UPHA May Home of the Month!

The cottage at 1000 Chamberlain Street

UPHA April Home of the Month!

2724 Van Dyke Avenue — The Tolliver House

The “newest” home on Van Dyke Avenue has actually been there since 1941. This lovely two-story house painted a soft green color is one of University Park’s most recent examples of sensitive infill. Britt and Gary Tolliver purchased the home, a small three-bedroom, one bath, one-story house, in 1999. The neighborhood was familiar to both of them because Britt had rented a home nearby and Gary graduated from N. C. State University. After the birth of their two children William (6 years) and Royden (2 years), they outgrew the small house but not the neighborhood. Their back yard and the adjoining yards are a children’s paradise for the many kids who live in this block. The neighborhood parks, gatherings, streets perfect for long walks, and wonderful neighbors led them to decide to expand rather than move their family elsewhere.

Britt and Gary drew up plans for their new 2,300 square foot house themselves. The engineering firm of J. S. Thompson perfected their plans and converted them into blueprints. A big priority was to upgrade the small galley kitchen into a large kitchen and dining room for family gatherings and to add a row of windows across the front living room wall.

The existing main level was redesigned into an entrance hall with stair, a spacious living room,and a large kitchen/dining room, leaving one existing bedroom and bathroom intact. The second story addition contains three bedrooms, two more bathrooms, and a wide hall. To the front is a large new porch and,to the rear, a larger deck. By preserving most of the existing house structure, the Tollivers saved a significant amount of money. Yelverton Contracting of Raleigh accomplished the project in fairly short order. The renovation has completely met the family’s expectations. Handsome pieces of furniture and mirrors, built by Gary in his basement workshop, adorn the bright new interior.

UPHA honors the Tolliver Residence, its April 2012 Home of the Month, as a home renovation that is an emphatic “win-win” success: giving the family enough space to raise their children comfortably, yet retaining a harmonious design and scale for the Van Dyke block.