S. Oakland house must be owneroccupied
Charles “Buck” Holbert Jr. so loved South Oakland that when he retired, he sold his Mt. Lebanon home and purchased 3231 Parkview Ave. in a sheriff’s sale with plans to renovate it.
He spent many hours on the project, taking breaks to visit Construction Junction in Point Breeze to look for used and surplus building materials. He got to know his neighbors, sometimes trading items or expertise.
“One of the elderly neighbors across the street told me that he tended her flowers just so,” said his daughter, Betsy Trively. “She said, ‘He made sure that I could see
them from my window’.’”
Mr. Holbert died suddenly in September 2017 before he could finish the renovation. The three-bedroom, threebath house has been listed for $219,900 ( MLS No. 1355196) with Blair Kossis of Coldwell Banker Real Estate (www.coldwellbanker.com or 412-592-1605). The property, which is just blocks from Schenley Park and close to the central business district, is open by appointment.
Ms. Trively said her father was a proud alumnus of the University of Pittsburgh.
“He loved the university and Pitt football and the life that South Oakland offered. He wanted to live in the city and be part of the activities and the life there.”
Mr. Holbert had often spoken to his daughter about his involvement with the Oakland Planning and Development Corporation, which strives to support singlefamily home ownership and middle-income homeowners. To honor his wish of preserving the community, this property is being sold under the OPDC Community Land Trust program (www.opdc.org).
The trust will own the land that the house sits on and lease it to the homeowner. The trust requires that the home be permanently owner-occupied.
Mr. Holbert oversaw or personally performed extensive renovations. Several walls were removed to create an open floor plan and wiring was updated. He also installed a new Bryant furnace and upgraded the insulation and windows.
“He was a nursing home administrator so he included lots of ADA amenities to age in place,” Ms. Trively said.
The century-old home’s exterior is a neutral tan with partial brick and siding. A large transom above the front door is filled with curvy house numbers. Inside, the entry has a tile floor and leads to an open living area where two fireplaces and their brick chimneys have been exposed, cleaned and set as showpieces.
“They were behind drywall and filled with soot,” Ms. Trively said.
The paneled staircase has been stripped of paint.
The kitchen has IKEA cabinets, a corner stove and a neat backsplash of 4-inch porcelain tiles set in a zig-zag pattern. A center island contains a dishwasher and double-bowl sink. A large window looks out to the backyard, where Mr. Holbert spent many hours laying out a small patio of reclaimed bricks. He also built a fence and was training ivy to grow onit.
“He just loved to spend time back there,” his daughter said.
There is a full bathroom on each of the three floors. All have white subway tile with black accents and handrails.
The second floor has two large bedrooms and a laundry room. Some of the drywall is painted and some is not.
The third-floor staircase has open treads and at the top, a Sputnik light with Edison bulbs. It leads to a large bedroom and bath. On one end of the room, the exposed brick chimney reaches into the dormer wall. To the right, another dormer inset creates more drama.
Mr. Holbert was hoping to rent space to a graduate student, Ms. Trively said.
“He had a mission. He traded, bartered and joined forces where he could. He was quite determined.”
The house as an assessed value of $ 117,600 (www2.county.allegheny. Since 2011, six houses have sold in the 3200 block of Parkview Avenue for prices ranging from $100,799 in November 2012 to $255,000 in August 2011 (www.realstats.net). Ms. Trively is hopeful that a new owner will finish what her father started. “He would want someone to stay and love the house and finish it. He loved the neighborhood and wouldpa.us/realestate/Default. want someone to enjoy it asaspx). much as he did.”