The Saint Paul Condo Blog

In the heart of Lowertown, lies a building that blends right into the history of the neighborhood.  It's easy to drive right by it and not know what is here.

Market House Condominium is located at 289 East 5th Street , just north of the St Paul Farmers' Market in Downtown.  Converted to lofts in the early 80's, I imagine the original developers never could have envisioned what Kyle Gunderson has done to his home.  He started off with not one condo, but two, making a 2900 square foot super-sized condo.  This spacious home occupies the North East corner of the building and has a remarkable three levels of living.

As soon as you open the door, your jaw drops at the attention to detail Kyle put into making this penthouse.  The wood-burning fireplace that rises nearly 18 feet, wrapped in beautiful field stone is such an unusual find in a loft you start to wonder if it's real (it is!  One of only a handful in downtown that have wood burning fireplaces).  The living room greets visitors in a down home comfort, yet is able to be very classy.

The kitchen is one of the most original kitchens I have seen in a long time.  Even the cut of the granite is unique - a rough edge look.  The kitchen is a very inviting area begging to entertain.  Open to the living room, the bar side begs you to pull up a stool and grab a drink.  High end appliances are the norm in penthouses, and this one is no exception.  Dual drawer dishwasher, Viking fridge, and a 36" wide Viking dual oven and cook top complete the look.

There is so much to do in this loft, you would almost never need to leave.  This home even has its own fitness room & tanning.  That's on top of the pool table lit by a skylight!  Need to get away from the rest of the home?  That is what the third level is all about.  The actual penthouse, extruding from Market House's roof is a gem in itself.  Incredibly sunny with a monstrous deck, the views of the Mississippi river, the bluffs, and Holmen Field are just stunning.  I imagine myself sitting up there in the morning with a cup of hot chocolate (I don't drink coffee) and reading the newspaper as the sun rises.

All in all, I would say that this is likely the most original condo in downtown!  Click on an image below to see a larger image.

This is a new, ongoing new series showcasing occupied penthouses.  If you own a condo that you would like showcased, please feel free to contact me.