Quaint Old Cottages And Vibrant Young Families Are What Welcomes You to Willing Avenue

Willing Avenue in my own beloved Ryan Place is another one of those streets like the recently featured Clover Lane that practically constitute neighborhoods within neighborhoods.

Willing Avenue is the Near Southside cognate of the Westside’s Clover Lane. Both feature 1920s-era bungalows, many of which began their existence as two-bedroom, single-bath dwellings. These homes often have modern updates and additions. This week’s featured listing, an oh-so-easy-to-love Tudor cottage, falls into that category.

A cleverly conceived recent reno has added approximately 400 square feet to the now 1,781-square-foot house with an added principal suite and modern kitchen. Now a three-bedroom, two-bath home, the 1929 build retains most of its original period details including rich patinaed hardwood floors, millwork, and crown molding.

Rooms are spacious in scale with the living room centering on a working fireplace with symmetrical windows on either side. A large arched opening leads to the formal dining room.

An aligned enfilade leads into a bar/kitchen area. The owners have retained some of the original upper cabinets and repurposed them to charming effect. Kitchen cabinets are taken to the ceiling. Naturally, all of the appliances are updated.

At the back of the house is the new primary suite, which includes a large bedroom and spa bath with a roomy shower stall with a bench. Elongated subway tiles laid in a chevron pattern cover the shower walls. The closet may not be 100 percent camera-ready, but it is large for a house of this vintage.

The back is shaded by an immense, old live oak around which a large deck has been constructed. And family-friendly? The long double block of 2600 to 2800 Willing Avenue is home to more than a dozen children under the age of 10. When the ice cream truck pulls up it gets pretty damn cute — like Norman Rockwell cute.

Just listed yesterday, I predict this Willing Avenue Tudor will be under contract soon after the Open House from 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday, April 20.

Ivey Ramsey of Williams Trew Real Estate has priced 2716 Willing Avenue at $515,000.