At first glance, the light-pink rambler at 3790 McKnight Rd. in White Bear Lake is a run-of-the-mill dwelling, one of roughly 3,000 nearly 60-year-old ramblers built in the area during the postwar boom era. But this home is unique, as city officials selected the single-story domicile for their Rambler Revolution Project, a program that sets out to show area homeowners how they can modernize and improve the functionality of their own ramblers.
The city partnered with the local firm Rust Architects on the $200,000 demonstration project, and throughout the process, the public was invited to attend four open houses (before, during and after the improvements) to see the transformation first-hand.
To get the ball rolling, the city purchased the circa-1955 rambler—which featured three bedrooms, one bathroom and 973 square feet—for $117,000 in fall 2010; they collaborated with Rust to develop and choose the most appropriate remodeling plan and work began the following spring. The architectural design and eventual construction work cost about $87,000, with a community development block grant through Ramsey County Housing and Redevelopment Authority (HRA) offsetting $25,000.
This specific home was chosen for its “stereotypical rambler layout,” with all of the bedrooms on one end and common areas on the other end, says Samantha Crosby, an associate city planner who oversaw the project along with building official Ben Eggan. The stairway to the basement in the middle of the home separated the kitchen and dining room area from the living room, another typical feature of this era.
To create a feeling of space and openness that today’s homeowners desire, some big changes were in store. “We removed walls to open it up and give it a great-room feel,” says Crosby. The remodelers also included a 165-square-foot kitchen and mudroom addition to the rear of the home, and removed a wall separating two bedrooms on the main floor to create one larger bedroom. In the basement they added a bedroom, an egress window and a recreation room.
“We went through many iterations of different floor plans; people also loved to see the other ideas we didn’t go with,” says Crosby. “One of the great things about the ramblers like this one is that they were so solidly built. The siding, walls and roofing were all in good condition, so that let us focus on improving the inside of the home. Also, the hardwood floors were much thicker than the ones in new homes today and could be refinished hundreds of times before they would wear through.”
The project also had a number of eco-friendly aspects to qualify for bronze level of Green Star certification, a designation conferred by a coalition of builders, remodelers and environmentalists. The existing furnace was replaced with a more energy-efficient model, and more efficient appliances, lights and plumbing fixtures were installed. A new bathroom skylight reduced the need for electric lighting.
Low-VOC paints were used on the interior to reduce harmful chemicals. Also, the remodelers worked to recycle or re-purpose as much of the wood and other discards removed from the house; for example, the old kitchen cabinets were installed in the garage.
Project manager Jessica Rust enjoyed the project from start to finish. “It was fun to create a demo for the community to show them potential options and exciting things they could do for their homes, and fun hearing their stories,” says Rust. “It was helpful for them to come in the space before, during and after the work was done. We were happy to be a part of it.”
In late June, the City Council approved the sale of the rambler for $180,000.
