A 1916 Foursquare at 1990 James Ave in Saint Paul's Macalester-Groveland neighborhood has emerged from an 18-month, $1 million reconstruction with all-new electrical, plumbing and mechanical systems, and it is now listed for $1.59 million. The four-bedroom, 3.5-bath home spans 2,832 square feet and represents the third full renovation completed by Second Stripe, the historic preservation company founded by Saint Paul real estate developer Mary Haugh.
According to the Villager, Haugh envisioned transforming the James Avenue property into a crown jewel of the Macalester-Groveland neighborhood. The rebuild went well beyond cosmetic updates — per Second Stripe, the reconstruction involved structural work from the trusses down to the foundation, along with a complete replacement of the home's internal systems. Haugh said she wants homes to feel creative, unique and one-of-a-kind, according to the Villager's report.
The kitchen was expanded and updated with new cabinets and a center island, while interior finishes leaned on high-end custom materials. Coldwell Banker Realty's listing details describe Andersen A-Series windows and doors, locally crafted white oak cabinetry, custom light fixtures and a wood-burning living room fireplace. Second Stripe also retained original tile patterns and stair-banister decor, and the home includes a four-season porch alongside the new state-of-the-art utilities and appliances, the Villager reports.
A Business Born From a Second Diagnosis
Haugh, who grew up in a family of eight children in the Shadow Falls area of Merriam Park and attended Derham Hall High School before graduating from the University of Saint Thomas, spent years working in advertising and marketing in the housing industry before launching Second Stripe. The company's name traces back to her own health scare: Haugh was diagnosed with cancer in 2018, and according to the Longfellow Nokomis Messenger, the diagnosis required a lumpectomy, radiation and eventually a double mastectomy after Mayo Clinic physicians found a second tumor in the same breast.
That experience of a second chance shaped Haugh's approach to old houses. As the Villager reports, her brothers encouraged her mission to renovate vintage homes while preserving their character and structural integrity. Per Minnesota Monthly, Second Stripe focuses specifically on second-century homes entering their 100th year, prioritizing deep structural reconstruction over the quick cosmetic flips or teardowns common elsewhere in the Twin Cities market.
Neighbors and Buyers Weigh In
Jenny Torinus, quoted in the Villager's report, said the 1990 James renovation preserved the house's historical beauty. Jack Dant, who lives in the James Avenue neighborhood, told the outlet he preferred renovating homes to their original condition instead of tearing them down and rebuilding. Cori Johnson previously purchased a Second Stripe-renovated home on Palace Avenue in Macalester-Groveland, according to the same report.
Haugh said Second Stripe builds houses with a 50-year useful life, and she plans to renovate four or five homes per year going forward. The company is currently seeking 1920s homes in Minneapolis and Saint Paul suitable for similarly in-depth renovations, and it already has a Tudor on Park Terrace in Minneapolis' Longfellow neighborhood in the works, per the Villager. Second Stripe's projects rely on a network of local partners, including the law firm Collins, Buckley, Sauntry and Haugh, Contract Design & The Flower Bar, and Riverland Bank, according to the company's website.
A Luxury Premium in a Fast-Moving Market
The $1.595 million asking price stands at more than triple the $475,000 median home sale price reported in Macalester-Groveland as of June 2026, according to Redfin. The property sits on a 0.112-acre lot with a detached 20-by-32-foot two-car garage and carried a $7,576 annual tax assessment in 2026, per Coldwell Banker Realty's listing records.
Homes in the neighborhood are moving quickly, with Redfin reporting a median of 14 days on market and roughly 30% of Saint Paul listings accepting offers within two weeks as of July 2026. American Foursquare homes like the one at 1990 James Ave were common in Saint Paul's streetcar neighborhoods built between 1890 and 1930, featuring two full stories on a square footprint, a hipped roof with a central dormer, and a full-width front porch, according to the Laura Tiffany Group. The listing lands amid steady commercial investment nearby, including X2 Pastries' flagship store opening and Dogwood Coffee's new Grand Avenue location.
