Sale of the Week: The $1.5-million house that shows how Chinatown is changing

Address: 165 Huron Street

Neighbourhood: Chinatown

Agent: Jo Citro, Royal LePage Terrequity Realty, Brokerage

The Property: Built in 1888, this two-storey semi has original trim, an updated kitchen and a second-floor deck with a view of the city.

The History: The former owners, a pair of English academics and their kids, purchased the home a few years ago. They built a basement bathroom and renovated the kitchen last year. This was the fifth time the property had been listed in the past 15 years.

The Fate: The home is located in what agents call a “neighbourhood in transition”—an area inhabited both by homeowners and by student renters. New condos being built steps away on College Street are likely to shift the area’s demographics, possibly making low-rise properties like this one rarer and more sought-after than they already are.

The Sale: The sellers opted not to hold an open house. Even so, there were several offers. They accepted the highest, which was $273,000 over asking.

By The Numbers:

• $1,522,000
• $6,432.86 in property taxes (2015)
• 2,183 square feet of living space
• 127 years old
• 122 per cent of list price
• 7 days on the market
• 3 bedrooms
• 3 bathrooms
• 1 garage

The main-floor living room has custom bookcases.

The family room is continuous with the living room.

The dining room and kitchen occupy a shared space at the rear of the house.

The house was built in the 19th century, and it shows in small details like the trim, and whatever that brick thing is.

The kitchen was updated last year.

There’s a little solarium at the rear of the house, with doors to the backyard.

A bold choice of wall decoration in this bedroom, one of three on the second floor.

The master bedroom has its own dressing room, but no en suite bathroom.

All the bedrooms share this large bathroom.

Also on the second floor: a deck. The view of downtown probably improves when the leaves fall off those trees.

According to the selling agent, a previous owner dug out this unusual basement-level patio so he could easily lower his sculptures into the house.

Here’s a better look at the basement patio. It’s in the front yard.