Fremont: Classy Urban Appeal

When my friend Christine moved here from Atlanta, most of what she found in her price range were townhouses and condos. Nice places, for sure, but more…compact, shall we say, than the generously proportioned rooms of the custom home she once occupied.

Welcome to urban infill, and a style I’ve dubbed Christine’s Cozy Quarters. All the amenities in half the space.

It’s epitomized by this set of four zero-lot-line townhouses. Tall, narrow, and thoughtfully designed, what they lack in square footage is balanced by upscale finishes.

The middle floor is the heart of the home, with an appealing open floor plan that combines the kitchen and living room. The builder squeezed in a half bath, too. The top floor contains two bedrooms, one full bath, and a laundry closet. None of the rooms are spacious, but they at least achieve adequacy. High ceilings make the tight footprint more comfortable.

Most of the downstairs is taken up by the garage and the staircase, with an odd, narrow space beside the front door advertised as an office. I could see that, as long as your desk isn’t too deep.

So they’re small homes, with well-chosen finishes as their main attraction. For example, the kitchen’s dark granite counter tops contrast with a classic white subway-tile backsplash, giving the space an elegant, urban feel. The fireplace continues the uptown theme with an understated wood and stone mantel of minimal depth. The floors and trim work are stained wood – a favorite of mine.

The location on an arterial isn’t great (but as busy streets go, it’s prettier than this section of 85th). It’s almost equidistant to nearby commercial nearby districts – 0.9 miles to the center of Fremont, 0.9 miles to the heart of Wallingford, and 1.2 miles to the interesting part of Phinney Ridge – so the townhomes don’t feel like they have a strong neighborhood identity.

Two of the four units still are available, the two units that front the street, unfortunately.

STATS:
Neighborhood: Fremont
Asking: $369,950 (unit A); $374,950 (unit B)
Address: 513 N. 46th St., Seattle, WA 98103
Square footage: 1193. Lot size: 1188 sq. ft.
Bedrooms: 2 Baths: 1.5
Last sale price: new construction
MLS#: 26189821 (unit A); 26197561 (unit B)
Click here for detailed listing (unit A)
Click here for detailed listing (unit B)