Price, history and value are things that Maria Kenworthy, a general building contractor best known for lovingly renovating grand old homes, considers when buying a property. But just as important is how she feels when she first enters a structure.
"I can walk into a house and feel good or not," Kenworthy said. "When I don't feel good, I walk — 57 Groveland Terrace had really good karma."
Kenworthy bought the 4,954-square-foot property in Minneapolis' Lowy Hill East neighborhood in 2013 and spent a year on the renovation. She gutted it, putting in new insulation, a new kitchen and updating all five bathrooms. She also put on a new roof.
"I worked hard to bring back the old luster with new amenities," Kenworthy said. "And I always do marble bathrooms, because marble is timeless."
Kenworthy was drawn to the property because it already had great bones and an enviable site.
"It's on a hill, so at night, you get this beautiful view of the Minneapolis skyline," she said. "And the location so close to everything is awesome."
The house had been part of a larger property that was subdivided; it lost its garage, which was part of the carriage house, in the subdivision. Kenworthy added a double garage. She also updated the landscape, which came into its fullness after she sold it, and it has turned over a couple of times.
Andrew and Colleen Clarke, who have owned the house since 2015, are relocating now that their kids are in college and put the home on the market, listed at $2.15 million.
