Get in Early on Corsicana’s Artful Renaissance with a Fixer-Upper of Your Own

Share News:

 

402 W. 1st Street Corsicana

HGTV Fixer Upper  fanatics: Do you dream of modernizing a “house with character” into an idyllic country get-away, perhaps one with an art scene for surrounds? Take a gander at this Corsicana old house. If you caught Paper City’s current July/August issue feature “Move Over Marfa; Corsicana is Texas’ Latest Small-Town Arts Mecca,” you’re aware — led by the art center 100 West, the small oil boom town of yesteryear midway between Dallas and Waco is poised to develop into a colony for creatives.

There’s a movement afoot to cultivate a healthy retail and cultural scene in the “downtown area,” including restoring historic early 1900s-era housing nearby, too. Indeed our own Amanda Popken shared insight about Corsicana’s renaissance in a post this past spring. (Fair warning: the enthusiasm of the folks behind the activities to promote the initiative is infectious. Prepare to jump into arts support and entrepreneurial ventures in Corsicana yourself.)

Just 50 minutes from Dallas, Corsicana has older homes ripe for renovation at a reasonable price. By way of an example of listings with potential popping up, here’s a look at 402 W. 1st Street. The house is under contract contingent upon financing, but a good example of properties which go for as little as $45 per square foot. The current homeowners have made a start at modernizing, recently adding windows and foam insulation.

The listing at 402 W. 1st Street is three blocks away from the center of downtown life — Beaton Street — and in easy walking distance of the library, grocery, courthouse, parks, fire and police stations, and downtown shops, antique emporiums, and restaurants. Listing agent Cheryl Blanton notes it would be well suited to be converted to a bed and breakfast. “Our quaint town is drawing the attention of artists from around the world thanks to our new art house 100W,” said Blanton. “There’s a need for more lodging here.”

The colonial-style house on a 0.34 acre lot was built around 1900. The two-story, five-bedroom, two-bath home has 3,292 square feet of indoor space, plus a welcoming front porch, spacious covered balcony, and a covered back deck, too.

The front porch looks like just the spot to sit in a rocking chair and sip lemonade while watching a small town 4th of July parade:

402 W. 1st. Corsicana

Living areas are characterized by tall windows and doorways framed with wide millwork. The home has high ceilings and wood floors (some under carpet) throughout.


Here is the kitchen with a transom window over the back door:

 

The staircase…

… leads to the second floor where a full bath features a claw-footed tub, dual sinks, and barn wood paneling:

Here is a bedroom:

Note: the window air-conditioning unit. Only the first floor of the house has central heat and air. Upstairs bedrooms are served by individual window units, each on its own circuit. (This is a fixer-upper, you know.)

Here is a second-story room used as living space:

And, a look at the balcony…

Inside the front porch …

And the covered back deck:

 

The home at 402 W. 1st Street is listed at $150,000 by Realtor Cheryl Blanton with JB Realty Group. It’s under contract, but may just inspire you to visit Corsicana and take a look around for the next such good find — an opportunity to join a community nurturing a new art mecca and restoring beautiful old structures to glory, and just a hop, skip, and a jump away.

valeriejarvie

valeriejarvie