House of the week: Blackrock, Cork €320,000
A Cork suburban dormer home featured in these pages as a ‘house of the week’ just three weeks ago is sale agreed after 42 viewings and strong bids; so, what are the chances for another Blackrock address home, called Corella?
Corella comes to market with agent, Timothy Sullivan, in tandem with evidence of disappointed underbidders in Cork City’s more accessible suburbs. Latest example is the attractive Old Blackrock Road dormer, Applewood, which came to market a month ago via auctioneer Kevin Barry, for €380,000.
Applewood is now selling for €430,000, proof of shortage of stock fuelling bidding and prices.
Further out the road, Blackrock Village is right on the doorstep of the warm, Edwardian-era family home, Corella — with its name either taken from a species of bird, or a town in northern Spain.
It last sold back in the early 2000s, and the owners have made changes and improvements. Now, though, a move out of town and old village suburbia beckons, and it’s likely there’ll be very strong viewings at Corella.
Since the early 2000s, Blackrock Village has found its mojo: it’s home to weekend markets and week-round cafes and delis for foodies, while the walks along the Marina, Castle Road and promenades, jogs, and cycles around the harbour have never been busier. Plus, the landmark Blackrock Castle, with its observatory and separate cafe, is back as a municipal treasure.
On the edge of all this is this early-1900s-built terraced house, distinguished by its deep, double-height front window bay and the tradition-respecting, new timber, double-glazed sash windows.
Corella’s pretty much in walk-in order for any new occupants — just a switch of furniture and art and wall-stuff, and buyers can call it home quite readily.
It’s priced at €320,000, via Mr Sullivan, and that’s not likely to dampen any viewing interest, or bids.
Mr Sullivan says it’s deceptively large, and it’s true: it feels wider than it looks from the outside, the stairs seems broader than the norm, and the living rooms, front and back, interconnect via glazed double doors, with retained fireplace in the larger, front, bay-windowed living room.
Ceilings are high, original features are nicely kept, and it’s all been made more comfortable and warmer: there’s even a super clothes-drying hotpress, with radiator, on the half-landing.
Corella’s a 1,500 sq ft, four-bed home, with rear extension, which is home to a good kitchen/dining room, downstairs, and both this family-friendly mealtime room and the guest bedroom, above, have views out and east to the harbour at Blackrock pier.
There’s access to rear decking from slender French doors in the back reception/dining room, as well as from the wider doors off the casual dining section, and a space from which to sit-out and watch boats and rowers pass by.
The back faces north, and at the garden’s end is a sweet sun-spot and lofty children’s playhouse, whilst under the main residence is a 20’ by 10’ half-basement.
Corella’s first floor has three bedrooms, including a large (18’ by 12’, thanks to its window bay) master bedroom, and the main bathroom’s well-tiled and has a power shower.
A domed window above the stairs landing ensures plenty of light within, too.
With on-street parking, and near bus stops, Corella’s just off the road leading into Blackrock Village, set back from it a tad by a small, graveled garden for privacy, and its stained-glass front door hints at good things beyond.
Open the door, step in, and you won’t be disappointed.
It’s going to fly.
