532 S MELVILLE ST Philadelphia, PA 19143

There are only a couple of blocks of 2-story townhouses with garages within the catchment area* for the high-achieving K-8 Penn Alexander public school, and 532 S. Melville St. is on one of these blocks! Built by Clarence Siegel c.1920, these homes are more modest in size than the earlier Victorian houses nearby. They're practical, comfortable places, easier on the budget, less costly to heat and cool - and yet, still plenty spacious. This house has 3+ bedrooms (two of the four second floor rooms are used together as a suite) and 2 baths, plus a year-round sun porch, living room, dining room, laundry closet, kitchen, and a back deck over the driveway entry to the garage. The interior is 1572 s.f. There's also a full unfinished basement (the garage occupies one corner) with an outside entry. The location is the Spruce Hill section of University City, very close to Clark Park and the shops and restaurants on Baltimore Ave. New owners will find some projects awaiting their imagination. In an earlier life, the house was split into 2 apartments, and while the second floor no longer shows evidence of that, the first floor's kitchen was made mighty small to allow space for an adjacent full bath! But the house is completely livable right now, so there's no need for immediate changes. *Catchment area residency does not guarantee admission to the school.