With the 37th annual Fairmount Tour of Historic Homes on the near horizon, it seems a good time to take the temperature of the market in the trendy Near South neighborhood. In short, it’s still hot. Realtor.com is more circumspect, calling the market balanced, meaning there is a healthy balance of buyers and sellers in the market. And yet price per square foot keeps nudging upwards.
A new listing at 1968 Alston Avenue perfectly illustrates area trends-namely judiciously updated and maximized and carved out space.
Attics are rapidly becoming extinct in Fairmount. At Alston, finishing out the attic means an additional bedroom, second living space and a small Euro-style bath for a total square foot count of 2,269. And Alston has plenty of curb appeal. The front porch — a de rigueur outdoor living room in the Fairmount Historic District — has been spruced up and painted in cheerful, bold, contrasting colors.
Vintage hardwoods and front door retain their period stain. The front rooms have been opened but remain demarcated by architectural columns on a podium.
A full formal dining room occupies the heart of the four-bedroom, three-bath house with the kitchen and staircase beyond.
In 2012, the 108-year-old home underwent a complete remodel including new electrical, plumbing and new sewer connection to the city line. The roof was replaced in 2017. Restoration work was performed under city supervision in compliance with the Historic Site Tax Exemption program, which means it was granted a tax abatement, freezing the assessed value until 2023.
The galley kitchen has been opened up and updated with generous cabinet space, granite counter tops and glass tile backsplash. Lower cabinets are a bright celadon blue. The opened, pony, sink wall now forms a bar. The stove is dual fuel-gas cooktop, electric oven. At the back is a full laundry room.
The roomy master bedroom has its own dedicated bath with a vintage claw foot tub. The other ground floor bedroom is currently being used as an office.
Upstairs is an intimate, under-eave bedroom and a Euro-style bathroom with a shower. Another large room is currently being used as a media room/den but could serve as an extra bedroom.
Speaking of the home tour, this Fairmount charmer was on the Fairmount Historic District Tour of Homes in 2015. If you’d like your own tour, there will be an open house on Sunday, April 7th from 2 to 4 p.m. All of this charm and move-in ready updated additions comes at a price. At $200 per square foot, 1968 Alston is above the $193 per square foot average for Fairmount.
Lany Charoonbara of Fathom Realty, LLC has priced 1968 Alston at $454,000.
Eric Prokesh is an interior designer whose work has appeared on HGTV, and in books and publications including D Home, Southern Accents, House Beautiful, and House and Garden. In January 2005, HGTV named Eric one of the 50 tastemakers in America and D Home has included him as one of Dallas’ Best Designers for 10 years. Having lived most of his life in Dallas, he now calls Fort Worth home and is one of our experts on beautiful Fort Worth Dirt. His own home on historic Elizabeth Boulevard has been featured in 360 West.
