Baveno fine example of Victorian residences close to city centre

A HOUSE up the way made about €1.1 million six months ago, and this one has a €900,000 price guide. Reason? the interior of this later arrival needs a bit of catching up with its posher neighbours.

Baveno is a five-bedroomed semi-detached Victorian home on Cork’s Victoria Road, on the market with Jarlath Boyd of Hamilton Osborne King and destined to be bought by a family looking for sheer proximity to city centre convenience.

City Hall is perhaps half a mile haul away, while the Marina is a wonderful walking amenity the same distance in the opposite direction, and all around the vibe continues about docklands renewal and new mixed use developments in this urban/suburban hinterland.

But, the rows of semis on Victoria Road got in first, when the push was still out towards Blackrock village and the spread of low-rise suburbia.

“All around Cork city, in different pockets, you can see the pattern of 19th century and Edwardian tall semis, typically of five bedrooms, and they are right back in fashion again for families looking for convenience,” notes Mr Boyd.

A number of these Victoria Road homes were built by the one builder, who named them after Italian lakes and villages near where he had honeymooned, and the names are still proudly displayed, carved into thick limestone pillars.

Nearby Tirano, in super-smart renovated and extended order, was sold just prior to Christmas for about €1.1 million and now neighbouring Baveno is a perhaps appropriately lower-priced offering.

It has about 2,500 sq ft of space, gardens and off-street parking, enough for a couple of cars in a front cut-away, while the rear garden is more compact, south facing and with a raised section.

Internally, there are two interlinked ground floor reception rooms, both with chimney places, one in stone, a 12’ by 19’ kitchen with brick arch opening to a window, but this room is likely to be further upgraded, and off to the side, there’s an annexe room optimistically described as a sun room.

The first floor and landing open out to two bedrooms, plus a bathroom with Jacuzzi bath, and the top floor has three bedrooms. Several bedrooms have fireplace/opes.

Bidding is expected to pick up over the summer months.