A former Engine 10 firehouse in South Philadelphia is listed for $2.5 million. The Inquirer reported that Julie Russell bought it in 2019.
A footprint larger than a typical rowhouse
The property is near East Passyunk Avenue and the Italian Market, and its roughly 4,200 square feet of living space and three-car garage stand out in the surrounding rowhouse blocks, according to the Inquirer. Trulia lists 5,550 square feet of finished area; the available accounts do not explain the difference between those figures.
The building dates to 1874 and served Engine 10 until 1953. The Inquirer reported that it remained vacant for decades. An owner converted the building into a single-family home sometime between 1998 and 2009, although the work was unfinished. An earlier chapter came in 2010, when the unfinished property was listed for $525,000, according to OCF Realty.
Residential features and outdoor space
The three-bedroom home has two full bathrooms, two powder rooms and 13-foot ceilings. The Inquirer’s account describes a kitchen with a 10-foot leather-finished granite island, a Wolf range and a Sub-Zero refrigerator, as well as a custom office and a primary suite with a walk-in closet and an en suite bath featuring a soaking tub imported from France.
Arched glass doors lead from the living room to a courtyard, and the garage was expanded for three cars. The finished basement has a wet bar and a gym whose equipment is included in the sale. A roof deck provides panoramic views; the property also has soundproof front windows and a multiscreen security system.
The home’s unusual history and size distinguish it from nearby houses.
The wider luxury market
The asking price is above the Philadelphia region’s luxury-home threshold, which Axios reported had risen 7.5% to $1.15 million. In its account of Bright MLS data, Axios said luxury homes spent a median of six days on the market in the second quarter, compared with 11 days for homes overall, and that 42% of luxury sales were all-cash, versus 24% across the market. The firehouse listing carries MLS number PAPH2684870.
