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On the Market: ‘Jewel of East Passyunk’ for $1.25M

South Philadelphia natives Michael and Sylvia Mazzucca had never designed their own home from the ground up. But that would change in 2007 when the couple was inspired to take on their own project in East Passyunk – an area they had grown to love.

This East Passyunk home is on the market for $1.25 million.
This East Passyunk home is on the market for $1.25 million.Read moreElizabeth Flynn

On the Market profiles homes for sale in the Philadelphia region.

South Philadelphia natives Michael and Sylvia Mazzucca had never designed their own home from the ground up. But that would change in 2007 when the couple was inspired to take on their own project in East Passyunk – an area they had grown to love.

"The area was a big sell for us," said Michael, who has been in the construction and plumbing business for more than 30 years.

Michael and his wife, a bank officer, decided to upgrade at the time from a two-story row home with their three sons. They had already owned two adjacent garages on Cross Street in East Passyunk, and decided that would be the place where they would build their house and relocate their family, instead of just buying a new home.

"I had a plumbing shop here when it was in full swing," Michael said of the Cross Street location. "We said one day that we would like to live in this area because we always liked it around here."

Constructing the 5,200-square –foot home ensued, beginning with obtaining zoning and permit approvals, knocking down the garages, and finally hiring an architect. The Mazzuccas created most of the design with two priorities in mind: an open living space and an elevator.

Michael, who had built houses for resale but never his own personal residence, said he found inspiration from the many homes he had been in for work.

"Over the years working in a lot of the houses that I've worked in, I took a little bit of this and a little bit of that and put it all together to come up with this home," he said.

Michael describes the interior as a mix of contemporary, modern and unique.

They created a sunken living room for a large entertainment space. The room is adjacent to the kitchen and an office, which is one large area on the second floor. They added in archways to separate the living room from the kitchen, which gives it an open feel.

The top floor, which includes a bar/game room plus a bedroom, contains some antique furnishings, including a 1900s telephone booth. Also on that floor are arcade games, a pool table, a custom-built wet bar with stained glass inlay, and a sliding glass door that leads to a deck.

On the ground floor, there's a fitness center complete with an eight-person hot tub, sauna, and workout machines.

In the basement, Michael created a wine cellar where he made his own wine.

There's also an elevator that runs from the basement up to the fourth floor.

Other features in the four-bedroom, six-bathroom home include rounded corners on each wall, wide plank hardwood floors, a two-car garage, and a back patio with a garden.

The Mazzuccas have decided to sell the home and downsize, since two of their three sons are out of the house. They have listed the home, described as the "Jewel of East Passyunk" in its listing, for $1.25 million.

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