It’s the exceedingly rare house-in-distress which is treated to a truly historically-correct restoration. And it’s almost as uncommon to find a neglected house which receives a merely architecturally respectful renovation. Most dilapidated houses which get a new life end up looking like recognizably old houses which have been remodeled. And then there’s another category: Renovated houses which no longer bear any resemblance to their former appearance.
This one, a Second Empire style semi-detached house in Philadelphia, had definitely fallen on hard times. Though in need of lots of work, the stone walls and mansard roof gave stature not easily achieved in new construction; they were clearly architectural assets. Many neighboring houses were similarly styled – making the house an integral and contributing part of the street’s character. The following images, courtesy of Google Street View, show the house prior to, during, and after its transformative experience. Thanks to Chad for sharing this house with us!
2007: Though overgrown and dilapidated, the house still retained its historic character prior to remodeling.
2009: Two trees and the front porch have been removed.
2011: With the yard cleaned up, the potential of the house to be an architectural brake-slammer is much more apparent. Such potential!
2014: Words aren’t really necessary.
Wow, that’s just embarrasing as a final product, even if you didn’t know what it started as. Looks like the kind of architecture appropriate for a laundromat or warehouse.
Ugh… it was unique. I hoped for pretty, but this is an ugly punch to the stomach.
I will try to find a pretty one in the future, but the ugly ones far outnumber those which are attractive!
wish I hadn’t just eaten breakfast. there’s a real stomach churner. just goes to show that there are people with less taste than our fearless leader. you provide the truck and I’ll bring the bulldozer and give this poor thing a decent burial.
must be owned by the guy that demolished LA Ronda.
The guy that demolished La Ronda? That would be Joseph Kestenbaum along with his wife, Sharon. What a tragic waste that was. Maybe I should include a “food and beverage” warning on posts which may be disturbing to people of refined sensibilities! More about La Ronda:
http://hystericalpreservationist.blogspot.com/2009/09/la-ronda-story-of-selfishness.html
http://ilovebricks.blogspot.com/2011/11/philadelphia-horror-story.html (includes a photo of the Kestenbaum’s new house which they believed to be preferable to the work of Addison Mizner.)
https://myowntimemachine.com/2009/10/01/remembering-life-at-la-ronda/
Noooooooo! Such a disappointment!