Deutschtown house with modern interior priced at $495,000
In 1849, Winifred Daily purchased a lot on Washington Street in Allegheny City and built a home for herself and her two daughters.
Six families later, that home has seen many changes — its street name in 1850, its city in 1907 and, in the last five years, a complete interior overhaul.
Now 600 Pressley St., a threebedroom, 2½-bath home in the North Side’s Deutschtown neighborhood, is on the market for $495,000 with agent Dorothy Klingensmith of Coldwell Banker Realty (www.coldwellbanker.com or 412-377-3602). Open houses are set for 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Sunday and 5-7 p.m. Tuesday.
Pittsburgh natives Victoria “Tori” Rivera and her partner, Nathan Cooper, were living in New York City when the pandemic hit. That’s when they decided it was time to head home. They found the urban lifestyle they were used to in this North Side row house.
“When we were looking at homes, we wanted something that had that New York City energy,” said Rivera. “Charm plus walkability, a little piece of cool New York with a Pittsburgh twist.”
The couple fell in love with the house right away. They have come to know the neighborhood and love it, too, over the last couple of years. They named their favorite restaurants, bars and shops, adding that they can get to all of them in 15 minutes or less.
“We love being able to walk all those places,” Rivera said.
The kitchen is in the center of the house. The GE fingerprint-resistant appliances include a large gas range with a tiled backsplash, a French-door refrigerator, a dishwasher and a microwave tucked away in a quartz-topped island that seats three.
A double-sided fireplace with quartz hearths, exposed brick and reclaimed wood mantels separates the kitchen from the living room in
the open floor plan. A rustic wood beam on the ceiling that is original to the home connects the two spaces.
A back door leads to the newly rehabbed patio area, the one area of the house the previous owners didn’t touch. It’s now fenced with a side area for a dog.
“We completely renovated the backyard, tore out the concrete slab and put in a new aggregate patio,” Rivera said.
In the dining room, two doors are separated by a herringbone wood design element that runs from the floor to the ceiling, a small touch of rustic in this mostly modern home.
Behind the doors are a powder room and laundry. The bathroom has brushed brass hardware and a tiled floor in contrasting black and white. The laundry room holds a stacked LG washer and dryer that the couple purchased when they moved in.
There is an unfinished basement used for storage.
“One of the things my dad zoomed in on was the basement,” Rivera said, laughing. “He had to check and make sure there were no puddles after it rains.”
The second floor contains three bedrooms, two of which are set up as home offices.
The master suite has a walk-in closet and a full bathroom with a walk-in shower. The double-sink vanity is a statement piece with slatted wood, and the French Monture Noir shower door shows off the large tile and square rain showerhead.
The family bathroom shares the same high-end finishes, including a single-basin hardwood vanity and subway tile.
A third-floor bonus room is tucked under the roof that was replaced during the complete rehab by the previous owners four or five years ago. They also replaced the windows and mechanicals.
“When we moved in we didn’t have to do a single thing,” Rivera said. “That made our home inspection really easy when we moved in.”
The property assessment is $402,500. Over the last three years, five houses (including this one) have sold in the 500 and 600 blocks of Pressley Street for prices ranging from $335,000 in July 2022 to $480,000 in December 2021 (www2.alleghenycounty.us/ RealEstate/GeneralInfo.aspx?).
The couple had heard this neighborhood leaned toward young professionals. They had a pleasant surprise.
“Families and connections — really super great,” Rivera said. “A lot more families than I expected before we moved in.”
They have chosen to stay nearby, in a house with four bedrooms (two for offices) in the Mexican War Streets. That will give them one guest room, perfect for New York friends who come for a visit.