OTM: Something A Little Different
When we do these on the market posts, we tend to write about old homes and new condos. Rarely do we seem to write about homes that appeared in the decades when we were growing up. Well, here’s something from the year of the bicentennial, 1976.
Nearly 1800 square feet of 1970s goodness. 3 bedrooms. 1.5 bath. Located on North 11th Street just a bit west of Jefferson Park. It includes a pool – always practical in the Pacific Northwest. Every neighborhood has its share of Craftsman and Victorians. Do you want a home that’s a little different from your neighbors?
Listed with John L. Scott
Filed under: On-The-Market
29 comments
C Christine April 16, 2008
Sweet mother of dog! What is that flooring in the bathroom? Is that carpet?
Ugly inside and out. BTW: why do realtors publish photos of the homeowner’s furniture? Re: the photo of the messy desk. No one buys a house based on the furniture, and with that photo the only thing one can view of the room is a close-up of one wall.
W Whitney staff April 16, 2008
Derek- Why’d you pick the ugly one? Sheesh.
J jamie from thriceallamerican April 16, 2008
This is hilarious.
1) I’m utterly fascinated by the fact that they used horizontal lap siding on the back of the house. Doesn’t even look like the same building from the back.
2) Um, maybe that pool needs cleaning.
3) Indeed, Christine, carpet in the bathroom. I love how it sort of runs up the wall a little bit.
4) “Contemporary”??? Yeah, like contemporary to the BeeGees…
D Derek staff April 16, 2008
Why’d you pick the ugly one? Sheesh.
Twenty years from now you’ll be walking through the halls of this iconic example of 1970s architecture as part of some historic home tour. “Not very many like this in Tacoma,” you’ll hear…
Or not.
I think it’s the pool that won me over.
D DavidS April 16, 2008
1) I think the lap siding is actually the garage (w/ office above). No sense of architectural consistency though for sure.
2) ??!? I didn’t even realize that was the pool. It just registered as grass in my head. I had to go back and look after your comment as I completely missed the pool pic.
This place needs an overhaul to bring it back (@$330k?). It looks like it was probably pretty cool when it was built but has since seen people looking for something a little different.
(I love the deck that wraps around what was once a tree. Now it just highlights the stump.)
M Mofo from the Hood April 16, 2008
I’m looking into what it would cost to move this building to Tollefson Square…Maybe convert it to a vistor center.
The wider public should experiece this building’s dramatic angles and reflection pool, which if placed on Tollefson Square, would offer a unique counterpoint to Tacoma Art Museum.
M Mary April 16, 2008
330K for a fixer upper filled with $125.00 worth of Goodwill furniture…let’s see how long this one sits and sits and sits on the market. Honestly, what are people thinking?
R RR Anderson April 16, 2008
mofo, don’t forget to mention the successful moss garden (it’s not a bug, it’s a feature).
M Mofo from the Hood April 16, 2008
Right, Mr. Anderson. That moss on the house roof is intentional. Considering that this is an authentic 70’s period dwelling and the fact that Earth Day was commissioned in 1971, then the moss on the roof indicates an authentic “Green Awareness” that set the tone for contemporary environmental concerns.
M Mofo from the Hood April 16, 2008
Are the design features between the OTM and TAM, including moss, coincidental?
We can only speculate.
U UPSpatrick April 16, 2008
I was thinking, “what pool?” Then I realized that wasn’t a small patch of lawn.
Love the 1970s head-height horizontal windows—you know, to keep out the hordes.
H Heather April 16, 2008
Wow – thanks for posting this.
This house is on one of the better through streets in Tacoma for bicyclists. Nice speed bumps discourage car traffic, and there are very few stop signs to contend with. It is also a bus route.
I noticed the for sale sign today when I rode by – but just barely, as there are two big vehicles parked out front blocking the sign. I made the quick assumption that renters live there currently. It definitely isn’t staged for a quick sale. I particularly love the gnome party on the little deck (which makes me doubt the renter theory – they look kind of permanent in a scary way). And the incongruity of the front of the house with the back (garage) is amazing. I’ve always been fascinated by that place, but had no clue the back was so different. I’m completely amazed by the price, especially in today’s market. WTF are they thinking?
