Windows of the Past ARCHITECTURAL DETAILS OF OLD ROWHOMES HAVE A STORY TO TELL

by Jane Roser photo of Sue Liedke by Carina Romano

Old houses are windows into a bygone era. Whether they still have their original Formica countertops, mirrored accent walls, stained glass windows or acoustic ceiling tiles, there’s no denying that the features of these ghosts of the past have a story to tell. With the benefit of solid craftsmanship and unique architectural elements, older houses can age gracefully when they are well-loved and appreciated. South Philly art educator Sue Liedke understands what makes these homes so special. In 2019, she started an Instagram page celebrating them, never expecting her passion project to go viral. @s.philly.time.capsules currently has 12K followers and counting.

Q: How did you come to start your Instagram page?

A: In 2018, I was thinking about buying a house and dived headfirst into online listings. I was truly excited about some of the houses I was seeing. I’ve always had a penchant for the past - in my musical taste, fashion choices, and home decor, so my new hobby of online house stalking fit right in line with those leanings. I took screenshots from the listings and slowly began to curate them on an Instagram account dedicated to celebrating South Philly style. Most of the homes I feature are in South Philly, but once in a while, a great house will pop up in a different part of the city or a suburb that’s so good, I’ll post it with a little disclaimer that it’s not in South Philly proper.

Q: How do you find these vintage houses?

A: When I first began, I was using real estate apps. I had strict parameters as far as price and location and discovered a sweet spot for outdated houses selling for around $175-$225k. I quickly learned which streets were likely to have houses with a story to tell, but as the project grew, I expanded my limits as far as price and location were concerned. These days, I discover about half of the houses myself, and the rest are sent to me by nostalgia- loving followers or friends who work in real estate.

Q: What is one the more unique house features you’ve come across?

A: One of the most exciting home features I’ve seen this year was in a house on S. 13th Street. It had a basement entirely covered in bathroom tile. Every pastel color was represented, creating a crazy rainbow of patterned walls. The floor was a hodgepodge of mix and match mosaic tile. It was truly a sight to be seen. I visited the house and made a reel that over 70k people have watched. I love knowing there’s so many other wonderful weirdos out there that find a basement in our neighborhood so exciting. My followers had a lot of great theories about how and why this basement was created.

Q: What are some of the most commented on features?

A: Houses drenched in color tend to get the most attention. A deep red carpet, metallic blue wallpaper, or an elaborate lighting fixture such as an oversized chandelier or a perfect mid-century floor lamp will speak to followers. Oh, and let’s not leave plastic-covered furniture off the list! People love to talk about it. I think the sight of one of those couches brings back visceral memories.

Q: Do any of the houses have interesting, historical backstories?

A: Every once in a while, I post a house that someone will share a personal anecdote about. It may have been their grandmother’s house and they have great memories about it. I love to hear those stories and feel so lucky that people share them with me. Some followers have shared stories about a house being haunted when they lived there.

Q: Why is it so important to preserve these older homes?

A: While I hope that some of these homes can be saved from colorless makeovers and gray flips, preservation is a side effect rather than the goal of this project. My aim is to celebrate how people historically made these spaces shine. A follower described rowhomes as “little blank canvases” and you never know what might be inside. Decades ago, people were making these spaces their own, updating them to their tastes and needs which makes them so special today. There’s no rigidity of true preservation in my account, instead we see peeks of previous homeowners’ unique visions and celebrate their bold choices.

Q: Could you share a “time capsule” success story?

A: I love to hear from people who buy the houses I’ve featured. One follower shared that the vestibule, pink tiled kitchen, and fancy wrought iron banister of a home influenced her to schedule a tour. However, it was the little touches like the jalousie windows, fancy switch plate covers and the light fixtures that sealed the deal for her. A few realtors have reached out to let me know their client purchased a house they found through my page. Those in a position to buy a time capsule house of their own get to put their spin on an already charming and nostalgic space. Some of the houses I feature aren’t for sale, however. I encounter those through owners or tenants who want to share their homes.

Q: What would you say are some of the benefits to owning an older house?

A: For me, the value of old homes is their charm and quality. I can only speak for my own taste, but new construction in Philadelphia tends to stick out like a sore thumb. I don’t have any interest (nor do my followers) in seeing vinyl sided boxes with gray interiors. Give me arches, old wood floors and scrolling ironwork! I think we’ve all heard some horror stories about new builds in Philadelphia. Leaks and foundation issues which surface shortly after purchase. Most of the houses in our neighborhood have been solid for a hundred years and will hopefully be solid for another hundred. Why wouldn’t you go old?

Landmark Architectural Design is proud to share a rendering of an upcoming project located on the corner of 10th and Catharine Streets in South Philadelphia. The architecture of this building is another example of Landmark’s desire to incorporate classic building design elements, blending the line between classic and modern designs. The site at 769 S. 10th Street will contain 13 residential units ranging in size from one to three bedrooms. The ground floor offers ample commercial space as well as a landscaped courtyard for the residents. At 752 S. 16th Street, Landmark was commissioned to design a multifamily building with aesthetics that reflect the style of the former firehouse that previously occupied the site. Keeping with those proportions, the structure incorporates large windows that fill the 12 residential units, that range from one to three bedrooms. Among the many amenities, the design includes a private courtyard as well as roof deck access for the residents. See www.Landmarkaia.com for more of their work.

