**OPEN HOUSE SUNDAY 5/23 1-4 pm **Limited private showings 5/22 and 5/23, please contact us to schedule. Serious, pre-qualified buyers only. Buyers represented by an agent are welcome. Built in 1867, this beautiful gingerbread-trimmed cottage is located in Maplewood’s highly desirable “Golf Island” neighborhood – a tight-knit, fun-loving, picture-perfect enclave right next to Maplewood’s historic village. The house couldn’t be better located: just minutes on foot from the train station (express to NYC), library, Memorial Park, and all the charms of the village. The street itself is gorgeous, quiet, and sees little traffic – a perfect place for its many resident kids to bike and play. The 3 bed/1.5 bath historic home is built to last and has been lovingly maintained. It’s very comfortable year-round, with central air conditioning, full-house water filtration and many recent upgrades based on energy audit recommendations, including insulation and new storm windows throughout. The beautiful, original, wavy-glass sash windows have been retrofitted to make them draft-free. The thick field-stone foundation basement never gets wet, even during hurricanes. This is a relative rarity in Maplewood, and a feature that can’t be overstated! Downstairs you will find an inviting living room opening to the back patio and a sunny dining room with built-in hutch. The eat-in kitchen includes a Blue Star commercial-grade range, brand new KitchenAid dishwasher, large pantry, and access to the half bath. Upstairs are two large bedrooms with ample closet space and a smaller room perfect for a nursery or office. There’s a bonus room in the finished half of the basement – great for a guest room, office, or music/art studio. The unfinished portion of the basement provides plenty of space for laundry, storage, and/or a workshop. It includes a utility sink and separate entrance from the back, where there is an additional large storage bay. The garage is a story of its own. An original pre-war Sears Roebuck Kit reportedly won in a contest by the owners at that time. It now has its own electrical panel, electric baseboard heat, and insulated walls. Prior to 2021, zoning prohibited the conversion of Maplewood garages into accessory dwellings (ADUs), but that has now changed! This change offers so many possibilities for conversion – in-law suite, homeschool classroom, game room, workshop, art studio, etc. (Or, you could put your cars in it!) There are already additional storage bays off the back of the building so your yard-care equipment won’t be taking up fun space. Both the house and garage exteriors were painted in 2018, and the remainder of the 15-year guarantee from Rutgers Painting will transfer to you as the new owner. The property is a nature lover’s paradise with endless possibilities. As you walk back home from the train station or town, take a shortcut to the big front porch via a stone pathway surrounded by mature blooming trees and pollinator-friendly flowers. The fully fenced back yard is a rare and unique double lot filled with native, drought-tolerant and low-maintenance perennials and trees that feels like a secluded private park. We’re happy to provide notes on the plants to help you get to know your new landscape. The property has been managed sustainably, with zero pesticide or herbicide use. There are also five fenced-in organic raised bed gardens to grow your own vegetables. And even with all that , there’s still plenty of open space for kids and pets to play and to entertain guests. The large trees have recently been evaluated by an arborist as healthy. Enjoy starry nights out by the fire pit – even camp in your own backyard… every day feels like a vacation at this unique property!
This property is off market, which means it's not currently listed for sale or rent on Zillow. This may be different from what's available on other websites or public sources.
