Guess What’s Happening
But for the calendar, you might guess that a tornado took off this home’s roof (parts of the South may get tornadoes in January — but not Minnesota).
Yet, all that lumber in the front yard clearly indicates that something is going on here.
Clues #2 & #3: the neighboring homes with a “popped” second story (pictured at left and below).
Clues #4 – #20(?): the scads of new construction within a few blocks.
Going Vertical
What’s happening is that the area and immediate block — 41st Street in St. Louis Park — is a favorite with homeowners (and spec builders) adding second stories.
While that can be tricky architecturally and is definitely not cheap, it’s an alternative to new construction — or moving.
Several such homes in close proximity are invariably a good omen for future prices.
P.S.: In photo #3 (at right), how do you know the home was substantially renovated vs. simply torn down and re-built (besides its telltale “boxiness,” that is)?
Two ways: 1) the attached, one-car garage on the right side of the home (if it was new construction, it likely would have been re-built with a 3-car garage); and 2) on the county tax records, the home is listed as having 2 Bedrooms and 1 Bath.
