Updated with incredible care and a keen eye toward preserving classic elements while infusing contemporary style. Tucked away on a quiet, utterly winsome street. This home, in this location, is an unbeatable combination. You’ll want to spend all day on the tastefully refinished front porch – the perfect perch from which to rest, work, and greet passersby. The interior is just as inviting! Bright, with well-proportioned rooms throughout. 3BRs w/a finished 3rd floor & basement. Main bath impeccably updated (w/radiant floors!). Spacious, eat-in kitchen. Front and back yards thoughtfully landscaped. New roof, Pella windows, updated electrical with whole house surge protector, and central air are among the other recent improvements that make this home completely move-in ready.

Features/Improvements

• New Pella windows (2020 + 2021)
• Gut renovation of main bathroom, including heated tile floors (2020)
• Water Softener (2021)
• Central Air (2019)
• New Roof (2020)
• New Power Supply (200 amp) with socket to connect a generator as well as a whole house surge protector (2019)
• Refinished Front Porch (2020)
• New washer and dryer (2019)

Dear Future Owners of 314 Franklin Place,

We were drawn to South Orange because of the people and community, the character and charm of the homes and the proximity to the city we had previously called home. We’re thrilled to say, all of those things make this home so special. We hope you have the same feeling we do when we walk into this house every day.

The community of Melrose/Franklin place is unlike anything we’ve experienced. From daily sidewalk chats, to backyard drinks and BBQs, to helping each other with childcare and last minute home issues, and supplying cooking ingredients when in a bind, we are a group of friends and neighbors which makes this town feel so much more like home. We support each other, cheer each other on and love seeing each other’s families grow and flourish. It is a tight-knit community that welcomes new and old, all ages and all backgrounds. We are gutted to be leaving this block (or bubble, given our lack of through-street, which is a lovely additional feature) and know our neighbors will welcome you with open arms!

We have put so much love into this house, all while maintaining the integrity of the original character that drew us to it. We’ve done all the projects we expect the next owner would like to avoid, from new top-of-the-line Pella windows, to a new roof, central air, gut renovating our bathroom—with heated tiles, no less—and meticulously cleaning all of the brass door fixtures throughout the house (which were previously painted over!). We’ve also taken great care to ensure the front porch, our central hangout in this house and neighborhood, is warm and welcoming, surrounded by updating landscaping and greenery. Some of our additional favorite features of this home include our attic, which is an incredibly cozy place for night-time TV and wine, our backyard chiminea for Spring, Summer and Fall fires, our fireplace inside for the winter.

The location is conveniently a block away from West Orange’s free jitneys to both Mountain and South Orange stations into the city. Mountain Station is an easy walk if desired. South Orange jitneys have been shut down indefinitely making this an even more attractive feature for the location. Our family frequently walks to Flood’s Hill and the local playground for weekend and weekday activities. Some of our favorite South Orange places, walkable on a nice day, include Jackie & Sons, The Order, and Miti Miti. And you’re an easy drive to Liv Bakery (Millburn) and Baker Street Market (Maplewood). And the final place that made this town home was the conservation land, an easy 5 minute drive from our home which has two waterfalls, a beautiful pond, over-the-top pirate ship playground and a well maintained zoo.

This town has built an incredible community for us, despite being relatively new when COVID struck us. It’s down to earth, open-minded and inclusive, warm and welcoming, and we are confident you’ll find the same sense of belonging we did when we arrived.

We have so many incredible memories in this home and know you will build the same. We are truly sad to leave this home. We love it, and hope you do too!

With Care,
The Current Homeowners