A street easily overlooked in Saint Paul is Irvine Avenue. It is located "below" Summit Avenue, and you can look up to see the back sides of the most expensive historic homes on Summit. A few great finds are some of the remaining carriage houses of these massive homes.. Some have been saved and converted to single family residences or condo units, but others, like the fantastic ruins pictured above are slowing decaying away.
This old carriage house sits behind 332 Summit Avenue...you can see what it used to look like, as of 1950, from this photo. It is a protected historic structure so any future plan to restore or demolish the building would have to meet Preservation Committee approval.
One my favorite mediums to take photos with is my little black and white setting on my camera.
Sure you can go into photoshop and turn color photos into black and white, but I think you get a better result when you take the photos out in the field in B&W. You can instantly see how the shadows and grey areas fall in the photo and then tweak your camera position or subject matter.
The coming rain storm was great to capture.
My last photo post talked about close up pictures of flowers, but you might consider close up shots of plants as well.
I captured this wild fern as it was beginning to unfurl. I took me about 10 tries to get the lighting right and the photo into focus. It was a cloud covered day so direct natural light was very limited.
During my nature hike, I found this large egg with some great spots on it....perfect for a black and white photo. Try and use the Macro feature on your camera...represented by the little flower icon.
This weeks feature is not of a home, but of a historic building called Woodland Terrace in St. Paul.
Located on Dayton Avenue, the row house was built in 1889, supposedly by B.J. Buechner. They were renovated in the 1980s and updated with new mechanicals, etc. The building really is amazing once you get a closer look. The patterned brickwork and small stone carvings throughout, including the arched entry ways, really make the building "pop". At first glance, the buildings look Richardson Romanesque because of the stone work, but when you look at the gables, balcony design, windows, and roof line, Queen Anne Victorian screams out at you.
There is currently one unit for sale through Coldwell Banker for $645,000. To give you an idea on size, the four level unit has 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, and around 2700 square feet. Many people compare these units to those found in New England Brownstone row houses.
For those of you who like to see major home renovations, including fantastic interior design, make sure to stop by this years American Society of Interior Design (ASID) Showcase Home. Minneapolis is home to the lucky home owner, Pat Fallon, who is moving into the Colonial located at 4300 Fremont Avenue South.
Mr. Fallon is the founder of Fallon Worldwide, an advertising firm who had created famous ad campaigns, including the CitiBank ads where identity theft victims talk with voice overs from the people who stole from them. He recently purchased the home, built in 1905, in 2007 for $1.4 Million.
The tour is packed full of ways to see the home. Either through cooking events, garden tours, wealth enhancement sessions, or wine & dines, there are many weekly events from May 16th to June 15th to enjoy a unique Twin Cities home tour. When I go to view the home, I will take a new exterior photo of the home so you can see the major renovation changes to this historic home.
This weeks Historic Home is 265 Summit Avenue in Saint Paul, Minnesota.
Built in 1885 for $10,000, the home was designed by C.W. Mould for John Robertson. Designed as a simple Queen Anne Victorian, it has a brick exterior and limestone foundation. You cannot see it from my photo, but there is a tower on the right side of the home. The top of the tower is closed in, but at one time was an open balcony with spectacular views of Summit Avenue and the surrounding homes.
With about 5500 square feet, the home has three stories, and if you know anything about the third stories of these historic homes, then you know they have amazing ceiling heights. The home has only had about five owners during its long life, and the last owners have been stewards for over 40 years. There are original Tiffany light fixtures in the home, as well as the original woodwork and trim. The best room in the home is probably the oval dining room with curved built in buffets. Take a look at the "Fire, Wind, Water" stain glassed windows located at the grand staircase.
I had to opportunity to view the home for a client a few months ago when the home was listed for sale. It is a very beautiful home, in need of many updates and remodeling. I am sure the new owners will have a wonderful time restoring the home to its former splendor. The home had been on the market for over 500 days, with numerous price reductions. It eventually sold December 2007 for $800,000.
Minneapolis Real Estate specialist for Luxury Estates, Waterfront Properties, and Historic Homes in the Twin Cities and surrounding areas. Visit my blog www.MinneapolisLuxuryRealEstateBlog.com
Jennifer is a licensed real estate agent in the states of Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Florida. She specializes in Minneapolis and Saint Paul Luxury real estate, Lake Minnetonka Estates, Minnesota Waterfront on Lake Minnetonka, Prior Lake, White Bear Lake, Lake of the Isles, Lake Calhoun, and Historic Homes of St. Paul and Minneapolis. She is proud to be a member of the Institute for Luxury Home Marketing, bringing her knowledge and expertise of the upper tier market to clients.
At the same time, Jennifer is no stranger to helping sellers and buyers fulfill their real estate needs for homes that fall into different categories and works with all price points. From multi-unit buildings to single family homes, Jennifer has sold almost every form of residential real estate there is. One special benefit she brings to clients is the ability to run a completely paperless business. Taking advantage of technology and using it to streamline transactions is an important trait that differentiates her from others in the real estate field. It takes more than just a website to help clients achieve their goals. Jennifer uses blogs, professional networking, MySpace, education, and advertising as part of her overall business plan to connect buyers and sellers.
