When Julie Noonan says she immediately fell head over heels for the Glendale home at 765 W. Kirkham Ave. after first seeing it in 2002, she means it. “We just knew it was for us,” she says. “We closed on a Thursday and got married on the front porch on a Saturday.”
Since then, the wide front porch, sheltered from the street by a row of pines, has provided a welcoming spot to sit and stay awhile—and neighbors, family and friends often did just that. “We have a really private setting, and you just feel like you’re out in the middle of the country,” Noonan says.
The 5,663-square-foot home, built in 1868, sits on an acre lot and has been beautifully restored and updated, Noonan says. “I appreciate its history and architecture, so everything is authentic to the period, and we spent a lot of time and attention matching what was already there.”
But the beauty of the home is only a small part of its appeal, Noonan says. The family also has loved the tightknit, small-town feel of Glendale. “I find it so quaint and charming, and we’ve made a lot of good friends in the area,” she says. Neighbors and family often gathered in the home’s spacious backyard, which features a red barn and a pool, site of many wiffle ball tournaments and barbecues.
The area’s walkability makes it an ideal place for kids, Noonan adds. Her children often would walk to their friends’ houses, or meet up as a group at Larson Park for a tennis game or to romp on the playground. “It’s so kid friendly, with lots of schools around,” Noonan says. “We walk into Webster all the time, and there’s so many great restaurants and lots of things for children to do. Walkability helps you get to know your neighbors and everyone is so friendly. It really is a great place to live and raise a family.”
It’s neighborhoods like these, the ones St. Louisans love to call home, that Laura McCarthy specializes in, says company president Kathy Beilein. “We’re lucky that we’ve always been positioned within the central corridor, and so we sell in many of the urban and suburban areas that still have the beautiful architecture and all the amenities,” she says. “Walkability is important, and many of our communities are family-friendly with great parks and entertainment. This makes St. Louis a great place to live.”
After more than a decade on West Kirkham Avenue, Noonan is ready to move on to a new project—this time a Central West End home in need of some TLC. But with Laura McCarthy’s help, the Glendale home will soon have new owners to relax on its front porch, entertain in its yard and become a part of the community. “Buyers are always looking for community, and there are so many neighborhoods that are really distinct with their own personalities. That’s pretty unique to St. Louis,” Beilein says.
[Laura McCarthy specializes in real estate in St. Louis’ central corridor. For more information, visit lauramccarthy.com or call 314.725.5100.]
Photo: Bill Barrett
Pictured: The porch at 765 W. Kirkham Ave.