PHOTOS BY GREG SPROUL AT CAPTURED LISTINGS

Long before Jennifer Waters purchased her home at 169 Irwin Avenue in Ben Avon, she was lounging around the pool and grabbing snacks from the spacious kitchen. 

Growing up in Ben Avon herself, Waters was good friends with the previous owner’s daughter, Lily. 

“Some of my favorite memories from growing up were in this house, like sleepovers in Lily’s room, painting our nails in the family room, their huge Christmas party and the enormous tree she put up in the family room and summer days spent floating in the pool,” Waters says.  

In fact, the two friends remained so close after high school that Water’s bridal shower was held at the same home. 

When Lily notified Waters that her mom was selling her beloved childhood home in 2013, Waters jumped at the chance to purchase the six-bedroom, five-bathroom house. Waters’ 13-year-old daughter now sleeps in the same room her mom once had sleepovers in. 

“When the opportunity arose to own the house where all that fun happened, I was so excited to create similar memories with and for my kids,” Waters says. 

It’s a spacious property, with 4,233 square feet spread over three floors. The previous owners demolished a small garage and used the reclaimed bricks to blend in an addition to the home. A larger two-car garage was then added to the property. 

Over the past decade, Waters has made some careful updates to the center-hall colonial-revival-style home, which is listed for $750,000. 

Those upgrades include radiant tile flooring and other flooring updates, lighting upgrades, updates to the HVAC and plumbing and — essential in Pittsburgh — a heater for the outdoor saltwater pool. 

“Although it’s a historic house and has a lot of original character and charm, the home has been updated to be very functional for family life,” says Waters, who is also the listing agent. “The finished basement is an ideal game room and also features a changing room and bathroom with convenient access to the pool, radiant floors for coming inside wet and a second washer and dryer just for towels.” 

A workout room and tons of storage space round out the finished basement, a rarity for a home built in 1900.  

With such a personal connection to the home, Waters has also delved into the history of the property. This house was part of an original parcel belonging to the Irwin family, for which the avenue is named. James Irwin willed the property to his daughter, Dessie, who later divided the property into lots to meet the growing need for homes in the region around the turn of the century. 

Between the Irwin family and Waters’ purchase, four other families have called the house their home — each adding various improvements and working hard to maintain the home’s historical aspects.

Waters says she is not planning to move far. She’s in love with the Ben Avon community and the connections she has made there over the years. 

“We love the small-town feel of Ben Avon,” she says. “When I first moved here, my next door neighbors referred to it as a ‘Norman Rockwell town.’ And they were spot on.” 

Waters says the friendly neighbors, the quaint strip of businesses, such as Anchor and Anvil Coffee Bar along Church Avenue, and frequent community events are just a few of the reasons they love living there. 

As a realtor, she’s used to selling folks on various communities — but it hits a bit differently when it’s her own. “Honestly, it’s an absolute pleasure to sell Ben Avon because it really is so uniquely special.” 

About: Ben Avon Borough
Population: 1,899
Planes, Trains & Automobiles: The city’s north boroughs have long been popular with commuters for their prime location. Ben Avon, wedged in the triangle made by Ohio River Boulevard, the Parkway North and Interstate 79, is situated perfectly for quick access to all of the city’s major arteries. There are no regular public buses to Ben Avon, but the commuter 19L route takes residents to and from Downtown during the morning and evening commutes.
Schools: Avonworth School District (avonworth.k12.pa.us)
Neighborhood: Ben Avon is a walkable historic community with access to parks and several local businesses, and there are multiple grocery stores within a five-minute drive. Various parades and festivals are beloved by residents year-round, which adds to the close knit community feel. 

Neighborhood data provided by Niche.