PALM HEIGHTS HISTORIC DISTRICT

In 1888 the Inland Empire was a sprawling region laid out with groves of Washington Navel orange trees. The newly connected Santa Fe Railroad was delivering boxcars full of fruit all over the nation. Acres of orange groves were creating a citrus boom that would soon make Riverside the richest per capita region in the country.  The groves were peppered with Queen Ann Victorians, stately California Craftsman Bungalows, and grand Farmhouses, the residences of the grove owners. Times have changed since 1888, the groves have faded away but many of the grand old homes still stand. What were once homes nestled within rows of navel oranges are now celebrated reminders of our region’s history.

One of these grand old ladies is currently listed for sale by The Ransom-McKenzie Team with Coldwell Banker Realty. The Stephen Magee House, built in 1888 by Riverside pioneer Dr. Stephen Magee, sits in the Palm Heights Historic District of Riverside. It is one of the two remaining original Victorian homes in the neighborhood. When the Magee family built the home, it was situated on a 20-acre orange grove and faced Palm Avenue. The surrounding groves were owned by prominent Riverside founders including the Tibbets family who introduced the Washington navel orange to the region. In fact, the Parent Navel Orange Tree still stands just blocks away from the home. In the late 1920’s the post war population boom hit Riverside and the city experienced large scale residential development as a result. It was during this time that the Magee House was aligned with a new streetscape on Sunnyside Drive. The development of this neighborhood continued over the 1930’s & 40’s as Tudor, Spanish Colonial, Craftsman, Classical Revival, and Minimal Traditional homes filled in to create a typical Southern California suburban neighborhood. Today this neighborhood has been designated as the Palm Heights Historic District.

THE HOME’S RESTORATION

In the heart of this historic district the Magee House stands proud as a lovely reminder of days gone by. Since purchasing it in 2007, the current owners have taken care to lovingly restore every inch of this beautiful home. Over the years they have found period hardware, wallpaper, fixtures, and paint colors to bring this lovely Queen Ann back to its original glory. As you approach the home, take a moment to appreciate the intricate spindle work, and design detail of the home’s exterior from the ship wheel corner brackets on the front porch to the rising sun above the second story balcony.

Upon entering the home, you will be presented with true Victorian style and décor. The high ceilings and prominent baseboards, together with white oak hardwood floors and multiple pocket doors dividing each room are all features that have not changed over time. Even the pocket doors’ push button hardware has been painstakingly restored so that each set of doors works perfectly. Looking up, you’ll notice several original Edison light fixtures, (converted to electric, of course) as well as period balustrade work on the staircase. Multiple fireplaces in the home feature incredibly detailed surrounds which incorporate custom glazed tile and detailed carved wood mantels. The downstairs fireplaces have been converted to gas for convenience of use.

There are six bedrooms and three bathrooms in the Magee home including a full bathroom and bedroom downstairs. The second-floor features four spacious bedrooms and a large common bathroom. The main bedroom boasts, oversized sash windows and a full walk-in closet. All the other bedrooms on this floor are large with high ceilings and oversized windows. The front bedroom has a fireplace and access to the second-floor balcony through a unique sash window style door.   The third floor has been converted to a complete en-suite apartment / studio (Many Victorians do not have a finished 3^rd floors). This is the perfect attic retreat for your office, art studio, teenager hang out or whatever else you can dream of. There is a whole house fan in this space, as well as supplemental air conditioning to keep the space comfortable in the summer.

MODERN UPGRADES ABOUND

While the home has been restored to reflect its rich history, there are modern amenities that have been added to bring this home into the twenty-first century. The kitchen has a 6 burner Viking cook top & hood, a Bosch dishwasher, refrigerator, and an oversized farmhouse double sink, and custom cabinetry with soft close hinges.

There are 2 separate HVAC systems, one for the first floor of the home and an additional system to control the upper two floors. The entire HVAC system, including the ducting, has been updated in the past 10 years. A whole house fan on the top floor works to help cool the entire house down on summer evenings. The electrical panel was updated to accommodate an electric car charging station as well. The home got a new roof in 2018, which included reflective insulation over the attic room. The exterior paint was also completed in 2018.

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The exterior of the home offers room for numerous activities from patio dining to swimming, and gardening. The back yard has multiple sitting areas, including an outdoor living room shaded by a wood gazebo. An above ground pool offers relief from the warm summer days and a custom spa on the west side of the house is the perfect place to enjoy evening sunsets. The long side driveway offers room for multiple cars, and the carriage garage has been enhanced with interior features such as updated electrical, and lighting.

CALL US TODAY TO VIEW THIS BEAUTIFUL HOME

Located close to all that the lovely city of Riverside has to offer, you’ll be able to enjoy easy access to the Riverside Plaza, as well as Downtown Riverside’s museums, entertainment, and restaurants. Come see all Riverside and the Stephen Magee house has to offer by giving The Ransom-McKenzie Team a call today. We live in Riverside, We love Riverside, and we sell Riverside.

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THE RANSOM-MCKENZIE TEAM | 951.237.2044 |CalBRE #01721257