Landmark AIA is a member of the Philadelphia RowHome (PRH) Magazine Business Network.

by Robin Mitchell

Location, location, location! That’s the realtor’s mantra for selling homes. I’m a native South Philadelphian who started my Real Estate career more than 30 years ago, first in Philadelphia, and for the last 15 years, at the Jersey shore in Ventnor, where I live and work fulltime. There are so many South Philadelphians living in Ventnor and its surrounding beach towns these days that I’ve nicknamed it South Philly East.

Growing up in South Philly, like many others, I spent every summer at the Jersey shore, usually heading to Atlantic City or Wildwood. I fell in love with the beach, getting my tan on in the sun, swimming in the ocean and walking the boardwalk. The fond memories of those summer days frolicking with friends and family in the sun and sand will stay with me forever. It was pure paradise. The shore is where I always knew I wanted to be. After many rentals, I finally purchased a condo in Ventnor and within one year, decided to make the big move to live at the shore full-time. Ventnor immediately felt so comfortable to me because I knew lots of people from South Philly who also made the move!

The start of the casino industry in 1978 with the opening of Resorts International brought a big boom to the economy, creating a huge migration of South Philadelphians to Atlantic City. Anyone who is from South Philly knows someone who headed to Atlantic City back then in search of employment opportunities. Many settled down in Ventnor and other nearby beach communities to raise their families. Ventnor remains a great place to live and work with so much to see and do. One of my favorite things about Ventnor is its boardwalk. It’s the only non-commercial boardwalk in New Jersey so it’s a great place to grab a bench for some people watching while the waves crash on the ocean. Or you can watch the sun rise, go for a morning walk, or bike ride. Ventnor also features a fishing pier, ski-beach with a public boat ramp, great restaurants (many BYOB), shopping areas, a terrific movie theater, fantastic public school system and library, and public tennis courts. Unlike many other shore areas, Ventnor has a thriving yearround population, so most businesses remain open even in the winter.

Several of my family members and friends have purchased homes in Ventnor, or in nearby towns, and later decided to make it their full-time home. And many Philadelphians have had great success in opening restaurants in Ventnor, too!

Although I am still hunting for some great cannoli, Ventnor is a wonderful place to live, especially for South Philadelphians, as it’s only 55 minutes away from home. Ready to invest? Real Estate values have soared, here, but it’s still one of the most reasonably priced shore towns on the New Jersey coast. Join me for a visit or stay for good

Warmer weather is coming and soon enough, hot and unbearable temperatures! When the peak of summer hits, you want your home to stay cool and comfortable. Here are some tips for getting the most out of your air conditioner while keeping energy costs low.

1. INSTALL AND SERVICE EARLY. Don’t wait until summer! Get your AC serviced or installed in spring before you need to run it on a regular basis. An annual service will keep your AC unit in the best condition, running efficiently and free of preventable repairs when it’s hot out!

2. CHECK YOUR FILTERS MONTHLY. Old air filters put strain on your system and increase energy use. Clean and replace them regularly to improve performance, efficiency, and longterm use of your AC system.

3. KEEP IT CLEAR.

If your unit is outdoors and surrounded by plants, it won’t run as efficiently. Clear away any dirt, weeds, debris, and plant overgrowth to allow proper airflow. It’s also important to keep your outdoor unit in the shade. Direct heat and sunlight causes it to get hot and work harder. Provide shade if you can.

4. LOOK AT YOUR LANDSCAPING. Asphalt, concrete, and rock close to the walls of your home absorb and radiate heat. This increases the temperature around your home and makes your AC work harder to keep the inside cool. Consider some well-placed trees to provide shade.

5. KEEP WINDOWS AND DOORS CLOSED. Open doors and windows mean you are letting cool air out and hot air in. Your AC will have to work harder to maintain a cool space. It’s inefficient and adds to your energy bill. Small leaks or cracks around doors, windows and even in the attic, can also increase your costs over time - both on your energy bill and in AC unit repairs.

6. THERMOSTAT PLACEMENT.

A professionally installed system likely has the ther- mostat placed in a prime spot. However, older or DIY installations might not be in the best location. If it’s near the kitchen or a bright, sunny window and gets in a position where it’s too hot, the system will think your whole home needs more cooling than it really does. No matter what, make sure there are no appliances plugged in nearby that can generate heat and interfere with the temperature readings on the device, too. Sometimes, getting a new air conditioner is a more costeffective option than trying to repair your current one. Even with yearly servicing and maintenance, AC systems have a limited lifespan. If your unit is breaking down regularly and costing too much to run, it may be time to upgrade. We can offer sound advice on different units that would be right for your space. We offer financing upon credit approval, so you can get your AC system repaired without worrying about the cost. You can rely on us to remove your old unit and dispose of it properly. You’ll also be shown how to operate your new cooling system before we leave.