Prettily renovated first time buyer townhouse goes live at St Luke's

€375,000 Mount Vernon home has cityside convenience in a nice neighbourhood

Tasty interior at No 12 Mount Vernon Terrace, St Luke's Cross

St Luke's Cross, Cork city
€375,000
Size	88 sq m (950 sq ft)
Bedrooms	3
Bathrooms	1
BER	C2

TRANSFORMING a home is quite an art, the choice between a chisel and a wrecking ball. The trick is to know which to go for: wholesale change or gentle refinement. Owners who truly understand their canvas will know what to do.

At No 12 Mount Vernon Terrace, a tucked-away cul-de-sac high above St Lukes Cross, between Military Rd and Alexandra Rd, subtle touches turned a down-at-heel but solid property into a truly lovely home.

Eyes right for Collins Barracks in the background of No 12

Even if the removal of a downstairs internal wall did, in all likelihood, involve a sledgehammer, it was generally more a case of chipping away. In making slow and considered change, the property’s thoughtful owners gradually restored their home’s true character, creating a modern, comfortable townhouse in the process.

It’s the kind first-time buyers clamour for — all you need do is look over the back wall from Mount Vernon Terrace to adjoining Alexandra Villas where No 13 has been the subject of an intense bidding war. 

Nearby 13 Alexandra Villas is gone well above its asking price

Another delightfully re-worked townhouse, it’s gone from an asking price of €325,000 well into the €400,000s.

Expect similar interest in No 12 which shares many of the attributes of its near neighbour. They include, in no particular order, high quality renovations, rock solid cityside location and proximity to St Luke’s Cross, a proper little crossroads village that slots neatly into the urban planning concept of a 15-minute city.

Festive looking St Luke's Cross at Christmas time Picture: Larry Cummins

As ERA Downey McCarthy are the agents for both properties, they are ideally placed to predict just how busy viewings are likely to be at No 12 Mount Vernon Terrace.

“We will see lots of first time buyers, the same as Alexandra Villas. It will be people who want to live in St Luke’s because they like the atmosphere and who also want to be able to walk into Cork City centre,” says agent Angela Jordan.

“I expect to see people already renting locally who want to put down roots here,” she adds.

Stylish hall at No 12

Colette and Carlo, the couple that bought No 12 a decade ago, were drawn to St Luke’s because of its village feel and because it is “a 10-minute walk into town, which was perfect”, Colette says.

She liked the fact that it had a good grocery store and butcher shop, as well as a coffee shop and restaurant. Moreover it had a buzzing social scene thanks to the reimagining of a former church into a live music venue, not to mention much-loved Henchy’s pub, part of the social fabric of the crossroads for as long as its unique tollhouse (1880s). 

While location was the main factor for Colette and Carlo in their decision to settle at Mount Vernon Terrace, they loved No 12’s potential. Dark and dingy when they bought it and largely stripped of its character, they set about putting it to rights. They had a good base to work with as it was built in 1925 and has some attractive period features. A pretty bay window frames the living room and decorative ironwork runs along the garden wall.

Attractive ironwall on the garden wall 

After purchasing the end-of-terrace townhouse in 2015, the couple began the gradual overhaul.

First up, single-glaze aluminium windows were replaced with attractive double-glazed PVC sash, which tie in with the period look; in 2019, a new gas boiler was fitted; the flat roof on the kitchen was replaced in 2022 and internal walls insulated; the chimney was recapped and flashing repaired and new PVC facias and soffits were fitted. 

A new kitchen was installed in 2023.

New kitchen

Along the way, two pokey downstairs rooms were knocked into one, creating a far more functional, brighter, dual aspect living room, with bay window at one end and a large sash window at the other end, overlooking the rear yard.

Extended living room

Decor was upgraded throughout, from the bathroom on the return of the stairs, to the three overhead bedrooms, where ceilings are vaulted.

Outdoor space is limited — a small yard to the rear and a tiny garden space out front — which will suit the low maintenance brigade.

A home with genuine kerb appeal with a freshly painted, pretty facade, and in a well-established neighbourhood — albeit parking is on street — No 12 will have home hunters flocking to it.

“It’s real old Cork where the neighbours look out for one another,” Colette says.

Agent Ms Jordan is already in the process of contacting underbidders in the Alexandra Villas house sale to see if No 12 could be an option for them. It has more leg room than No 13 (88sq m v 74sq m) and a slightly higher energy rating (C2 v C3), thanks to insulation upgrades), and right now, it’s more affordable, as the guide price is €375,000.

VERDICT: Tastefully renovated, ready-to-go townhouse in great location. Expect bidding to get intense.