Squatty Reynoldstown building transformed into $539K modern residence

A squat commercial building that struggled to find purpose for years has sprung to life as Reynoldstown’s latest modern-style residence.

With an airy layout that could be characterized as modernist blank-slate shotgun—with a second floor and roomy rooftop deck—the structure hardly resembles the boarded-up box it used to be, prior to expansion.

Tucked off Moreland Avenue, along the route of a planned Beltline connector path, the deep, skinny lot appears to have been maximized (and established trees preserved), as evidenced by a fire-pit hangout that’s both stylish and functional. Inside, the kitchen combines open shelving, a sleek range hood, and traditional white cabinetry—with views of that backyard.

The listing calls the project “must see” and “brilliant adaptive-reuse” in “white-hot Reynoldstown” by Care For Your Castle, the same outfit who built this Beltline-facing modern in the neighborhood two years ago.

As a vacant, circa-1925 commercial building without plumbing, the property sold in 2015 for just $30,000—and then again last summer for $110,000.

Potential hangups could include the low bedroom count (two) and, to a lesser degree, the lack of covered parking at this price point in Reynoldstown.

The home listed last week at $539,000. The square footage isn’t specified.

But it could be a score for buyers who value unique properties with interesting backstories, where massive shindigs—and outdoor showers—are possible on the roof.

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Here’s the finished product today:

• 195 Howell Drive [Estately]