Wallets at the ready for €295,000 Wallaces Avenue home in Cork

Massive facelift work has made this Wallace’s Avenue home a winner and a walk-in job, writes Tommy Barker.

JUST now coming up on its 100th birthday is No 3 Wallaces Avenue — but, you’d never, ever, guess its age from inside. Effectively, it’s been rebuilt within, from the ground up.

The owners of this c 1920-built red-brick bought it as pretty much a wreck, gutted and reinstated it back around 2007, tackling just about everything, over all of its three levels.

At one stage, it was virtually open from floor to roof, and the old rear extension was also torn down and replaced, and the walls have been underpinned for future proofing and stability.

Now, under its new roof it has new floors, new stairs, an en suite attic level master bedroom with dressing area, all new plumbing and heating, insulation, wood-grain effect double glazing, a Jacuzzi bath in the large bathroom off the stair return (plus separate large shower), and they also got a guest WC under the stairs off the newly tiled entrance hall.

They also delivered a very useful separate large, block-built shed to the back and then, to round it all off, they added on a front porch.

Now, with two young children having since arrived after their first major upgrade, they are seeking to trade up, prepared to take on another renovation challenge if necessary, while a traditional garden for playing and maybe pets is on their wishlist: what they are set to leave behind at No 3 is going to suit a cohort from traders down, to starters out.

The location is at the foot of Wallaces Avenue, which links the city end of the Ballinlough Road to the Boreenmanna Road, and is a short and easy walk to the city centre, on the flat, too, while there’s a number of primary schools and a public park with tennis club within a few minutes’ walk.

Also easily reached via Victoria Avenue across the junction are the Blackrock Road, and the city quays, home to shiny new office blocks, rising up by the new time, with hundreds of jobs in their train.

It was the sheer convenience of the setting that encourged the young couple to buy No 3 Wallaces Avenue 12 years ago, and they’ve done right by it: as well as being a walk to daily services and amenities, it’s physically a walk-in job, immaculate from top to bottom, and done with a higher than usual materials specification along the way.

Already impressed is auctioneer Jeremy Murphy, who says “there’s something a bit special about No 3, it’s a credit to its owner and will be a pleasure to show.”

He guides the very pleasant looking red brick facaded home of just over 1,300 sq ft at €295,000, and says the quality theme runs throughout, with walnut kitchen units (done by Peacock Fitted Furniture, who also did all the built-ins), laquered cherrywood internal doors, chrome sockets and switches, and there’s CAT 5 cabling on all three levels.

At ground there’s a front reception room with built-in seat in the bay window, the floor’s dark hardwood, and there’s a wall mounted feature electric fire, while the separate, rear family room has a wall-mounted gas insert fire, solid oak floor and an arch linking to the tiled and bright kitchen/breakfast space, with overhead Veluxes in a high ceilinged section.

Both of these linked back rooms have recessed lighting, and double doors then lead to the enclosed rear east facing courtyard, with its block-built storage shed, and it’s plumbed for utility/laundry services, has a tank for the pressurised water system as well as storage.

The pine stairs leads next to the top floor’s carpeted and hushed master bedroom, which is double aspect, with a wide dormer window to the front and city views along the Boreenmanna Road; there’s also an en suite with shower, and then the room’s back section has his ‘n’ hers robes/dressing area, and a sort of desk/make up bench under an east facing tilt and turn window.

After all the work, maintenance levels will be low, there’s a screened front garden behind a gate and hedge, and parking (for those that need it) is on-street, with residents’ permit, and there’s a choice of bus routes as well.

VERDICT:

Everything done, in an accessible and well-served setting.

Boreenmanna Road, Cork city

Price: €295,000

Size: 122 sq m (1,305 sq ft)

Bedrooms: 3

Bathrooms: 3

BER: C3