In the 1950s, when Edward Coffey and his wife, Ruth, missed on out a house in Highland Park, they chose the last vacant lot available in neighboring Morningside.
The house that arose on that lot — then being used as a victory garden — became 1646 Morningside Ave., a three-bedroom, 11⁄2-bath house that fans of mid-century modern design will love because not a single thing has been changed since it was built. Kitchens and baths have their original pastel-colored tiles and even the Formica-topped kitchen table has its robin’s egg blue-and-yellow banquette.
The rare home is on the market for $179,900 (MLS No. 1036921) with Maureen States of Neighborhood Realty Services (412-241-4700, Ext. 11). There will be an open house from 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday.
“I don’t know how my parents tracked down the owner of the garden,” said Mace Coffey, who is handling the sale for his father, now 88 years old. “But my parents loved Morningside because it was flat and a great street.”
He said that they paid cash to have the home built, using every dime they had. “Things didn’t cost what they do now, but they had makeshift drapes to cover the windows in the beginning.”
The red-brick home sits a bit farther back from the sidewalk than neighboring homes, giving it a larger front yard. A small portico features white iron fretwork and railing.
A small foyer divides the home into two equal spaces. To the left, the 12- by-24-foot living room has pale blue walls and a bank of four original casement windows in the rear. Custom-made furniture once filled the room.
Off to the right, a dining room was used as a den. The 12- by-12-foot space has the original brass light fixture on a pendulum pull.
The kitchen beyond is the same size. Pale yellow walls are offset by teal Formica counter tops and robin’s egg blue cabinets. A lazy susan and four-burner petite oven look right at home next to the colorful banquette that features a yellow button-back vinyl-covered bench. The seating stays with the home.
“My parents had four kids in seven years. My three sisters and I all had a blast in that house,” Mr. Coffey said.
A small hallway provides access between the living room and the kitchen. A period-perfect powder room features a pink coral tile with a dark brown feature stripe. The sink (on real chrome legs) and commode are mint green. The wallpaper features bottles and glasses in coordinating colors. It is all in good condition.
A large covered porch is off the kitchen in the back. It was reworked soon after the family moved in.
“My dad told me that he didn’t like a car being in the house so he built a garage out from the original one-car integral garage and turned the original garage a recreation room.”
Above the new garage a half wall was built to make it a large outdoor space. Mr. Coffey thinks the original builder did the addition because the brick work is identical.
He said the kids enjoyed that patio and it made it easy for his mom to keep track of them.
“As my parents got older, they wanted somewhere to be out of the sun so in the mid-80s they built the solid roof and extended the wall higher for more privacy. The roof is very solid with beefy wood beams. The setting offers a nice view of the rooftops on the streets below and you can see the Parkview Highrise in Highland Park.
“You can sit on the porch and hear the animals at the zoo at feeding time,” Mr. Coffey said.
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The rec room downstairs measures 15 by 11 feet and has a linoleum floor and white walls. A small powder room is at the far end. A utility area has space for the laundry and the basement opens up to a simple, level back yard.
Upstairs, three bedrooms measure 17 by 12 feet, 16 by 12 feet and 13 by 11 feet. They are all painted white and have simple closets and the original windows.
“My dad believes in fixing things and not replacing. Very little new or added except the porch that was described,” Mr. Coffey said.
The mechanical systems of the of the home include forced heat and central air conditioning. The roof is the original slate tiles. All of the windows are the original casements.
The floors are not hardwood underneath the carpeting but everything in the home has been well maintained and is operable.
Morningside is a well-known walking community and there’s a playground at Natoli Field where organized sports fill the schedule. The entrance of Morningside on the west end abuts the Pittsburgh Zoo.
The Heth’s Run Project has already replaced the dilapidated bridge that runs along Butler Street. Further plans includes green space with soccer fields, and a connection of the bike trails to the west shore of the Allegheny river.
The property’s county assessed value is $67,600 (www2.county.allegheny.pa.usRealEstate Search.aspx).
Over the past three years, four properties have sold on the 1600 block of Morningside Avenue ranging in price from $121,000 in June 2013 to $170,000 in October 2014. (www.realstats.net).
Rosa Colucci: 412-263-1661 or rcolucci@post-gazette.com. Twitter: PGRosa_Colucci.
First Published: March 7, 2015, 5:00 a.m.
