Photos

Yesterday’s Charm, Today’s Convenience

Everyone knows East Avenue. The boulevard of refined mansions is one of the most breathtaking in Rochester, where many of our City Fathers built their mansions. But how many of us venture off of East Avenue onto the side streets? A short, dead end street with a tree lined mall down the middle, Sibley Place is off of East Avenue between Meigs and Alexander. Close to downtown and all of its cultural offerings, but tucked in and cozy, with an old neighborhood feeling.

18 Sibley Place welcomes you with a cozy front porch and meticulously landscaped yard. The entry vestibule takes you back to 1904, the year that the home was built, with it tiled floor and leaded glass door leading into an elegant entryway with the wooden staircase to the second floor and a stunning stained glass window on display. The living room is substantial with hardwood floors and wonderful original windows. A section of the living room has been raised on a platform that could be dismantle and removed to further open the space. The ceilings feature rough hewn beams and a there is a stucco finish on the walls. An elegant brick and wood fireplace is the focal point of the room.

Pocket doors provide access to the dining room which has all of the same finishes as the living room. At the far end of the room is a built in wooden cabinet with leaded glass doors through which the kitchen is able to be seen, providing both storage and visibility. The kitchen is bathed in natural light with one full wall of windows. There is a granite island, dark cabinets and a view of the back yard – complete with a multi-level deck for entertaining. Off of the kitchen is a large home office with a built-in work station and a separate laundry room. Downstairs is a massive finished basement with a full office and a half bath.

Up the magnificent staircase is a picturesque landing that overlooks the entryway. On the second floor there are four bedrooms; two are smaller, one with carpeting and one with hardwood floors and both have ample closet space. Of the two larger rooms one has hardwood floors and a wood and tiled fireplace while the other is carpeted and boasts a built in bookcase and window seat. There is a shared full bathroom between two of the bedrooms as well as an additional full bathroom off of the landing.

The third floor of this home is a veritable museum space with original features throughout, such as gas lighting fixtures, wallpaper, windows, doors and flooring. This floor is finished and insulated, featuring at least two possible bedrooms, a possible living room and a former bathroom that is still plumbed and awaiting new fixtures.

This 3,600 square foot home (a figure that does not include the basement or the third floor) has a 0.15 acre lot, taxes of approximately $8,559 and is offered at $$279,900 through Jayne Mallwitz, Nothnagle. Contact Jayne at 298-0361 or come by the open house on Sunday, July 13^th from 1-3 p.m.

Rebecca Rowe is the Preservation Program Coordinator and Home Room Coordinator for The Landmark Society.