PHOTOS BY PREP SOLUTIONS

It felt like an impossible task — fly in from Oregon, check out a ton of rentals in Pittsburgh and then choose one for their relocation. 

While Jillean Johnson and Todd Lewis planned to lease a home in Shadyside, they noticed an open house at 275 Main St. in Lawrenceville. With just a few brief moments to spare, they stopped by the rowhouse before heading to the airport. 

“I loved the tall ceilings, all the old world charm and the bathroom felt extravagant,” says Johnson. 

Although the couple hadn’t planned on buying a place just yet, Lewis was particularly taken by the century-old home. 

“I had no idea that Todd was thinking about buying,” Johnson says. “We got back to Oregon and he said, ‘I think I want to buy that house.’” 

In 2022, Lewis made good on his promise and the couple relocated to Pittsburgh. They immediately dove headfirst into renovations; today, Johnson’s favorite spot is the kitchen. 

“We put so many hours into the remodel and really made it beautiful,” she says. “The old-world feel of the tiled floors, the warm cherry butcher-block countertops and the Mexican tiles all bring together features we love and appreciate.” 

The bold, cobalt blue cabinets are a delightful detour from today’s ubiquitous gray-and-white spaces. Lewis echoes his love of the kitchen, but he adds he has another favorite cozy spot. 

“Winter evenings by the wood-burning stove in the living room have been a real treat,” he says. 

The row home is now listed for $585,000 by Sarah Madia of RE/MAX Select Realty. The veteran agent is no stranger to selling Pittsburgh’s older homes, but says this one stands out from the pack thanks to details preserved from when it was built in 1885. She adds the home’s new finishes are all of high quality and well designed.

“One of the things I love about old homes are the original features that give houses so much character,” she says. “From the tall baseboards to the wooden floors and doors, as well as windows with original ‘water’ glass, it’s such a stunning home.”

After some research, Lewis found that the home was built concurrently with the row house next door by Frederick Brand, a Butler Street grocer, for a total cost of $7,000. 

“‘The house is described as being constructed in a ‘transitional form’ that incorporates elements of the Queen Anne and Italianate styles,” Lewis says. 

The three-level home has four bedrooms and two full bathrooms as well as a powder room. In addition to the remodeled kitchen, the main level includes a living room and dining room that are open to one another and exits to both a quaint front porch and rear patio.

The second floor has two cheerful bedrooms as well as a full bathroom with a shower, clawfoot tub and double vanity. The third floor has two more bedrooms, plus a bonus room that could be used for storage, remote work or a studio space. The bold, fun design choices are echoed throughout every level of the home. 

The basement, while unfinished, does include the second full bathroom. A rare find in the city neighborhood, there’s also a functional garage on the rear of the property. 

Two years of living there was enough for Lewis and Johnson to fall in love with the home, and Lawrenceville. 

“There are people on porches we pass who seem to be institutions here in the neighborhood, along with families with school-age kids, and young couples, too,” Johnson says.  

Madia adds the home is a standout in the neighborhood. 

“It pops with the turquoise door and gingerbread accents accented by the white paint,” she says. “It is a really pretty home.” 

For Lewis and Johnson, the house will always hold a significant place in their memory as the place where they were able to reconnect and rebuild a life together. 

“Here on Main Street is where we came back together after a 35-year break in which we each built our own separate lives and families,” says Johnson. “We created a beautiful home, did a lot of healing and growing, and fell more in love again after all those years.”

Meg St-Esprit is a Bellevue-based freelance journalist who covers real estate, lifestyle, education, parenting and travel for a variety of local outlets including Pittsburgh Magazine, PublicSource, Kidsburgh, Pittsburgh City Paper, and City Cast Pittsburgh. Meg offers Hot Property, an inside look into unique and historic homes on the market. Each week, Hot Property goes behind the For Sale sign to share the story of a special Pittsburgh-area home.

About: Central Lawrenceville
Population: 4,730
Planes, Trains & Automobiles: Residents of Central Lawrenceville do not need to own a car, and many don’t. Pittsburgh is improving bike infrastructure, and Lawrenceville is becoming more and more bike friendly. There are also plentiful bus routes and rideshares available. The trendy city neighborhood is a walkable community where many errands can be accomplished by foot. The airport is an easy jaunt on I-376, or accessible via the Airport Flyer with one bus transfer.
Schools: Pittsburgh Public Schools (pghschools.org)
Neighborhood: Evolving from its industrial past, Lawrenceville, which is technically composed of Lower Lawrenceville, Central Lawrenceville, and Upper Lawrenceville, is a bustling hub of restaurants and retail shops, interspersed with historical row homes and multi-unit buildings. Besides UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, restaurants, coffee shops and local businesses such as Arsenal Bowl and Row House Cinema dot the community. Formerly a working-class neighborhood, Lawrenceville today has a booming housing market reflected by soaring prices. Many residents still report a strong neighborly feel to the community and enjoy regular block parties and local festivals. 

Neighborhood Data provided by Niche