River views in Uptown for $249,000
While studying at Duquesne University, Anita Anand got to know Uptown, an often overlooked neighborhood tucked between Downtown and Oakland. Years later, when she decided to invest in property,she looked in Uptown.
“We own another property in that area,” she said. “We were serious about taking a stake in the area, that it would grow.”
Now with four children, she and her husband, Herm, have decided to sell the four-bedroom, 3½bath house at 1831 Blvd. of the Allies (MLS No. 1524469). The house and a large lot behind it at 1832 Locust St. are on the market for $249,000 with Nancy Dorn and Doug Sprague of RE/MAX Realty Brokers (412-370-2950 or www.pittsburgh-homes.com).
Since purchasing the house in 2006, the Anands have used it as a rental.
“We redid the electric and heating system and the hot water tank was converted to a high recovery tank with larger capacity,” said Mrs. Anand.
The living room and several of
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the bedrooms have great views of the Monongahela River and South Side through tall windows framed by stylish window casing and trim. Entering the living room through a pair of French doors, visitors first notice the decorative black stone fireplace. Its firebox has angled bricks and the hearth has mosaic tiles in blues, reds, gold and white.
“It’s a very attractive piece of art, very unique,” Mrs. Anand said.
The chimney has been capped; restoring it as a functioning fireplace would be a major project.
The kitchen has lots of cabinets and a refrigerator, electric stove and newer dishwasher. It also contains the washer and dryer, which are staying with the house.
The dining room is tucked between the living room and kitchen. It has an original parquet floor and room for a large table and sideboard, Since it’s next to the kitchen, it could be used to expand that space for more open plan living.
There are three bedrooms on the second floor. The master and one other bedroom have engineered flooring. The Anands haven’t investigated what’s underneath the carpeting in the other bedrooms.
There is a family bathroom with a shower/tub combination and another full bathroom off the master bedroom.
A wall of windows runs down one side of the master bedroom and has the same tall baseboards and trim as the rest of the house.
“The building has a lot of character, the brick, the trim, so different from new construction now, very strong structures,” said Mrs. Anand.
On the third floor is an 18-foot-by-16-foot bedroom with a rather unusual layout. A clawfoot tub and sink sit along one wall and there is a toilet behind a closed door. The angled ceiling follows the roofline and an exposed brick wall adds texture.
Outside the back door is a small deck off the large gravel-covered parking area that faces Locust Street. The Anands never thought about building on the lot.
“Building something there would make it less livable,” Mrs. Anand said. “Better to leave that space to benefit the residents of the townhome.”
The Allegheny County property assessment is $22,500. Over the past three years, two houses have sold in the 1800 block of Boulevard of Allies for $55,000 in March 2018 and $50,000 in April 2020 (www2.alleghenycounty.us/realestate/GeneralInfo.
This property’s Locust Street parking area is four blocks from Forbes Avenue, which will be used by the new Bus Rapid Transit system between Oakland and Downtown.
It’s just one improvement in Uptown in recent years.
“We’ve been a part of the area for the last 15 years. The area’s grown, it’s better than it has been before,” said Mrs. Anand.
“It’s time for someone else to come in and take it to the next stage, younger than us who have the energy to be a part of what can come.”