A house in my neighborhood just went on the market. Unfortunately, at one point in time, someone decided to destroy the original character of the facade by adding some sort of rectangular box addition on what looks to have been a simple-yet-fashionable farmhouse-Victorian cottage home (notice historic roofline that can still be seen). There are a few houses like this on the West Side, and every time I pass by one I stop to think about what the place once looked like. Obviously, at one point the owners of these houses decided to capitalize on adding space for rental opportunities, thus forsaking the inherent architectural beauty that they once possessed. Unfortunately, as you can see, there’s not much one can do to reverse the damage that was done. So what does that mean for the future of this residence?
To me, I see opportunity. While I would much prefer to have the original house back, it might be easier and more fun to completely rethink the facade. Instead of leaving it in this frumpy, plain Jane condition, why not modernize it? For someone looking for a modern residence in the city, there are very few options unless opting for loft living in Downtown Buffalo. Therefore, a residence such as the one seen here presents itself as a total redo. Rip out the interior. Open up the whole floor plan. Design a loft home inside. And allow the facade to reflect the interior modernization.
If you were to buy this house at 126 Norwood Avenue, what would you do with it, other than keep it in its current state?