The Owner of Dari Delite is Selling Her Home — But She’s Not Leaving Swissvale

PHOTOS BY STEEL CITY VISUALS

Chelsea Burket says she almost didn’t buy the house that she thought would be her forever home; When she first saw the online photos for 149 Homestead St. in Swisshelm Park, they were not exactly selling a dream. 

“The listing photos were not great, to be generous,” she says with a laugh. 

Still, after a year and a half of searching, something about the property caught her eye again; it was the summer of 2015, and she found herself curious about the outdoor space. 

“I noticed the size of the lot and had to see it for myself,” Burket says. 

She discovered that while the home had been owned by the same family for 120 years, it had not been lived in for decades. Sitting on a level ⅓  acre lot, the structure was dirty and full of old furniture and belongings. It needed someone willing to see past the shabby surface; Burket found herself imagining what it could be. 

“The original, unpainted trim, doors, window and staircase were stunning despite their bleak surroundings,” she says. “And the expansive flat yard was what I had been looking for.” 

While bringing the home back to life, Burket found everything she hoped for in the property, both inside and out. Burket put down roots in the area, too, purchasing the iconic Swissvale Dari Delite in 2021. Deeply invested in the strong sense of community in the East End, she turned her creative eye towards the well-loved local institution. 

Now, after nearly 11 years in the home, Burket says she is downsizing, but she’s not going far. Locals will still find her, along with her dog, Ernie, and cats, Peanut and Turkey, enjoying the East End life.

“I am staying in the neighborhood because I could not imagine leaving Swisshelm Park,” she says. “The neighborhood strikes the perfect balance of friendly and helpful, but not too nebby!” 

She has listed the Swisshelm Park home for sale for $425,000 with Tim Gyves of Compass Real Estate. 

“This home affords its next owner the ability to have both a historic home in the City Of Pittsburgh on the kind of lot that is nearly impossible to find within the city limits,” says Gyves. “A freestanding three-car garage is something else as well.”

Gyves says it’s a treat to see a home that has kitchen and bathroom renovations that reflect the owner’s taste as well as respect the history of the home. 

“I love that these modern conveniences can exist alongside the carefully preserved historical details,” he says.  

The home’s original character is its main appeal. The original woodwork, hardwood floors, tall windows, high ceilings, decorative fireplaces and historic tile are remarkably untouched by time. 

The living room and dining room sit on the main level, with the three bedrooms, one bathroom and a den upstairs. Laundry is in the basement, which is unfinished but functional. 

Gyves says the 1,800-square-foot house has the kind of warmth and space that make historical homes such a draw for some buyers. 

“Having grown up in a 1950s split level in suburban Philadelphia, I will forever be a sucker for woodwork, tall ceilings and the kind of room proportions that just beg to have somebody build and display an art collection over time,” he says. “Clearly, that’s been the case here.”

The home has also had substantial updates. The kitchen was remodeled in 2019 and the bathroom was updated in 2023; attention was paid to insulation, ventilation, plumbing and electricity. A new roof, new masonry repointing, gutter and landscaping work and a mini-split for the air conditioning were all completed by Burket, making the home turnkey for the next owners.

Burket says she once kept chickens on the lot; she also imagined an expansive garden and fruit trees, but life consumed her summers before she could complete her wish list. 

“Although the house itself is very special, the yard is what I am hoping the next owner enjoys the most,” she says. “The possibilities in the yard are endless — a water feature, a patio, a hot tub. I have dreamed of it all, but not had the opportunity to bring it to fruition.”

Burket hopes that the next owners will enjoy the community she can’t quite quit. (and hopes they stop by Dari Delite to say hello)  

She counts the revitalized community center, Parisi Cafe and Pub in the Park as neighborhood favorites, and she loves the convenience of the nearby Squirrel Hill and Regent Square business districts.

What she will miss most, though, isn’t one single renovation or design choice. It is the feeling of being surrounded by a home and outdoor space she loved deeply.

“Having my kitchen windows open and looking out into the expanse of the yard; the way the setting sun shimmers through the old wavy glass at the top of the staircase; sitting outside at night, surrounded by fireflies, looking up at the warm glow of the house; there are constantly small moments where I look around and am so grateful to be spending my time in such a beautiful place.”