It all started over 10 years ago when we met a woman that would today become a client and the feature of this months real story.

Aside from new construction, homes within Minneapolis were built in the early 1900s. Most with stairs at the front entry and many without a main floor bathroom or bedroom. Needless to say, it's rare to find a barrier free, wheel chair accessible Two-Story home anywhere in Minneapolis that allows you to "Age in Place".

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention defines ageing in place as: "the ability to live in one's own home and community, independently, and comfortably, regardless of age, income, or ability level." Our client, Janet Eckhoff made this a reality for her aging parents, George and Flo. Allowing them to continue living in the home they purchased in 1956, a Two-Story Dutch Colonial built in 1907 in an idyllic neighborhood just a few blocks from Lake Harriet, Minnehaha Creek, parks, shops, restaurants and all that southwest Minneapolis has to offer.

From her heart, Eckhoff poured energy into working with her parents, local remodler and designers for a multi-level addition to be built on the rear of the home that included a ground level side entrance and mudroom with a 4 level elevator access to the whole home. Also added were handicap accessible bathrooms, eco-friendly solar electric and thermal power, main floor family room and bathroom, an upper level owners suite and laundry room, and a lower level room with egress window to accommodate a future 5th Bedroom. The remodel expanded the kitchen to accommodate a person in a wheelchair. Adding roll-under access to the cook-top and sink and adding an under counter oven.

Solar Panels were added to the home for energy efficiency and power outage safeguarding to provide electricity to the family room, the kitchen and it’s appliances, and power to one bedroom ensuring medical equipment would have power at all times. Now that’s going the extra mile! In addition, Solar Thermal Panels and a hot water tank were installed to reduce the workload on the boiler by providing hot water to the kitchen and all the bathrooms. This use of alternative energy also reduces the home's dependency on natural gas. In-floor heat was installed in the addition on both first and second floors, also in the remodeled second floor accessible bathroom. The rest of the home is heated with clean, efficient hot water heat radiators.

Now, ten years since her parent’s passing, Ms. Eckhoff is retiring and is ready to sell her childhood home to someone who will love and enjoy it as much as she and her family have for the past 65 years.

The home features a beautiful 3-season front porch. Refinished yellow birch hardwood flooring throughout the main and second floors. Family room, fireplace, and kitchen with beautiful oak trim and cabinetry. Large windows with wonderful sunlight throughout and especially at the new main floor family room which has this wonderful view above. The beautiful private backyard is fenced with a large swing gate across the driveway at the side entrance.

This old home has moved into the 21st century in style and functionality with an elevator and loads of accessibility features, plus, diverse and alternative energy sources for household utilities. Wonderful large rooms and spaces abound for entertaining inside and out. Four upper level bedrooms and a future bedroom or flex room in the lower level. Three finished baths with a fourth plumbed and ready to finish in the owners suite. The house will be getting a whole new roof in 2023 as a result of hail damage in 2022. For full details of this featured home for sale follow the link below. And, contact us for a private showing!

Follow this link for the full Northstar MLS Listing: Click here!