R RR Anderson April 16, 2008
yeah judging by the creepy state of the swimming pool, I’d x-ray those gnome statues to make sure there aren’t baby skeletons baked in.
S Squid April 16, 2008
Man, you guys are ruthless! You should head over to Ed’s Diner and comment on the Stadium Bistro closing (131 posts and counting).
R RR Anderson April 17, 2008
hey ya. I wonder if they’d like my bistro cartoon
C Christine April 17, 2008
Oh come on…you guys all know that those gnomes come alive at night and steal undies off of clotheslines.
J J. Cote April 17, 2008
I’ve driven by this house probably a gazillion times (No, I DON’T know how many a gazzilion is… It’s a whole bunch, though)and I always thought that it was one of the most interesting homes in town. The acute angles, the raw, aged wood, great location and yard size, just beautiful.
It’s main drawback to me is that there is not a 3br, 1 1/2ba home in the whole of Tacoma that’s worth $300,000. I’ve lived here for 25 years and I know what they were selling for 10, or even 5 years ago. I refuse to ride that bandwagon.
B beerBoy April 17, 2008
Notice the two TVs separated by the strategically placed chair ornamented by a laptop case across from the artfully displayed jacket draped across the back of a chair and the other piece of clothing on the sofa.
M Mofo from the Hood April 17, 2008
“No, I don’t think this house looks like a high school wood shop project.”
R richard April 17, 2008
Add a couple of simulated pink flamencos to the front yard and it will close in 30 days
M Melanie April 17, 2008
“2) ??!? I didn’t even realize that was the pool. It just registered as grass in my head. I had to go back and look after your comment as I completely missed the pool pic.”
I went back to review the ‘pool’ as well…and then I threw up in my mouth a little. Sweet mother of God. Good luck seller. It’s a tough market out there. I think it’s time for what one would call ‘curb appeal’. This house must have missed the workshop on presentation.
C Corey April 17, 2008
Looks like a lawn fawn.
M Mofo from the Hood April 17, 2008
“No, I don’t think that this looks like a frat house for the University of Tillicum.”
A altered chords April 17, 2008
Meanwhile…back at the John L. Scott office:
Sales Assistant: “Hey look everybody, Exit133.com has Andy’s house on it”
Random Sales Associate: “How’d you make that happen Andy…Those rich hippie bloggers will love that shack.”
Andy: “yeah…I told them not to bother cleaning up the place. Hippies like clutter and green pools. But I brought over some gnomes and a fawn being molested by a saytr…Makes them think they’re in Narinia.”
“I’m just gonna kick back and wait for the bidding war to begin”
Sales Assistant: “The comments are coming in…Oh, I see, it’s not ‘good enough’ for them. We’ll tell them it was just a post tax season joke…Green pool…gnomes…Get it?”
T tressie April 17, 2008
wow, it’s high school all over again.
S Squid April 18, 2008
I’m seeing a pelican. But I ALWAYS see pelicans.
D daniel blue April 21, 2008
Sold. if i had a few three hundred thousand dollars.
SOLD!
this is pretty much my dream house.
C crenshaw sepulveda April 21, 2008
Strangely I find myself in agreement with Mr. Blue. Forget the algae in the pool, forget the silly lawn ornaments, there is something about the house that is very compelling. Sure as heck is not worth the money. The house beats the shutters off of most new construction if it was cleaned up and shown some love.
R Rob Collins April 21, 2008
Talk about your white elephant home. I wonder what comps go for in the area….Oh, right, there are no comps in the area. I hope the future buyer has at least 20% down because lending money on an odd home isn’t what banks are looking for right now. Banks want perfect homes, in perfect neighborhoods, with perfect borrowers, and perfect credit scores, with 20% or more down, and your first born child named after whatever financial institution lends the money. I’m not trying to be funny, its simply true in a difficult lending environment. However, when purchasing this home you will not only need to deal with a roof inspection but also have a higher percentage down due to the odd nature of the home. It’s got potential for the right client. Good luck!