228 S 45TH ST Philadelphia, PA 19104

All of the glamour - but, in need of the gloss! This quirky, 4-5 BR, 3.5 bath Spruce Hill twin is in the well-regarded Penn Alexander public grade school's catchment area, a huge plus.* Located in the West Philadelphia Streetcar Suburb National Register Historic District, it has retained most of its original, irreplaceable Victorian features including NINE leaded/stained glass window and door panels. There's original, unpainted woodwork most everywhere, and Art Nouveau-style radiators. A long-ago owner had a dental practice in the front parlor, and you can still see the chair's location outlined on the pine flooring, but oh, the floors all over the house will be beautiful, once they're refinished! There's also a big dining room, a half bath, and a huge eat-in kitchen on the first floor; the kitchen features a handsome "hutch" built by the current owner in a sweet, old-fashioned style. And in contrast to the city vibe out front, there's an old-fashioned back yard with garden beds, a rain barrel, and even a chicken coop! Upstairs on the second & third floors, you'll find bedrooms, sitting rooms that could be bedrooms, and older baths, one with a marble-topped sink and subway tiles with a border of garlands of pink roses. The second floor front room was designed to be an informal family room, with an original gas fireplace (not currently in use) next to a built-in bookcase. The third floor has a rear in-law or au pair suite, with its own tiny old-fashioned kitchen. If the 2700 s.f. on the first three floors isn't enough for you, you might consider refurbishing the tall, semi-finished attic, where you can see the history of the house in its two small rooms, probably originally for the maids, and a really long room that could have been for dancing or billiards in Victorian times. The funky location at Locust St. is next to 45th St.'s resale row of popular second hand shops, and there's also the Green Line coffee shop, Saad's Halal Restaurant, and the Lebanese Manakeesh Cafe & Bakery. Several Ethiopian dining spots at the corner include the long-running Abyssinia. Fiume, the small bar upstairs above the restaurant, is famous for its "speakeasy-like" atmosphere. *PAS catchment location does not guarantee admission to the school.