T.o Kids like me who grew up in the neighborhood, it’s only known as “King’s Estate”. We never thought much about the big house at the end of the street in Highland Park. (In fact, we never knew the street had a real name.) For us the main attraction was tobogganing on this fantastic bowl of a hill.
At the first snow we got dressed and dragged our equipment there. Small children with parents would cross the side closest to North Negley Avenue, a long, leisurely slope where speed doesn’t matter. As your skills improved, you went to the cobblestone side of the street. Bars of ivory soap popped out of pockets perfectly for the sled blades to grow, and the races to the bottom of the hollow were decided by a lookout who determined the winner by whoever passed under a low-hanging branch first – the de facto finish line .
Near the manor, the steepest part of the hill has a single castle watchtower. At that time we climbed to the second level and stared out of the rifle pit. We wondered if a “real” soldier had ever guarded the place. The steepest side is also where daredevil kids would pack the snow for a double jump. Only the bravest of hearts would start from above and blow up.
Growing up I never thought that I would spend a lot of my life writing about the houses, people and places that make this city great. What a privilege it is.
Now I can introduce you to these stories on the pages of Pittsburgh Magazine. Four times a year we look at the houses here and see what is being sold, what is available and what is coming soon. Weekly you can test Nest online as we have some hot features to show you.
By the way, the house? It’s called Baywood. It was built in 1880 for Alexander King, the grandfather of Richard King Mellon. The actual address is 5501 Elgin St. And it’s for sale.
Dr. Frank Brown and his wife Maura bought the Second Empire style mansion with 22 rooms from the city 26 years ago. It was in terrible shape. Among the atrocities were numerous rooms, wall coverings, and mahogany woodwork that were painted in layers of black and then painted white again. The Browns made it their business to restore this great piece of Pittsburgh history.
Along with some of the region’s greatest artisans, they have used personal welding equipment for years to refurbish the house. Walls have been repainted and rebuilt. Some rooms now have Bradbury & Bradbury wallpaper on the walls and ceilings, and even the plumbing has been restored with period pieces, including a chest shower in one of the bathrooms. It is a true historical treasure with museum quality works.
This is on top of all new cables, mechanical systems, plaster of paris repairs, and exterior restorations that have removed dozens of layers of white paint and rebuilt a wraparound sun porch. It prides itself on being one of the most beautiful homes in the world and being designated a landmark by the Pittsburgh History & Landmarks Foundation.
Most of the house’s antique furniture is included in the sale. Known pieces include a bed attributed to Andrew Carnegie, an 1875 Brunswick Monarch pool table, and a stunning office suite with carved griffin legs and chairs.
The Baywood mansion, Alexander King Estate
Listed: $ 3.48M (MLS # 1434170) 8 BR; 4.5 BA. 9,286 sq. Ft .; Piatt Sotheby’s International Realty, Mark Jennings, Realtor; 412 / 471-4899 or mjennings@piattsir.com. | baywoodmansion.com
For sale
Last year was a banner for former Steelers defender Ryan Shazier. He officially retired from the team and started the Ryan Shazier Fund for spinal cord rehabilitation. In December, Ohio State University sports director Gene Smith announced that Shazier graduated from the university with a minor in psychology with a minor in business management. Then Shazier spent the holiday season putting people in a good mood shopping for families affected by spinal cord injuries.
He also sells his family home in Fox Chapel. Howard Hanna Realtor Trudy Ward points out that the seven bedroom home has many high-end amenities. This includes a kitchen with appliances from Sub-Zero, Miele and Dacor as well as an unconscious walk-in pantry, one of the most sought-after facilities in private households. Set on over 9 acres, there is an outdoor kitchen, fireplace, swimming pool and pool house. The owner’s suite has its own balcony, living room and a luxurious bathroom with underfloor heating. And yes, there is a wine tasting cellar. So bring your valuable collection with you. it will fit with space.
2 Edgemoor Lane, Fox Chapel; 7BR, 7.5 BA, 9,000 m²; Listed: $ 2.649 million (MLS # 1445655). Trudy Ward / Michelle Ward Ley, property of Howard Hanna, 412 / 849-7567, howardhanna.com.
Sold
Modern wild renovation
Former Steelers player Ian Wild put his renovated home up for sale in September. The mountain. The Washington home is located in Grandview Park and offers 1,567 square feet of living space with expansive views of downtown and Point State Park. The renovation turned the centuries-old cliff-top house into a modern oasis with two observation decks (one on the roof) and an industrial siding that can withstand the elements. Inside, large picture windows give way to a modern, industrial feel that is clean and ornate. The black and white encaustic floor tile gives a nice touch. Wild is from Pittsburgh and is a graduate of Baldwin High School. He was the general contractor of the house, a trade he learned from his father, Jim Wild, who owned JJ Wild Construction Co.
27 Roanoke St., Mt. Washington; listed: 595,000 USD, sold 542,500 USD (zillow.com)
City magic
A lovely covered porch, sidewalks, and mature trees made this renovated picture book stone a short walk from Walnut Street a winner. The house in Shadyside, built in 1900, originally features inlaid wood floors, arched windows, doors and lots of space. The renovation was respectfully completed and the new kitchen features custom cabinetry, open shelving, and subway tiles. The bathrooms are bright and light and have a new update. The lower level has a bar kitchen, billiards area, custom paneling and an original fireplace. The house was on the market for a year before Michele Van Balen of Piatt Sotheby’s International Realty took over the listing. The pandemic put a brake on much real estate work for several months, and she was able to pick it up when the juggernaut started breaking free. The listing closed at $ 899,000 in late December. “It’s a great house. I was delighted to list it and have success with it, ”says Van Balen.
609 Amberson Ave., Shadyside. 4BR, 5BA, 2.218 sq. Ft .; listed $ 960,000, sold $ 899,900 (zillow.com); Michele Van Balen, Piatt Sotheby’s International Realty, 412 / 266-8327, piattsir.com
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