Old house lovers in Pittsburgh are a little spoiled. If they've never lived anywhere else, they don't realize how unusual it is to find huge, relatively inexpensive houses with original woodwork, windows and fixtures.

The house at 129 N. Linden Ave. (MLS No. 784950) in North Point Breeze is a good example. This century-old, three-story brick house has six bedrooms, seven fireplaces and an intact oak staircase that runs all the way to the third floor, all available for $279,000 through Realtor Hope Feldman of Hope Real Estate Services (412-551-5178).

The house was in major need of renovation when the current owner bought it in August 1997 for $63,000. Mature trees shade the red brick house and its roomy front porch. Refinished pine floors and the ornate staircase gleam in the 13-by-11-foot entry, which contains one of the seven gas fireplaces, none of which are working. Carved scrollwork decorates the sides of the stairs.

---

Point Breeze
At a glance

• Size: 1 mile; part of city's 14th Ward.
• Population: 5,665 (2000 census)
• School district: Pittsburgh Public Schools; www.pghboe.net
• Average SAT scores: 539 Verbal, 560 Math, 534 Writing (Allderdice High School)
• Taxes: For a house assessed at $100,000: $2,941
• City: $1,080 (10.8 mills)
  School: $1,392 (13.92 mills)
  County: $469 (4.69 mills)
  Wage tax: 3 percent, split between the city (1 percent ) and school district (2 percent)
  
• Claim to fame: Westinghouse Park in North Point Breeze is a setting for two books by John Edgar Wideman. The park is named for George Westinghouse, who once lived there, as did fellow industrialists Andrew Carnegie and Henry Clay Frick. Clayton, Frick's restored Victorian home, is now part of the Frick Art & Historical Center.

---

"There so much detail. It's an incredible house to live in," said Ms. Feldman, who grew up in Point Breeze.

The current owner repaired most of the plaster on the first floor, where the ceilings are at least 12 feet high. The first floor has its original leaded-glass casement windows; the other floors have old double-hungs. Several stained-glass windows are found on both floors and the furnace was replaced within the past 10 years.

There are no leaks in the shingle roof, but it will likely need to be replaced by the new owner. The 15-by-14-foot kitchen, which has its original doors and transoms over the windows, is also due for an update. Other old-house details include a butler's pantry and built-in china closet with glass doors in the 16-by-15-foot dining room. The living room measures 14 by 13 feet. There is a powder room on the first floor.

The main bath on the second floor has a clawfoot tub, pedestal sink and newer black-and-white tile. On this floor, there is a fireplace in each of the four bedrooms, including the 16-by-15-foot master.

Refinished pine floors gleam on the third floor, which has one large room measuring 23 by 15 feet and two smaller rooms.

"It would make a great family room," Ms. Feldman said of what was probably maid's quarters when the house was built.

Out back, there is a newer concrete patio with room for a table, chairs and grill. Two off-street parking spaces are available on an adjacent rear lot. The current owner allows a community garden to use a portion of the adjacent lot. An open house will be held today from 2 to 4 p.m.

The house has a 2009 full market value of $65,500 (www2.county.allegheny.pa.us). In the past three years, five properties have sold on North Linden, ranging in price from $86,000 in January 2008 to $290,000 in November 2008 (www.realstats.net). Prices tend to be lower in North Point Breeze than South Point Breeze, usually just known as Point Breeze. Penn Avenue is the dividing line.

The neighborhood is about six miles from Downtown and has easy access to the Parkway East and Route 28. This house is four blocks from Westinghouse Park, five blocks from Mellon Park and less than a mile from Giant Eagle and Trader Joe's, as well as from the new Bakery Square development.

Point Breeze is also less than 10 minutes from shopping in Shadyside and Squirrel Hill and the Pittsburgh Zoo in Highland Park.