Is there a contractor who builds "historic" homes? (Pittsburgh: sale, apartment)

[Goodjules]

Originally Posted by NYCTelevisionWriter

I've been trying to do just that, but finding the type of home I want in the neighborhoods I want tailored to what I need is about as easy as herding cats.

Much simpler to just build it the way I want. But the way I want is 1915.

Hence the post.

I guess it makes sense to build new if you haven't been able to find what you want in your chosen area. If you were willing to expand your search area, I'm sure you could find a great old house with period details intact. The interior of my home in Crafton is quite similar to the pictures you posted, but the exterior is more of a four square style. I've forgotten how to post photos directly so I'm including a link to a photo album of my home so you can see what I'm talking about. The paint colors are from previous owners. I plan to repaint but I've run out of steam since the remodel. I want a break from projects for awhile. I'll probably get to it in the spring when the temperature is better for opening the windows! https://www.flickr.com/photos/205501...7642367658994/

Link to Craftsmen's Guild for people with old school skills: Craftmen's Guild of PittsburghCraftsmen's Guild 0f Pittsburgh

[Goodjules]

Check out this place in Regent Square. I'd buy it just for the floors! Property Photos

[AnneWest]

Originally Posted by Goodjules

Check out this place in Regent Square. I'd buy it just for the floors! Property Photos

...and the fireplaces...and the windows...

[NYCTelevisionWriter]

Yes, this is a jaw-dropping home, but there are several major drawbacks, including:

-- location
-- lot size
-- lack of garage

[theta_sigma]

Originally Posted by NYCTelevisionWriter

Yes, this is a jaw-dropping home, but there are several major drawbacks, including:

-- location
-- lot size
-- lack of garage

The listing says it has a 2 car garage.

[sealie]

If I don't miss my guess that's a Wilkinsburg property and anyway, it's not what he wants. But then neither were the faux-lonial properties. It'll be interesting to see what it finally sells at, since the property tax on this house, assessed at $282k, is pushing $15k. But none of this, nor the suggestion to buy an older house, addresses the OP's question. I guess the answer is that it just isn't done, not in this market. Even in markets with a "Craftsman" home plan, they just seem to put in the stone pillars on the front to look like a fancy version of a Sears bungalow, but the interiors are still - well, you're not going to see parquet floors. None of the new build examples are anywhere near what he wants.

[NYCTelevisionWriter]

Originally Posted by theta_sigma

The listing says it has a 2 car garage.

Correct.

That is insufficient.

[eschaton]

Why don't you buy a big historic house like that then, and also buy out a house next door and knock it down? You'd get a much bigger lot that way, with plenty of room for the 3-4 car garage you apparently desire.

[NYCTelevisionWriter]

Originally Posted by sealie

If I don't miss my guess that's a Wilkinsburg property and anyway, it's not what he wants. But then neither were the faux-lonial properties. It'll be interesting to see what it finally sells at, since the property tax on this house, assessed at $282k, is pushing $15k. But none of this, nor the suggestion to buy an older house, addresses the OP's question. I guess the answer is that it just isn't done, not in this market. Even in markets with a "Craftsman" home plan, they just seem to put in the stone pillars on the front to look like a fancy version of a Sears bungalow, but the interiors are still - well, you're not going to see parquet floors. None of the new build examples are anywhere near what he wants.

Thanks. I couldn't have said it better (without sounding snobbish).

And at the risk of sounding snobbish, I've been quite disappointed with what passes for "high end" finishes these days. A "Sosso" house (apparently he's one of the top builders in Pittsburgh these days) just completed in a plan in Franklin Park listed for more than a million dollars (!!!!) smallish with an overblown master suite and three small bedrooms (and not even a living room, just one of those dreadful "great rooms" that have kitchen appliances clustered on one end) had oversized, boxy rooms trimmed out with the same 3-inch baseboard throughout and stock balustrades they use in much lower-end Maronda homes (and I'm not knocking Maronda homes, I'm only making a market-rate comparison here).

Yes, I've been doing my homework, as you can see.

For a MILLION DOLLARS in the Pittsburgh area, I was expecting at least some architectural detail and craftsmanship, not just stock woodwork and cabinetry slapped up inside of a giant empty box (on a crappy hillside lot, no less, that aside from the footprint of the house and driveway was otherwise completely unuseable).

This is why I'm putting feelers out for anyone who might know of any contractors -- even the small guys who typically don't compete with these big guys -- who would be interested in building a house to historic specs.

[NYCTelevisionWriter]

Originally Posted by eschaton

Why don't you buy a big historic house like that then, and also buy out a house next door and knock it down? You'd get a much bigger lot that way, with plenty of room for the 3-4 car garage you apparently desire.

In most municipalities, this is a very costly, time consuming, and in many cases legally impossible option.

Also, given how much money I'm planning on sinking into this project, I need the house to be in a much higher-end neighborhood than Wilkinsburg in order for it to be cost-effective enough to maintain its (increased) value.