This South Side home for sale fuses nature, design and history

Tucked along one of the South Side Flats’ most charming streets is a residential oasis that’s hitting the market just as interest rates are falling and the NAR settlement changes take effect nationwide.

From brass railings that were once part of the altar gates at Holy Souls Church in Carnegie to an enchanting garden containing 26 koi fish and a rare paperbark maple tree, 2220 Sarah St. merges history, art and nature.

Just listed this week at $725,000, the property will be featured during an open house on Sunday, Aug. 18, from 1 to 4 p.m.

Heritage of a house and its inhabitants

A fascinating house history written by Carol J. Peterson reveals the provenance of the modest row house before it was transformed into an urban retreat.

The construction was commissioned by Wilhelm and Phillipina Goedecke between 1866 and 1868, according to Peterson’s research. The Italianate-style house was built on the western half of a double lot Phillipina purchased for $850 in 1864. Born in Germany, the couple likely came to the U.S. by 1840. At the time, the house was located in the borough of East Birmingham, which became part of the City of Pittsburgh in 1872.

Later, the Goedeckes’ son Frederick used a small barn, slaughterhouse and shed at the rear of the property in conjunction with his butcher shop at 2028 E. Carson St. 

According to Peterson, the descendants of Wilhelm and Phillipina used 2220 Sarah St. as a rental property, and the house was owned by family members until 1946. The history of the tenants reflects the area’s labor heritage and expanding demographics. Early occupants included a Civil War veteran, shearman, teamster, glass gatherer, mill fireman, dressmaker, cooper, a steelworker and later, immigrants from Lithuania.

Bespoke city living

Strolling past the home, one is transported to another world just by peeking through the patinaed fence, which reflects the home’s transformation over the last 35 years. Designed and fabricated by the late Pittsburgh sculptor Anthony R. Vitale, the steel fence with decorative butterfly motifs welcomes visitors into the home lovingly cared for by the artist’s son Frank Vitale since 1988.

Inside, the renovated two-unit property seamlessly fuses creativity, charm and comfort.

“The entire house is custom-designed,” says owner Frank Vitale, national director of the Pharmacy Partnership for Tobacco Cessation and a faculty member with the Purdue College of Pharmacy. 

This is seen in every detail from the fixtures to the outlets to the stained-glass windows.

The historic gem also offers investment potential. The 1,500-square-foot main house features two bedrooms and 1.5 bathrooms. A rear rental apartment offers a cozy 800-square-foot dwelling with one bedroom, one bathroom and a separate entrance.

“I was attracted to the house because of the big yard and side lot. In essence, it’s four lots,” he adds.

The home became a real-life canvas for Anthony’s work, from the decorative ironwork and apartment staircase to the built-in bedroom storage features and the outdoor stainless-steel planting sink.

Thoughtfully renovated, the three-story main property retains its historic character while integrating contemporary updates. With his background as an artist and metalworker, Anthony helped Frank to create a vision for the home’s distinctive spaces. 

“It was not in good shape back then and we wanted to open it all up,” says Frank.

Interior Arts and Crafts design elements give the home a showpiece quality. The first floor contains a combination half-bath and laundry room off the kitchen. You’ll never want to leave the inviting kitchen with its oak ceiling, copper farmhouse sink, Cambria quartz countertops and handcrafted Rookwood tiles. Created by John Eastman, the attached live edge kitchen table made from a cherry tree is included in the sale.

The living room features embossed Anaglypta wallpaper, exposed brick and a decorative alcove. A centerpiece is the steel and brick fireplace with a sandstone mantel made by Anthony. Pittsburgh artist Matt Bodnar designed the signature copper leafing for the home’s first-floor rooms and full bath.

The second floor has a front room perfect for a home office, gym or media den. From there, a spiral staircase leads to the primary loft bedroom with custom-made closets, dressers and a cozy window seat.

The two-story, 800-square-foot apartment blends decorative touches with modern living, including a glass tile backsplash, granite countertops, a breakfast bar and a spacious bathroom.

From home to horticulture 

The home’s next owner will want to spend as much time as possible outdoors, with a spacious deck (furniture included) and a mature garden with 3,400 square feet of green space.

How many gardeners can say their yard boasts a Sargent’s weeping hemlock, tricolor beech and two magnolia trees? Hydrangeas and hibiscus thrive among Acanthas, Japanese peonies and variegated cotoneaster. The impressive collection of perennials includes 30 types of hosta, along with Echinacea, Heuchera and Solomon’s seal.

Frank collaborated with master gardener Marley Wolff on the outdoor haven, which has evolved into a shaded woodland over the decades, a much-needed respite during Pittsburgh’s scorching summers. Connected by a stream, two ponds are home to 26 koi and goldfish.

“There was nothing here except for two crabapple trees that died after I moved in,” says Frank.

During the renovations, Frank says he uncovered baby doll parts and old bottles in the rubble, citing the neighborhood’s former proliferation of glass factories.

The facade of the brick house showcases custom woodwork created by Pittsburgh-based carpenter Scott Merlina.

With the heavy lifting already completed, the home’s new owner will be right in line with a 2024 U.S. Houzz Outdoor Trends Study looking at popular exterior renovation projects that include adding softscape and hardscape features and extending home living spaces to include the outdoors. 

Own a piece of living history

It’s easy to see why this distinctive property has been featured several times on the South Side Home & Garden Tour and Pittsburgh Botanic Garden Tour.

“I wanted a neighborhood where I could walk to everything. I can get anything I need right here,” says Frank, who loved his easy commute while working at the University of Pittsburgh.

Frank, who also served on the boards of the South Side Community Council and Bricolage Production Co., also notes the proximity to public transportation, two grocery stores, City Theatre and the East Carson Street commercial district. 

Just south of the Monongahela River, the South Side Flats is home to one of Pittsburgh’s largest concentrations of 19th-century homes. Four miles from Downtown, the property provides easy access to SouthSide Works, Southside Riverfront Park & Trail and Station Square.

“Having lived and worked in the South Side myself for six years, where I walked past 2220 Sarah St. every day, I can truly say that this property is one-of-a-kind not only in the South Side, but in the entire city,” says Catalina Pagnotta, with RE/MAX Select Realty. 

“The next owner will enjoy the benefits of living in a walkable neighborhood filled with shopping and restaurants. They will be able to retreat after a long day surrounded by the beautifully landscaped garden and live in a unique house filled with custom woodwork and ironwork. To top it off, they will own an investment property with great income-generating potential.”

2220 Sarah St.
South Side Flats
Property type: Residential
Price: $725,000