Blog Archives
Cairo Farmhouse for $115,000, with studio and paddocks
This 1890 Cairo farmhouse, in the hamlet of Purling, has a tempting price tag for the amount of space and interior detail. It’s not quite big enough to be called “rambling”—a quality I love in an Upstate farmhouse—but with three bedrooms, two baths, a separate studio, and a horse paddocks, it’s certainly roomy from a city dweller’s point of view. The house is in “town,” but set far back from the road, and Purling has a decidedly country feel.
The house has some nice original detail—wavy glass windows, original moldings, plank floors—plus a deep front porch and an antique wood stove. The condition is listed as “average,” though we’re not sure what sort of work would be needed here, other than updates.
The biggest drawback seems to be the off-the-beaten-path yet not-quite-rolling-countryside location. If anyone takes a look, let us know. Stats, additional pics, and map after the jump. Read the rest of this entry
New Baltimore Schoolhouse Could Be Yours for $149,000
What would you do with this temptingly priced Upstate schoolhouse for sale? It’s in New Baltimore, a lovely, historic riverfront hamlet that we’ve written about before and we really like. Public School No. 1 doesn’t offer acreage or country views, but it does offer lots of space—5,568 square feet to be exact, zoned residential, commercial and mixed use. It’s not a house now–it’s currently being used as a studio and exhibition space by a local artist—so making it one would require some investment. (I wish I could get some photos of the bathrooms. Do they have teeny-tiny elementary school toilets?)
I think it would make a great group buy among friends. We could have our little country offices/ studios, and at lunch, take a little walk to the Hudson or the nearby nature preserve. What a lovely way to live/work.
Listing Details after the jump.
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Repurposed church in Hudson, NY perfect for decadent parties or your industrial music career
This $399, 000 former church is called Mission Grange Hall. That sounds like something out of the Wind in the Willows or Game of Thrones, either of which would be fine by me. I think all country houses should have names, and the name of this one doesn’t even seem particularly aspirational. It has a bell tower, after all. And who wouldn’t want to have their bed placed on altar?
The interior still offers the vaulted ceilings and stained glass of its former life, as well as the open floor plan. Mission Grange Hall is basically two huge floors—one with a catering-size, galley kitchen–plus a choir loft. This set-up could work very well as live/work space, and while the listing doesn’t specify dual residential/commercial zoning, it has been used as a gallery. Alternately, you could create rooms (and with 8,000 square feet, they could be spacious), but that sort of seems like a shame. When I was house hunting, I looked at a beautiful converted church with a similar set-up. Realizing I’d never have the proper attitude for such a place—I like doors—was one of the moments where I also realized my own limitations. I’ll never live in a converted church (or be an Italian movie star), but I hope someone quite fabulous and deserving scoops this one up.
The price seems a little steep to me, especially as such a specialty property would be challenging to resell, but the town of Hudson is experiencing a long boom, and this property offers country views along with access to the town’s galleries and restaurants. A city of 7,500, Hudson is well-known for its antique shops and charming, recently restored downtown. Plus, it has its own Amtrak stop, which makes this an easy commute for second homers.
Update: A Hudson-dwelling reader has reported that the church is “is next door to the city’s high rise projects, which makes the price completely insane.” If you go to see it or submit a bid, let us know!
Hudson, NY Google map
Distance to NYC: 126 miles; 2 hours, 35 minutes
Transportation: Amtrak to Hudson station
Land: .93 acres
Water: River views
Bedrooms: 1
Baths: 4