No doubt, the Graduate Hospital neighborhood has experienced some serious changes over the past decade plus. A useful, though slightly dated report from the Fels Institute effectively quantifies these changes in shocking terms. Back in 1998, the neighborhood contained 553 vacant houses. By 2008, there were a mere 49 vacant houses remaining in the neighborhood, and that number has certainly been going down every year since.

One of the few vacant properties left, but not for long

With so many empty buildings and so much vacant land as a result of demolished vacant homes, some builders have, over the years, opted to construct homes that don’t exactly look like many of the other houses in the neighborhood. Case in point, 1631, 1635, and 1637 Christian Street. The first two were built around 2006, and the third in 2009. All three are notably different from other area homes architecturally, and are also among the largest in the neighborhood.

The three homes

We bring these homes to your attention at this time, as we noticed the residents of the westernmost home moving out the other day, having recently put the home under contract. The home was last listed at $875K, with a scheduled closing date for this week. Not bad for a 3,000+ sqft home with 4 bedrooms, 3.5 bathrooms, roof decks, and a parking spot. Sure, it doesn’t look much like the other homes on the block, but it seems that the soon-to-be new owners don’t mind a bit.

Plus, considering what the block looked like fifteen years ago, we’d imagine that some longer term residents don’t mind either.

The block back in 1996, immediately to the east of the large homes. Photo from Laura Blanchard

Current view of the vastly improved block