The Minneapolis Real Estate Blog: Minnesota: Minneapolis: Lowry Hill

Lowry Hill Historic Home #1

Along with the homes I post for St Paul, I will periodically be highlighting historic homes in Minneapolis as well. This is the first one of the Lowry Hill series so check back every now and then for new featured historic home in Minneapolis.

The first featured Historic Home in the Lowry Hill district of Minneapolis is 905 Douglas Avenue

Built in 1900, the home is most likely similar to when it was first built, though the area surrounding it has changed greatly. Designed as a Colonial Revival mansion, the home has distinguishing characteristics of the style including full height column Corinthian capitals, dentils at the cornice with decorative molding, and a broken pediment above the door. The front door is also typical with its fanlight above the door and side lights.

The main home was recently restored to its former beauty and is currently listed for sale by Remax Results for $1,995,000. It boasts about 6500 square feet with 7 bedrooms and 7 bathrooms. The carriage house has also been restored and is currently zoned as a condo. Built in 1900 as well, it now has 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, and is approximately 1800 square feet. It is listed separate from the house for sale for $649,900.

When driving around some of the historic neighborhoods of Minneapolis, you might notice a unique roof on some of the homes. Rolled roofs at the eave are seen mostly around the Lake of the Isle area. The style is known as Cotswold Cottage and is designed to replicate thatch. It is an expensive roof to apply to your home, as special eaves must be constructed to support the roll over the roof line. In my opinion, this roof option should only be used on a Tudor style home, however I have seen it pushed onto a newer home with French design and it didn't look to good to me.

Two basic materials are used the most.

1) For a more authentic look, only cedar shakes should be used. The first home has cedar tiles and you can see by the closeup just how many tiles are placed on the roof. The pattern varies and is very time consuming, but the roof will last you a long time. The home really looks like a cottage out of Hansel and Gretel, and the roof is most likely the original.

2) A cheaper way to employ the style is to use common place asphalt shingles. It gives the same affect from a distance, but to me is less pleasing to the eye closeup. It too will last you awhile, 20-40 years, and is cheaper to apply as the only real cost comes from the eave roll.

In a quick Google search, I found one local builder who advertises he does the replicated thatch roof, but I am sure there are others out there that also offer the style. If you are looking to replace your current roof with an architectural roof like thatch, make sure to call several roofing contractors and get detailed quotes, time to construct, etc. With it being more expensive to build, you want to make sure you get something that is priced well, but also high quality too!