Jennifer firmly believes that continually educating herself is the key to her personal success as a Real Estate Agent and the main reason her clients are so satisified with her during and after the sale of their home. While most agents are only taking the bare minimum classes mandatory to keep their license up-to-date, Jennifer is seeking out classes that dig deeper into various aspects of real estate. When education classes will not come to the state, she travels to them!
My Mission Statement
"While holding myself to the highest professional and ethical standards, I pledge to take my clients real estate success to new heights by helping them make prudent real estate decisions, and in the process, prove worthy of their trust and friendship so that I may become a long term friend and advisor."
My Minneapolis and St. Paul Real Estate Website
If you are looking to move to the Minneapolis and Saint Paul area, check out my website Fine Homes of Minneapolis . I am constantly adding information about St Paul and the Twin Cities, as well as places to explore, community information, sports and recreation, selling Minneapolis Real Estate, buying, and more! Don't forget to request a FREE Minneapolis Relocation Package!
Places to Explore Twin Cities Sports and Recreation Minnesota Fun Facts Minneapolis Weather
Local Communities Buyer Services Seller Services
Search for Properties in the Twin Cities
Blogs
Minneapolis Luxury Real Estate Blog
Education
Chemistry, B.A. Indiana University
Jennifer currently holds the following real estate Designations and Certifications:
Certified Residential Specialists comprise of the top industry professionals in the country. Only 4% of all Realtors in the nation have the production and education to earn the CRS designation. In Minnesota, only 3% hold the prestigious title and Jennifer is one of them. Home sellers and buyers can rest assured that CRS Designees subscribe to strict Realtor Code of Ethics, have access to the latest technology, and are specialists in helping clients maximize profits and minimize costs when buying or selling a home. Make sure your agent is a Certified Residential Specialist.
Knowledgeable professionals specially trained to provide high quality service to buyers and sellers of luxury homes and estates. The premier authority in training and certification for real estate agents working in the upper-tier residential market. Jennifer is one of only six agents in Minnesota that are members of the Institute. If you are looking for Minneapolis Luxury Real Estate, choose a member of the Institute for Luxury Home Marketing,
The Resort and Second Home Property Specialist is a real estate practitioner who facilitates the buying and selling of properties for investment, development, retirement, or second homes in a resort, recreational and/or vacation destination. Jennifer is a Charter Member and one of only four currently in the state of Minnesota. Second homes are a specialty of Jennifer's, as she sells many waterfront properties along the Gulf Coast and on Minnesota's numerous Lakes. If you are looking for Minneapolis Real Estate as a second home, choose a Realtor with the RSPS designation.
The mark of a real estate professional who has made the commitment to provide a high level of professional services by securing a strong educational foundation. REALTORS® with the GRI designation are highly trained in many areas of real estate to better serve and protect their clients. Only a small percent of agents hold the designation. If you are looking for Minneapolis Real Estate, choose an agent with the GRI designation.
The Accredited Buyer Representative designation is the benchmark of excellence in buyer representation. This coveted designation is awarded to real estate practitioners who meet the specified educational and practical experience criteria. If you are looking for Minneapolis Real Estate, pick an agent with the ABR designation to represent you.
Why choose an ePRO? All REALTOR e-PRO® Internet Professionals are REALTORS® who completed a rigorous certification program endorsed by the prestigious NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®. Real estate agents who have earned REALTOR e-PRO® Certification are Internet Professionals who have completed extensive training using the Web and means the real estate professional is prepared to employ the latest techniques and services for your benefit, just like you've grown to expect from a professional. Don't sell or buy Minneapolis Real Estate without your e-PRO certified agent.
** I am also in the process of earing the Certified International Property Specialist (CIPS) designation, which will further my knowledge on better ways to serve my clients internationally and abroad. Approximately less than 1% hold the CIPS.**
I chose to work with Jennifer because of all the Realtors who responded to my general internet inquiry concerning the sale of my home, Jennifer was the only one who responded quickly, thoroughly, honestly, and without reservation. She handled my special circumstances very professionally and made sure it did not hinder the sale. My home sold quickly and for top dollar due to her negotiation skills. Thank you so much! ~ Terrie Howard
The first day we met Jennifer it was raining cats & dogs.She stuck with us and showed us plenty of homes without batting an eye. Our experience with her was great! She is a "Real" person, caring more about us then getting paid, and showed concern and respect for us as new home buyers. Jennifer was a God-send and we are very grateful for everything she is as a person and everything she did for us as our Realtor. ~ Belinda Veroneau
I work with Jennifer's husband so through his praise I decided to sell my home through her. It was the best decision I made! I received more money and a faster closing than I expected due to her skill as a professional. She was even in her third trimester of pregancy and she didn't miss a beat! I move alot in the military and I can only hope to find another agent like Jennifer at my next duty station. ~ Randy Winge
We had a great experience selling our house. We sold it faster then expected and for the amount we wanted. You were there to answer all our questions and made the transaction go smoothly. We're loving our new condo which you also helped us find. Thank you! ~ The Murphys
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