Historic Low-Martin House goes on the market for $3.4M

Article content

Loaded with charm, beautiful woodwork, decorative ceilings, leaded glass windows, the Low-Martin House is a Walkerville stunner with a pedigree and a passion project for its owner Vern Myslichuk.

Article content

But Myslichuk, a Windsor businessman, has made the difficult decision to put his home on the market. Asking price is $3.4 million.

“I’m a businessman and it just seems like the right time,” Myslichuk said of the almost 100-year-old stone-clad, English cottage-style building that took two years to restore.

“It’s the right time and it’ll definitely be a very sad day for me … because there’s quite a bit of passion in the house.

“I have other buildings that I buy and sell all day long but this one will hurt.”

Walkerville has become a very desirable neighborhood for buyers in a hot sellers market.

“I do know that houses go up for sale and don’t last long but that’s par for the course across the entire city,” said Coun. Chris Holt, whose ward includes Walkerville.

Article content

“I don’t know if Walkerville’s any different than any other parts of the city.

“As far as the real estate itself, Walkerville is pretty iconic when it comes to the architecture and the streets and just the vibe,” Holt said. “It’s very different from every other neighborhood in the city.”

Much of Walkerville was a planned community — a company town — built by whiskey baron Hiram Walker for his workforce.

Holt pointed out many buildings were designed by famed architect Albert Khan and other illustrious architects of the day.

“So it’s definitely very different than every other neighborhood in the city,” Holt said. “I would definitely say it’s becoming more popular.

“That’s what makes Walkerville as popular as it is, is that architectural look,” he added.

Article content

“And not only just the look but also the way the homes, they’re close to the street, the vast majority have front porches, big porches. It’s a very distinct urban design in Walkerville.

“The streets are narrow, cars tend to drive slower, not very many driveways so the houses are closer together. And it really has a very distinct vibe to it because of that urban design.”

At 4,800 square feet, the Low-Martin House offers lots of room to spread out.

Built in 1928 by Windsor rumrunner Harry Low, the house was then known as Devonshire Lodge according to the Windsor Public Library website.

The rough-cut stone Cotswold English cottage-style home cost $150,000 to build.

Low lived there with his wife, Nellie, until 1934 when they defaulted on the mortgage and were forced to move.

Article content

The Low’s hosted a number of infamous guests such as Al Capone and members of Detroit’s Purple Gang, a criminal mob of bootleggers and gangsters who operated in Detroit during the 1920s Prohibition era.

In 1960, Alice Eleanor Martin, wife of Paul Martin Sr., bought the house. The Martins hosted sitting prime ministers Lester Pearson and Pierre Trudeau. And their son, Paul Martin Jr., was elected the 21^st prime minister of Canada, from 2003 to 2006.

Myslichuk bought the house in April 2012 and spent the next two years restoring it.

Owner of BetterMade Cabinets and La Verns Market, a grocery store on University Avenue West, Myslichuk also owns the former Vermouth at 333 Ouellette Ave.

He plans to reopen the space within the next couple of months as a jazz bar called Vernmouth, a compliment to his cocktail lounge on Erie Street called Verna-Q-Lar Lounge.

Article content

He lives in his Walkerville mansion and is not sure yet where he will go once the house sells — if it sells.

“I love the house. It’s a beautiful home,” Myslichuck said. “It is absolutely stunning.

“I’ll move from here and wherever I go, it will not be the same. It will be a very sad day. I’m not looking forward to that.

“I’m almost hoping it doesn’t sell.”

The home has three bedrooms and five bathrooms on two floors, situated on a .651-acre lot. There is also a 1,200-square-foot coach house on the property.

Myslichuk had run into difficulties with the city when he rented the house for charity events, weddings and other events, while the property is zoned residential and those uses are not allowed.

A neighbour’s complaint led to a bylaw charge that was dropped when Myslichuk agreed to no longer use his home as a public house.

He said that he didn’t factor into his decision to sell his home.

Now he hopes the new owner will love and care for the home as much as he cares for it.

“I remember when I first drove by. I literally stopped, got out of my truck and I just stood there. Just like a house stalker, right. I was just so overwhelmed,” he said.

“It’s a great home and hopefully it will go to a great family or just some other guy like me. There’s a big part of me that hopes it really doesn’t sell. If it doesn’t sell, it will never go on the market again. That is for sure.”

[email protected]

twitter.com/KotsisStar