c.1899 Queen Anne Fixer Upper in Evansville Indiana $85K ~ Off Market

776 Washington Ave, Evansville, IN 47713 $85,000 ~ Off Market

OHU50K NOTES

As many of you already know, Sunday is the day of the week we break out of our $50K mold to feature great old houses under $100K.

The realtor offers a wonderful description of this c.1899 Queen Anne fixer upper in Evansville, Indiana, so I will concentrate on the Washington Avenue Historic District neighborhood.

Homes were mainly constructed from the 1880s through the 1900s, a period of rapid growth in the city. Imposing Italianate, Queen Anne and Gothic Revival homes lined Washington Avenue, the main thoroughfare into downtown Evansville.

But in 2007, the district had big issues. Damaging “improvements”, abandonment, dilapidation, and demolition were the scourge of an increasing number of the district’s historic homes. It was such a problem that its National Register status became jeopardized, and the neighborhood earned a spot on Indiana Landmarks’ 10 Most Endangered list.

The Washington Avenue Historic District stood in stark contrast to the adjoining, vital and vibrant Riverside Historic District. With this in mind, a city committee was created to focus on the Washington Street’s revitalization and to turn the neighborhood around.

Below you will find before and after photos of revitalized 416 Washington Street.

5beds
3baths
2,675sq ft
6,534sqft lot
Build date 1899
Google Map
Property Listing
Realtor:Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Indiana Realty

REALTOR COMMENTS

The first towered Victorian as you arrive at the Washington Avenue historic district from the east, the E.P. Hahn house rises as a gateway to Bellemeade Bayard Park, Tepe Park, Goosetown, and the neighborhoods that surround the Haynie’s Corner Arts District.

Constructed at the turn of the 19th to 20th century, the home is a hallmark for the Queen Anne style. A massive front porch sits 12ft deep, fully across the home and around the 3 story tower. As the Victorian era faded into post World War I America, and housing needs and consumer preferences rapidly changed throughout the nation, many large homes were converted into stately apartments.

Now some 100 years later, the original apartment finishes are typically lost to time. Here, the original 1920s cabinets and sinks are breathtaking as a time capsule to another era. Two one bedroom apartments are on the main level, with a 3 bedroom apartment and efficiency above. Today’s apartment needs would see the entire second level as the home’s 3rd unit.

For generations, this fixer upper was occupied by the owners’ family, who for decades in the mid 20th century rented the other apartments to jockeys who raced at Ellis Park. Now, the home is ready to get back in the saddle and see this project down the stretch. With the opportunity for smart improvements to the kitchens to maintain original character and minimize renovation cost, refinishing the bathrooms, installing AC to the brand new furnace, and other touches, the home’s bones and style as a 3 unit Victorian could gross upwards of $25, 000 a year. As a single family conversion project, there is ample room to repurpose the home with a main floor master suite and a floor plan that serves today’s needs. Sharpen your pencils and bring your contractors, because this gorgeous opportunity is being presented As-Is.