You've walked by and wondered what is going on with this house. You've tried peeking through the windows to catch a glimpse of the pristine period details inside. You've imagined the colorful stories the walls could tell. You also read the Philly Magazine and Curbed articles the last time this home hit the market and kicked yourself for missing the chance to see inside. Now is your opportunity to see for yourself the magic that is the brick house on the corner of Pine and Camac Streets.
Encompassing both 1221 Pine and 343-345 S Camac Streets, this extraordinary home has a rich provenance and palpable soul. Built in 1829 by Joseph and Eliza Shoemaker to operate a drug store out of the first-floor front room, the home was later owned by author, William Albert Sinclair in 1908 where he penned the book, The Aftermath of Slavery as a member of the National Negro League, the predecessor to the NAACP. The home is now seeking its next steward to restore it to its former glory. Perfect for the purist, it boasts many of its original architectural elements including exterior gas lanterns, a slate roof, slat and plaster walls, delicate brass hardware, marble fireplaces and thick moldings. Added to the Philadelphia Register of Historic Places in 1962, the home remains a virtual time capsule.
The first floor features an entry vestibule with three large rooms with soaring ceilings and a half bath. The second and third floors offer an additional three rooms each and rough-ins for two full hall baths. The fourth floor is one large room with dormered ceilings, a crescent window and a door leading to the roof terrace offering sweeping views of the neighborhood and skyline. The basement boasts 10-12' ceilings and has its own entrance.
Then there's the location. There's no denying the allure of Washington Square West, with its tree-lined streets and its access to delightful bistros, gourmet food shops, friendly cafes, fine restaurants, and local pubs. Situated in the heart of the theatre and antique districts and around the corner from the famous 13th Street restaurant corridor, you'll find yourself nestled in a picturesque oasis of classic ivy-strewn rowhomes and storefronts with tiny brick stoops, colorful doors, and shuttered windows flanked with potted planters. This is truly a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to return one of Philadelphia's most important architectural jewels to its original grandeur.
NOTE: The home is zoned RSA-5 for residential or mixed-use and has a historic designation with the city's Historic Commission. City records report 2,643 square feet but is likely well over 3,000 since the basement and top floor were both expanded (our floorplans list 3,477). Plans included.
