"The Genesee Manor: Monumental 4,000 Sq. Ft. Second Empire Estate

This monumental 3,999-square-foot historic manor, constructed circa 1870–1900, is located at 147 E Genesee St in the historic core of Auburn, New York (Zip Code 13021). Standing as a premier example of Second Empire Victorian architecture, this three-story solid brick estate features six bedrooms and four bathrooms (configured as two full baths and two powder rooms). Priced at $399,000, the property represents an elite residential offering in Cayuga County, pairing preserved Gilded Age craftsmanship, 15 distinct rooms, and a dual-staircase floor plan with exceptional neighborhood placement directly adjacent to the city’s finest parks and schools.

The manor makes a commanding historic statement, intentionally setback from East Genesee Street behind a deep, manicured front lawn grid. The entrance unfolds into a grand reception foyer anchored by a magnificent, custom curved hardwood staircase. The sprawling 3,999-square-foot interior has been comprehensively freshly painted, accentuating the dramatic vertical volume of the high ceilings and the rich, natural wood millwork, baseboards, and window trims. Hardwood flooring runs seamlessly throughout the main and upper living tiers.

The ground-floor layout is highly traditional yet airy, pulling in an abundance of natural sunlight across the primary formal parlors:

The Hosting Salons: Features an expansive formal living room and an adjacent banquet-sized dining hall, both anchored by a collection of four historic fireplaces that serve as elegant focal points.

The Culinary Core: A nicely appointed kitchen sits at the rear of the main level, featuring solid surface countertops, a walk-in pantry, and a layout that overlooks the rear grounds.

The Service Lane: A secondary rear service staircase ascends from the kitchen tier, providing quick, informal access to the upper bedroom wings without disrupting formal activities in the main entry hall.

The upper levels accommodate six oversized bedroom chambers and a central layout featuring dual walk-in dressing options or an executive study den. The property features modern zoning upgrades, utilizing zoned forced-air gas heating and central air conditioning networks to ensure precise climate control across all three finished stories.

The estate occupies a level 0.41-acre (17,860-square-foot) residential parcel. The rear grounds are configured as a fully fenced backyard oasis, complete with an attached outdoor deck platform and a designated children’s play structure. Supplementing the interior footprint is an oversized, attached two-car garage outbuilding providing extensive off-street vehicle parking and secure unconditioned dry storage. Geographically, the location features an elite neighborhood lifestyle—situated within immediate walking distance of scenic Hoopes Park, Herman Avenue Elementary, and downtown Auburn’s thriving historic retail center.

📋 Property Specifications

💰 Price: $399,000

📍 Address: 147 E Genesee St, Auburn, NY 13021

📐 Interior Size: 3,999 sqft (15 Total Rooms across 3 finished stories)

🌳 Lot Size: 0.41 Acres (17,860 sqft / Deep 90′ x 198′ Rectangular Lot)

🛏️ Bedrooms: 6 (Oversized chambers with varied layout assignments; 1 on main floor)

🛁 Bathrooms: 4 (2 Full Baths / 2 Half-Baths)

🔥 Historic Elements: 4 Fireplaces, grand curved formal staircase, and untouched natural woodwork

🏗️ Year Built: 1900 Era (Circa 1870 roots)

🧱 Construction Details: Solid brick exterior veneer / Stone & block foundation walls / Copper & PEX plumbing lines

⚙️ Core Utilities: Zoned forced-air natural gas heat system, multi-zone central air cooling, and circuit breakers

🚙 Parking Infrastructure: Attached, oversized 2-car garage with a blacktop driveway layout

🏫 School District: Auburn City School District (Herman Avenue Elementary boundary)

🔍 Key Features & Preservation Value Points Explained

🏛️ High Victorian Second Empire Detail: Boasting a majestic brick envelope, the structural framing exhibits the elite craftsmanship of Auburn’s late-19th-century manufacturing boom. The iconic curved foyer staircase and natural wood trim profiles represent irreplaceable historical equity.

🔄 Seamless Dual-Staircase Circulation: The inclusion of both a grand architectural staircase in the reception hall and an independent, practical service staircase off the kitchen core provides an organic room-to-room flow that effectively isolates formal hosting areas from casual family spaces.

⚙️ Complete Zoned Climate Control Modernization: One of the primary financial deterrents for buyers targeting grand Victorian estates is fully resolved here; the inclusion of zoned heating and central air handlers ensures energy-efficient, year-round comfort across all three finished stories.

🌳 Turnkey 0.41-Acre Family Compound: Between the fully enclosed perimeter safety fence, the rear entertainment deck, and direct proximity to the pristine gardens and walking loops of adjacent Hoopes Park, the grounds offer an unrivaled outdoor lifestyle canvas.

📍 Elite East Genesee Street Setting: Positioned along a premier residential thoroughfare, residents enjoy seamless pedestrian connectivity to Herman Avenue Elementary and downtown Auburn’s thriving culinary district, which is anchored by legendary craft breweries and the historic Auburn Public Theater.