Cabo de Vela, a four-bed semi, is on the market for 560,000.

THE passing of time — a half-century or so — has done no disservice to Cabo de Vela, a Douglas semi with a lot in its favour.

Its part-brick front facade has mellowed beautifully, there’s a nice bit of limestone in the arch over the entrance door, and to the back, the south-facing gardens and settled views are nicely bedded down. All the sort of thing you just can’t get with a new buy.

And you won’t get a location like it too easily either, right on the main Douglas Road in Cork city. There’s even additional parking behind the property, with pedestrian access from a cul-de-sac by the Cross Douglas Road.

Regardless of the parking options, using the car isn’t strictly necessary if you buy here. The location is within an easy walk of the city centre and this section of the Douglas Road is going to pick up even further with Fleming’s plan to build an up-market scheme on the Nemo Rangers GAA pitches. Existing building going on just 100 yards away on the Douglas side — where businessman Con Barry Murphy is developing a very large over-basement residence — will also heighten this area’s profile. Murphy levelled the earlier dwelling on the site, called Overton, and he has planning for another detached one-off house on a portion of the site Recently he bought an adjoining property, Ballincurrig Cottage, which he has sought permission to knock and replace with yet another multi-million euro new build.

Meanwhile, Dennis Guerin of Frank V Murphy and Co, is selling the four-bedroomed, semi-detached Cabo De Vela at 560,000.

It is in good overall condition, with some original features such as terrazzo flooring in the hall, wood-framed windows in the front and newer teak sashes to the side and rear.

The house has had modernising touches and is a convenient, low maintenance option with a graveled front garden and a small lawn to the back, with a gate to the overflow parking behind.

There are reception rooms fore and aft, with wooden floors. The living room has a bay window and fireplace while the dining room is to the back with garden access. There’s a modernised kitchen with cherry units and granite tops.

Overhead, two of the bedrooms are doubles, one has a fireplace and the other two are singles. The bathroom has a power shower. And for those who might want even more plumbing, planning has been sought for a side and rear extension to add a utility, guest WC and new kitchen/breakfast room.