VIRTUALLY STAGED PHOTOS BY STEEL CITY VISUALS

Hidden by mature trees, the two-bedroom, two-bath unit that’s part of a complex nestled on the edge of Chatham University on a private lane in Squirrel Hill North also has the good fortune of the campus’ lush greenspace as its backyard.

Kimberly Dobbins first saw 146 N. Woodland Road in 1991 while attending an open house. The building had just been completed, and Dobbins remembers marveling over the white marble entry. 

At the time, the condo was out of Dobbins’ budget, so she moved on to rent elsewhere. Years later, she once again noticed an open house sign on the building. 

“I pulled in and thought, ‘I think this is the same community,’” she recalls.

Not only was it the same building, it was the same unit Dobbins had explored in the ‘90s. Greeting her again was the same Realtor who originally showed her the space. This time, Dobbins didn’t pass it by.

“I was single the entire time I lived there and I always felt very safe,” she says.

Two decades later, the newly married Dobbins has put the home on the market for $699,900 (Racheallee Lacek, Piatt Sotheby’s International Realty, sothebysrealty.com). Property tours for the unit open on June 14.

“It is one of only two units in the complex that are on one level,” Dobbins says. “It also has private elevator access from a two-car garage.” 

Inside, the elevator opens to a 12-by-10-square-foot entry, which leads to the 1,700-square-foot living and dining room combination. At the far end of the space, a trio of floor-to-ceiling windows add an elegant touch. Original hardwood floors flow throughout the room. 

In the kitchen, tile floors, granite countertops, stainless-steel appliances and all-white cabinets give it a fresh, timeless quality. There’s also a breakfast nook set with a cafe table. 

“I always thought a built-in banquette would be nice there,” Dobbins says. 

Located off the kitchen is a small laundry room. The property’s two roomy bedrooms include the carpeted primary suite, which accesses a large outdoor balcony that spans the width of the unit. The ensuite bathroom has a large, jetted spa bathtub, a walk-in shower and a separate water closet. There’s also a spacious walk-in closet with plenty of hanging and storage options for shoes and other accessories. 

On the other side of the unit, the private, 13-by-11-square-foot second bedroom, topped with a lantern pendant chandelier, is perfect for guests. It’s serviced by a full bathroom with a shower/tub combo. 

The home’s desirable location near the university also is convenient to Highland  Avenue’s shops and restaurants, including Casbah, Millie’s and Square Cafe. Within a longer walking distance are the shops of Walnut Street in Shadyside. The property also has easy access to public transportation as well as to Oakland’s major universities and the UPMC Hospital system. 

After falling in love with the unit twice, Dobbins says selling the space is bittersweet.

“I loved the nature and the privacy outdoors,” she says. “Inside, the windows and the light that would come in; it’s a very calm and beautiful space.” 

Drawing on her years of experience covering the region’s real estate industry, Rosa Colucci 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. Rosa can be reached at onecordovaroad@gmail.com.

About: Squirrel Hill (North) (shuc.org)
Population: 11,879 (North)
Planes, Trains & Automobiles: 40 minutes to the airport; walking community, public transportation, bike lanes, rideshare.
Schools: City of Pittsburgh (pghschools.org)
Neighborhood: One of the most highly sought after neighborhoods in the East End, Squirrel Hill’s overall borders touch Greenfield, Oakland, Shadyside and Frick Park. Housing includes some of the area’s most historical grand mansions, Craftsmen and simple row houses. The community is diverse with a mix of students, families and immigrants from the world over; several historical districts are within its borders.