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On the market: An older Fishtown starter home with 'some nice, modern touches'

"We think it's a good house for someone looking to buy in Fishtown who maybe isn't looking for brand new construction but wants a house with some character and history to it," the owner says.

The backyard patio at 1345 E. Oxford St. in Philadelphia.
The backyard patio at 1345 E. Oxford St. in Philadelphia.Read moreCHRISTOPHER SANTANIELLO

When Mike Kania and his wife, Katie Idell, bought their first home in Fishtown, they were attracted to a neighborhood that they described as "up and coming."

That was in 2007.

"Fishtown has grown and changed so much since we moved there," Kania said. "Even though we came in with the expectation that things were going to happen, the number of things that have opened up in the ensuing 11 years is still a little mind-blowing."

It wasn't just the burgeoning neighborhood that attracted them to the three-bedroom home. The couple was drawn in by the large kitchen and a sizable master bedroom, as well as the upstairs laundry, Kania said.

"The fact that it's an old house but had some nice, modern touches was great," he said.

Kania said the couple spent significant time upgrading the home in the decade-plus that they have owned it.

"We put a lot of work into this house," he said.

The first project they tackled was upgrading their cracked concrete patio to one with pavers and garden beds. They also added a dogwood tree. The second project they undertook was a total kitchen renovation.

"My wife and I cook a lot, and it was important to us to have a big, functional space for that," Kania said. "It was a lot of work but totally worth it."

Today the kitchen features Caesarstone quartz counters and new stainless steel appliances.

Kania said the kitchen might be their favorite room in the home, but a close second is the sunroom behind it, overlooking the patio.

"It's a great place to drink coffee in the morning and look at the spring flowers in the back yard," he said.

Kania said the couple is ready for a change, and they've recently listed the home for sale.

"It was just time for something different," he said. "Though we will always love Fishtown."

In a neighborhood awash in new construction, Kania said he thinks the home will attract a buyer who can appreciate the home's past.

"We think it's a good house for someone looking to buy in Fishtown who maybe isn't looking for brand new construction but wants a house with some character and history to it," he said.

The home is listed with Brooke Willmes at Fresh Quarters for $390,000.