in-law who plans an extended visit.

The ceilings are high, the hardwoods are polished to a glossy sheen and there are handsome built-in bookshelves throughout the house. Those who seek a home in the historic district, but feel wary of the upkeep that so often accompanies houses of a certain vintage or of the cost that comes with undertaking a total renovation, can find a move-in ready prospect here. 

There has been just one sale since the first of the year on Park Street. That home, built in 1950 and situated on the periphery of the historic district, spent just three weeks on the market and sold for $20,000 below asking price, according to the MLS (Multiple Listing Service). There are currently five homes listed for sale on Park Street, ranging in price from $360,000 to $1,095,000 and in size from 3,826 to 4,765 square feet. In terms of direct competition, however, 617 Park Street (listed by Karen Ball at Nest Realty Group for $1,095,000) comes closest with comparable square footage, location and lot size. That said, it's 100 years older than 704 and priced more than $200,000 higher.

Park Street is lovely and many of the homes situated on the tree-lined lots are within easy walking distance of the Downtown Mall, which is no small draw. But it’s also a busy street, heavily traveled— especially on Sundays when the church traffic is fierce — and it can get a little loud. You’re definitely going to hear some road noise while weeding your flower beds or sitting on the front porch sipping your beverage of choice. On the plus side, however, there’s strong A/C and good insulation in this brick house, and when you’re curled up in the sunlit den with a good book, road noise will probably be the farthest thing from your mind.