REAL ESTATE- ON THE BLOCK- Time capsule: Travel to '70s in Glenaire

Address: 1010 Alendale Drive
Neighborhood: Glenaire
Asking: $329,000
Assessment: $323,900
Year Built: 1970
Size:  2,700 fin. sq. ft., 768 unfin.
Land:  1.0 acre
Agent: Phyllis Novotny, Roy Wheeler Realty Co. 434-951-5190
Curb Appeal: 7 out of 10

Much of what buyers see as flaws in older houses— the puttylike layers of ancient paint, grooved floors, pencil lines marking children’s height— are signs of life. In contrast, this Ivy home 10 minutes from town shows almost as if nobody has ever lived here. Construction and finishes from the days of disco haven’t been updated. Style— but not wear— reveals the house’s age. Truth be told, only a couple of families have lived here in the 40 years since it was built. It’s about time for it to feel lived in.
The front door of the split foyer opens to a living room with vaulted ceiling, built-in shelving and an open dining area, which leads to deck. The layout is somewhere between the open plan that modern shoppers are looking for and the closed-off rooms of ‘50s and ‘60s ranchers. Two entrances to the eat-in kitchen make some flow possible.
Original hardwood cabinets lack the layered grime of a cook’s constant toil. Buyers might expect that after 40 years and countless casseroles the kitchen would not be practically in mint condition. Swaths of counter space and storage mean a cosmetic update might do the job, but appliances, including a mustard oven and separate electric cook-top, may also need an update.
Of the two bedrooms on the home’s main level, the smaller has double closets and a basic en suite bath; a door leads to a screened porch. The second room, considered a master because of its size, has a walk-in closet, but no bath. A separate bath off the hall is it. Here, baths are functional and show clean, but vanities and tiling are dated.
Shag carpet is interspersed between rooms on the main level, but judging from the living room and hall, the first level is hardwood.
Down in the lower level, another pair of bedrooms, each with double closets, share a bath with stall shower. The bath is roomy enough that a new owner might be able to squeeze in a bathtub or extra counter space.
The lower level also has a den for casual entertaining. A wood stove surrounded by built-ins provides a focal point. The wall opposite the wood stove is mirrored, a seventies detail that extends the feel of the space but may not wow a new owner.
Off the den, a laundry/mud room leads to a patio. The space actually feels more like a kitchen due to a multitude of hardwood cabinets, plenty of counter space and an electric cook-top plus a fridge and a utility sink. A new owner may not need a second kitchen, but the space could work for serious crafters who need space for projects or for families who like to party and need a place to stow extra supplies. Floral-patterned linoleum looks like it has never been tread upon, at least not by any muddy shoes.
Outdoors, a freestanding three-car garage has an attic above for extra storage. Around back, gobs of outdoor space provides room to groove, from a screened porch with a vaulted ceiling to deck with built-in benches and a patio below.
This space and layout here make it ideal for a large family. Although some surface details are dated, it does not show the wear and tear we’re used to seeing in a home of this vintage. Perhaps a new brood can make its mark and scuff things up a bit!
 
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<img src= "/images/issues/2011/1005/house-other.jpg"><BR><small>PHOTOS BY SARAH JACOBSON</small>
Each week, a brave local seller invites the Hook to provide an impartial, warts-and-all look at their real estate listing. E-mail yours today!
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