429 S 45th St, Philadelphia, PA 19104

Victorian details galore will greet you at this almost-3000 s.f. semi-detached home in the Spruce Hill section of West Philly’s University City – plus, it’s in the catchment area for the high-performing Penn Alexander K-8 public school.* The home’s well-maintained exterior includes original columns and railings on the open porch, fish scale shingles on the side bays, and a 4-color paint scheme – there’s no ugly modern plastic siding anywhere. The c.1902 interior décor includes a living room mantle and a bay with a window seat and leaded glass; interior shutters on the dining room bay, unpainted woodwork, oak flooring and a handsome staircase to upper levels. The custom kitchen is open to the really big dining room, making a great entertaining space. A half bath and rear storage room complete the 1st floor, and outside, there’s a front garden and a fenced private rear yard edged with garden beds. Upstairs, the 2nd floor front room could be a glamorous large bedroom but it works best as it was originally designed: as a family room, featuring double doors with leaded glass, a bay of windows to bring in the sunshine, and a decorative fireplace. Two other bedrooms on this floor are interconnected; the main bedroom includes a deep and glorious 3-door armoire, and the bath is a mixture of old and new. The 3rd floor has three more bedrooms, another bath and an in-law kitchen which a future owner may want to turn into a laundry room if they aren’t sharing the house with relatives. (Third floor roommates' lease ends 6/30/2025 and a termination notice has been signed by all parties.) The 45th St. location between Osage & Larchwood Avenues is just 1.5 blocks from Baltimore Avenue, West Philly’s main street where you’ll find an eclectic mix of small restaurants, bars & shops, plus two large parks. Also on Baltimore, you can catch the #34 trolley (recently renamed T-2) for a 15-minute ride to the heart of center city Philadelphia, with stops at UPenn, Drexel U and the 30th St. Station transportation hub along the way. *Catchment area location doesn’t guarantee admission.