Help Save This Lovely Lady in Raleigh
If you follow along with us here at Hillman Real Estate Group at eXp Realty, you already know we have a soft spot for architectural significance. While our team is widely known for our love of modernist homes—celebrating clean lines, forward-thinking designs, and intentional living—our underlying passion is always the same: we believe great architecture has a story to tell, and the best cities are the ones that preserve their history.
Raleigh is growing beautifully, and we love the energy and incredible new homes coming to our area. But a thriving city is all about balance. Holding onto our historic architectural diversity is what gives our neighborhoods their unique soul.
That is why we were so compelled when we saw a recent feature from our friends at Preservation North Carolina. Time is of the essence for a beautiful, endangered piece of Raleigh’s history, and we wanted to use our platform to help find the right buyer.
Meet the P. Edgar Furr House, an impressive 1913 Queen Anne-meets-Craftsman style home sitting right in the heart of Raleigh’s highly desirable Glenwood-Brooklyn neighborhood (located at 803 Glenwood Avenue).
A Century of Raleigh History
Built during a booming era for the Triangle, this stylish home was originally purchased by Norfolk Southern Railroad conductor Perle Edgar Furr and his wife, Pattie. After raising their daughters here, they sold it in 1925 to the Geiger family, where it lovingly remained in the very same family for nearly a century until 2022.
When it was constructed, the house incorporated the absolute latest design trends of the era. It beautifully bridges the gap between classic historic charm and the early roots of functional modern design. Just a few of its jaw-dropping, original architectural details include:
- A sweeping wraparound porch topped by decorative gables.
- A stunning front door with bold Craftsman muntin designs that flood the entrance parlor with natural light.
- Soaring, spacious rooms with pocket doors.
- Stained wood mantels with tile surrounds (including a rare, notable rift-cut white oak corner mantel).
- Original light fixtures with vintage push-button switches.
- A gorgeous, Craftsman-inspired stained glass window.
The Opportunity: A Rewarding Restoration
Sadly, this stylish gem has been vacant in recent years and has suffered from significant deferred maintenance. A Demolition by Neglect action was filed last year, but local preservationists have successfully delayed it through Fall 2026 to give the community a chance to save it.
While the home needs a comprehensive restoration—including a repair to her original slate roof and all-new systems (HVAC, plumbing, electrical)—it has retained an incredible amount of its original structural materials, many of which are safely stored right onsite.
Priced at $669,000, this is the ultimate rewarding project for a design buff or investor who wants to resurrect a historic masterpiece in a premier downtown neighborhood. Because the P. Edgar Furr House is a contributing structure to the Glenwood-Brooklyn National Register Historic District (and a locally designated district), the property is eligible for substantial historic rehabilitation tax credits.
Ready to be a Preservation Hero?
Here are the quick facts on this incredible property if you or an investor you know want to take a closer look:
- Address: 803 Glenwood Avenue, Raleigh, NC 27605
- County: Wake County
- Price: $669,000
- Square Footage: 1,723 sq. ft.
- Lot Size: 0.17 acres
- Zoning: Residential (R-10)
- Listing Organization: Preservation North Carolina, Piedmont Office
- Direct Listing Contact: Cathleen Turner, Regional Director | 919-832-3652 ext. 240 | cturner@presnc.org
Let HREG Guide Your Restoration Journey
Tackling a historic rehabilitation project is deeply rewarding, but it’s not a journey you have to take alone. If you want to make an offer on the P. Edgar Furr House, Hillman Real Estate Group is ready to represent you as your dedicated buyer’s agent.
Historic properties have unique guidelines, especially when it comes to local historic district regulations and securing those valuable rehabilitation tax credits. We will advocate for you every single step of the way, from navigating the initial paperwork with Preservation North Carolina to leveraging our trusted local network to help you find the absolute best historic contractors, architects, and structural specialists in the Triangle.
Let’s keep Raleigh’s architectural history alive together. To learn more or discuss how we can help you acquire this property, check out the official Preservation NC Listing and reach out to our team today at 919-443-5143.
Let’s help save this lovely lady! Share this post with your favorite historic home lovers, investors, or design buffs.
Learn More About the Historic Glenwood-Brooklyn Neighborhood
The Historic Glenwood-Brooklyn Neighborhood is often called Raleigh’s first master-planned neighborhood and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2002. It is located along the northwest border of the Downtown Raleigh business district adjacent to Glenwood South.
Glenwood South is one of the hippest and trendy areas in Downtown Raleigh. Progressive bars, restaurants, and retail concepts line the streets, making it the perfect place to be out and about.
Historic Glenwood-Brooklyn has lots of great schools located in the neighborhood or within 1/2 mile of the neighborhood including Partnership Elementary, Broughton High School, Raleigh Charter High School, Wiley Elementary, and Underwood Elementary.
The neighborhood has an extensive network of sidewalks and alleys making it easy to walk to Glenwood South or to the Five Points Business Districts.
Located in the middle of the neighborhood is Fletcher Park. It includes a water garden, ornamental gardens, tennis courts, a baseball field, an amphitheater, and two historic buildings for meetings and special events.
Historic Glenwood-Brooklyn has a very active neighborhood association that hosts community gatherings, including an annual block party and the annual Tour of Historic Homes.