When I was still new to Indianapolis I rented a cute apartment on Mass Ave but knew I'd buy a house eventually. I love owning my own house and there was no way I could be an apartment dweller for long.
When a coworker asked if I'd considered Historic Irvington, I had to admit that I hadn't even heard of the place. Turns out, Historic Irvington is one of the better kept secrets among Indianapolis metropolitan neighborhoods. It's just five miles east of downtown Indianapolis --Michigan, Washington, and New York are the main thruways. Irvington real estate was just a few minutes from the Mass ave neighborhood I was about to leave.
But as close as it is to Indy's skyscrapers, Historic Irvington has a strong small town community vibe. From the neighborhood council to the garden club, members of this urban community are dedicated to making Irvington a great place to live. We found ourselves a 100-year-old Craftsman home with two fireplaces, gorgeous wood floors and an expansive front porch. I've had many homes including a big limestone Spanish Colonial Revival in Bloomington, Indiana but I can honestly say that this house in Historic Irvington is my absolute favorite, and I still can't believe how affordable it was.
Irvington real estate isn't just beautiful, it is priced right.
What makes Irvington historic?
Irvington was founded in 1870 by Sylvester Johnson and Jacob Julian. One interesting tidbit that's unique as the town itself, Irvington was actually named for Washington Irving, the author of the spooky Legend of Sleepy Hollow. Apparently the town's founders thought that this cozy Indiana community had some of the same qualities as Sleepy Hollow, an identity that Irvingtonians have happily embraced. The more I learned about Historic Irvington real estate, the more intrigued I became.
Halloween is THE big holiday in Historic Irvington, bigger than Christmas! Houses are decked out, adults and kids alike dress in costume, and Washington street shuts down for the annual Historic Irvington Halloween Festival that draws visitors from around the city. And if you happen to see crowds of people led by lantern-bearing guides walking through the neighborhood in the dark, that's the Haunted Irvington Walking Tour, a must-do for anyone interested in the spooky side of Historic Irvington.
Historic Irvington was the original home of Butler University and in many ways still has that college town feel. It's a community known for its artists, scholars, and architecture. It has a wide variety of architectural styles, Historic Irvington contains superb examples of every major American architectural style from 1870–1950, including Italianate, Queen Anne, Tudor Revival, Second Empire, Victorian Gothic and Colonian Revival. Irvingtonians are proud of the fact that we have the only Gustav Stickley designed house in the Hoosier state. Much of Irvington real estate is firmly in the historic tradition, including my very own house!
Historic, but also hip!
The main strip in Irvington stretches down Washington, and includes some terrific restaurants and shops, including Legends (one of my faves), Jockamo's Pizza and DuFours (great breakfast joint - and apparently the site of a John Dillinger robbery!). Homespun and Black Sheep are great little shops -- I snagged a sweet knit hat at Black Sheep last month. Annie's Apparel is a thrift store with prices that rival Goodwill and a cherry-picked selection of nice clothes (check out the $1 jewelry in the back). And if you like beer, a new microbrewery will be opening soon. Roll With It is great for baked goods and soups, and there's no shortage of places to get your hair styled - Snips and Geneva are both terrific.
Ready to look for a house in Historic Irvington?
The Beacon Group of Keller Williams is ready to show you Historic Irvington real estate from an insider's perspective, from the point of view of people who live here and love it. Let us help you find the house of your dreams, or sell your current home so you can move on to the next big adventure of your life!
There are several wonderful one-family homes on the market right now. Call or text us today and let's go househunting! Call Deb or Jamie at (812) 361-8302.
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