PORTLAND – The city’s finest, most historic and architecturally distinguished homes can be found here in the walkable West End. This handsome townhouse is one of eight (and as an end unit, all the more desirable) in the J.B. Brown block, built in 1865 when the successful entrepreneur was increasingly turning his business interests to real estate and development.

Many decades ago there was a convenience store, the Pine Cone Shoppe, attached to the building. No trace of the shop exists today. Now, the home consists of two units: first, main floor and daylight lower level; and the second and third stories. Please note that the house can readily become a single-family again.

The city’s records put the total square footage at 3,345, but this number does not include the finished lower level of 550 square feet. Also, the daylight, walkup attic could be converted to a studio, office, etc., thus creating five levels of living space. As has been done by three townhouse neighbors, adding an elevated deck may be a possibility.

On the first floor, behind the original, tall box-bay window, two large rooms were at some period combined. The result is a wonderfully bright living room with maple flooring and brick, wood-burning fireplace, that extends 33 feet and so is long enough to accommodate multiple uses. The adjacent formal dining room is a charmer with a pair of classic built-in china cabinets. Around the corner, there’s a full bath with soaking tub; and at the back, a funky-cool kitchen with gas range.

Downstairs, the two sleeping rooms are back and front; the former has a full wall of custom built-ins (drawers and closets). In between, a good-sized open area makes a perfect workroom, and has a laundry enclosure.

The upper unit has a main living area similar to that downstairs, and a fireplace; but here, the kitchen is behind a tiled bar at the front. At the back, up two small steps, is a bonus room/studio. On the fourth floor, the big front bedroom has a nursery, or office, en suite. The side/back bedroom is even larger. Both bedrooms are served by a full bath with soaking tub.

A delightful fenced garden, and off-street parking for two or three vehicles, are further advantages.

The home at 87 Pine St., Portland is listed for sale at $630,000 by Hannah Holmes of Keller Willliams Realty, and is being shown by appointment. For more information or to arrange a private viewing, please contact Hannah at 553-1339, 450-2346, or hannahholmes@kw.com.

Produced by the Marketing Department of the Portland Press Herald, the Friday feature home is provided at no cost.

Photographs by Melanie Sochan.

Send feature home suggestions to jrolfe@pressherald.com.

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