The Riverside Avondale Preservation, Inc. announced its selections for the 29th Annual RAP Tour of Homes scheduled for April 26-27.
This year’s tour will showcase 10 unique structures:
1822 Edgewood Avenue
This Avondale mansion was built in 1927 by Charles T. Davis Jr. in as a Tudor and Jacobethan Revival-styled residence with more than 5,300 square feet. The home is located at the corner of Edgewood Avenue and Pine Street and features a crenelated parapet entrance, which brings to mind a grand English manor house sitting high above its Avondale neighbors. This unique three-story home includes four-bedrooms, five-bathrooms, library, small breakfast room, dining room, sitting room and kitchen.
1520 Barrs Street
This home was built in 1910 and features a large verandah and tapered columns. The house has 3,500 square feet and a storied history, having been a boarding house for British women in the 1930’s and teahouse and antique store until 1999. There are rumors, but no confirmation, that singer Pat Boone’s grandfather once owned the home.
2865 Forbes Street
Built in 1920, this three-bedroom, one-story home is located on the corner of Cherry and Forbes streets and is an example of the bungalow style of homes that was prevalent throughout Florida in the first 3 decades of the 20th century. The home features a gable roof, exposed rafter ends and a simple entrance with a gable overhang.
2767 Lydia Street
This 3,000 square-foot Colonial Revival style home was built in 1913 and features five bedrooms, heart of pine floors, four fire places, three original cast iron tubs and large front windows that allow a good deal of light into the home.
2968 Herschel Street
Built in 1927, the two-story, wood shingle home has 2,450 square feet. The home contains three bedrooms, fire place, three bathrooms, hardwood floors throughout, family room and laundry room.
1833 Willowbranch Terrace
This 5,100 square foot home was built in 1926 by R.D Baldwin and is located on Willow Branch Creek. Following the Marsh-Saxelbye home design, it features four bedrooms, an original Art Deco bar, dining room with three sets of French doors, master suite with two walk-in closets and a gourmet kitchen. A special feature of the home is the Otis elevator that is believed to have come from the Cohen Brothers department store (now City Hall.)
534 Lancaster Street
Constructed in 1909, the two-story, yellow clapboard home has a central dormer, lattice windows and an off-center entryway that were very popular and much copied style from 1908 to 1914. The style of the home is a blend of Colonial Revival and Queen Ann attributes. The home includes three bedrooms, three baths, hardwood floors, crown molding, two fire places and double-hung sash windows.
2129 River Boulevard
Originally built in 1924 by the George W. Langford Company, which was well known for building several hotels on Miami Beach, the three-story Montague Place Apartments feature a Mediterranean Revival style that is completed by Italianate lines and stucco construction over concrete blocks. The structure consists of six apartments totaling 10,000 square feet. Each apartment has marble-floored entrance and hardwood floors throughout, a formal dining area, breakfast room and sunroom overlooking the St. Johns River.
2784 Herschel Street
Originally a country store, the structure was built in 1911 with a shop downstairs and living space upstairs. The upstairs space has been renovated and includes a 1,400 square-foot apartment with three-bedrooms, one-bath, updated kitchen and all new hardwood floors. The downstairs is being converted into a second apartment with 1,400 square feet and a much different look. The downstairs will be finished as a one-bedroom unit and will possess numerous elements from the previous existing store, including freezer doors and a glass wall.
St. Luke’s
Metropolitan Church
1140 McDuff Avenue - This historic, 300-seat church has housed many different congregations, but since 1955, has been home to the St. Luke’s Metropolitan Church. Last November, the congregation approved a $140,000 renovation effort to upgrade the heating system and air conditioning systems, install new signage, make improvements to the courtyard and refinish the floor in the sanctuary. Renovations are still underway and are scheduled for completion this spring.