Rochester’s Oldest Residential Neighborhood
Located on a tree-lined street in the heart of Corn Hill,
this attractive brick home sits just beyond a charming wrought iron fence. Corn Hill or the Third Ward as it was called,
is Rochester’s oldest residential neighborhood. Here pioneer settlers built attractive homes
of diverse architectural styles. The
presence of many affluent business people earned the neighborhood its nicknames
“ruffled shirt district” and “silk stocking district”. Today, residents enjoy strolling down
tree-lined streets, admiring the array of lovingly restored homes, as well as
the easy access to I-490 and downtown Rochester. The area supports an active neighborhood
association and the Corn Hill Arts Festival attracts over a quarter of a
million people during its annual weekend in July.
The property at 77 Atkinson Street has much to offer. Built in 1863 as a single-family residence,
the brick home has since been converted into two distinct living spaces. The property would work well as an owner
occupied rental. The main unit is a
roomy 3,000 square feet. The solid oak
front doors open onto a gracefully curving stairway with a beautiful wood
banister. To the left of the entry is
the front parlor, with a decorative fireplace.
A curved archway opens onto the rear parlor, and another decorative
fireplace. To the right of this room is
a space that is currently lined with bookshelves and used as a library. Because there is a full bath located off the
library, it could also serve as a guest suite.
Ten-foot ceilings, full-length windows and hardwood floors make the
rooms on the first floor feel large and open.
The large windows and high ceiling continue into the formal
dining room. Through a side entrance is
a private porch, which would be a wonderful spot to relax on a warm summer
evening. The walls of the dining room
are lined with natural wood wainscoting. A close look in the right spot still
reveals the faint outline of a secret doorway that led from the dining room
into the butler’s pantry. The butler’s
pantry has been converted into a first floor laundry with plenty of storage
space. At the rear of the house is the
recently updated kitchen with golden oak cabinets. The new (2005) appliances will remain with
the property.
The upper level of the main unit has two bedrooms, both with
generous closets and another full bath.
There is also a smaller room that could be used as an office or
nursery. Carpet on the second floor and
paint throughout the house were re-done in 2005. The partially finished attic is accessible
from the second floor landing and could be converted into additional living
space.
The second unit, with private entrance, consists of a well
laid out 458 square feet. The smaller
unit makes up the upper rear of the house and has a generous number of large
windows. This well lit apartment
consists of a living room, bedroom, kitchen and full bath. The unit rents for approximately $500 monthly. The property has parking for 8 cars,
accessible from a rear alleyway. 77
Atkinson Street is listed for $199,900 with taxes of $7,151. The property comes with a one-year buyer
warranty. For more information contact
Jack Cummings of r-house ERA at (585) 388-1400 x350.
by Emily Cihon Fehnel
Emily works at the University of Rochester and is a Landmark
Society volunteer.
This article appears in Feb 1-7, 2006.
