This 19th-century house in Astoria has kept much of its Victorian charm

This dainty semi-detached Victorian at 2617 12th St. in Astoria, listed for $1.299 million, is one of the rare 19th-century holdovers in a neighborhood dominated by brick and vinyl-sided 20th-century houses and townhouses and prewar apartment buildings. 

The four bedroom, one-and-a-half bath house dates back to the 1880s, and the front door is original, as is the fireplace, which has a marble mantel. Its distinctive exterior has elaborate gingerbread trim. The current deep blue paint job on the first floor makes the fireplace’s metal-on-marble surface pop.  

Currently the dining room features an ornate brass-colored chandelier. 

The kitchen finishes are somewhat less striking. Its cabinets and backsplash tile appear to be neither original nor recently updated, and the room lacks crown molding. 

Similarly, one of the bathrooms' yellow tiles, tub, and toilet looks dated and could also use a redo.

But the half bathroom does look like it was decorated sometime this decade, with gorgeous gold and blue wallpaper that is both modern and fits thematically with the house’s Gilded Age architecture. 

The newel post at the foot of the stairs is from the Victorian period as well. Upstairs are the four bedrooms with original hardwood flooring. The closets are definitely a functional size. 

There is a walkout basement with a large utility room and separate laundry room. The basement leads to a paved patio and garden area, which has seen better days. Perhaps the best outdoor feature of the house is the fact that it’s only a block and a half from Astoria Park, which has a massive public swimming pool.

It's also a 10-minute walk from the new Astoria ferry terminal. Less enticingly, the Astoria Boulevard N and W station is about a 15 minute walk away.