Barka da zuwa The Magnolia House, wani gidan gari mai bulo ja na iyali guda, wanda yake cikin Gundumar Tarihi ta Sunnyside Gardens, wadda kuma aka fi sani da ita ce al’ummar birnin lambu ta farko a Amurka.

Wannan unguwa an gina ta kusan shekaru ɗari da suka wuce bisa ra’ayin cewa za ka iya samun ciyayi da jin daɗin al’umma a cikin birnin New York. Za ka ji hakan da zarar ka juya zuwa wannan layin: titunan da bishiyoyin sycamore suka yi wa inuwa, farfajiyoyin ɓoye na musamman ga mazauna, da yanayin rayuwa mai sanyi wanda har yanzu yake sanya ka cikin mintuna goma sha biyar daga Midtown.

The Magnolia House na da nata babi a cikin wannan tarihi. An gina shi a shekarar 1940, kuma a asali wani Rothschild ne ya mallake shi. Gidan na ɗaya daga cikin gidajen gari guda shida masu kama da juna da aka gina bayan an kafa unguwar. An tsara su ne domin sabon ƙarni na iyalai masu motoci, don haka aka gina su dabam da sauran gidajen unguwar: faffadan fili, rufi masu tsawo, da kuma—abin da ba kasafai ake samu ba—titin shiga na kashin kai da gareji mai ɗaukar motoci biyu!

A yau, ka shigo ta wannan titin shiga, ka wuce lambunka da barandar gaba, sannan ka shiga babban bene, inda falo, ɗakin cin abinci da kicin suke haɗuwa cikin sauƙi. Tare da manyan ɗakunan kwana guda biyu a sama, ɗaki ɗaya na jariri/ofishin gida, da banɗakuna 2.5 a sassa daban-daban na gidan, wannan gida yana ba da isasshen fili don hutawa da jin daɗi. A ƙasa kuwa, akwai wani ginshiki mai amfani ta hanyoyi daban-daban, tare da injin wanki da na busar da kaya, wanda yake shirye don duk abin da za ka buƙata na gaba—ɗakin motsa jiki na gida, ɗakin wasa, ko ƙarin wurin ajiya; kai ne za ka zaɓa.

A bayan gida, bayan kyakkyawar barandar hasken rana, akwai filin gidanka na kashin kai inda The Magnolia House ya cika ma’anar sunansa: mafaka mai natsuwa da babbar bishiyar magnolia baliga ke yi wa inuwa. Akwai isasshen fili don cin abinci a waje tare da abokai da kuma yin dogon hutun bazara cikin kwanciyar hankali. Haka kuma, gidan yana da na’urorin hasken rana waɗanda ke samar da makamashin rana don tafiyar da gidan, yayin da tsarin sanyaya da dumama mai rabe-rabe ke sanya gidan cikin yanayi mai daɗi duk tsawon shekara.

A ƙarshe, amma ba mafi ƙanƙanta ba, gidan yana cikin yankin da ke ba da damar zama mamba a Sunnyside Gardens Park—babban fa’ida ne, domin yana ba da damar amfani da filayen wasan tennis, hanyar guje-guje, filayen wasa biyu na yara, gangaren wasan skate, filayen baseball, basketball da ƙwallon ƙafa, wurin fikinik, da cikakken jadawalin tarukan zamantakewa, duk a ’yan matakai kaɗan daga gidan. Ba abin mamaki ba ne cewa mujallar Time Out ta sanya wannan layi cikin manyan layuka 50 mafi kyau a NYC!

Birni yana nan kusa, amma a ƙarƙashin inuwar bishiyar magnolia, za ka iya manta da shi na tsawon wata rana. Ashe ba wannan ne ainihin manufar ba?

Welcome to The Magnolia House, a red-brick, single-family townhome set inside Sunnyside Gardens’ Historic District, also known as America’s first garden-city community.

This is a neighborhood built almost a hundred years ago on the idea that you could have greenery and community in NYC. You'll feel it the moment you turn onto the block: sycamore-lined streets, hidden courtyards just for residents, and a slower pace that still puts you fifteen minutes from Midtown.

The Magnolia House has its own chapter in that story. Built in 1940 and originally owned by a Rothschild, the home is one of six identical townhomes that were constructed after the neighborhood was formed. Designed for a new generation of families who owned cars, these homes were built differently from the rest of the neighborhood: larger footprints, higher ceilings, and—a true unicorn—a private driveway and garage with space for two cars!

Pull into that same driveway today, walk past your garden and front porch, and step inside to the main level, where the living room, dining, and kitchen flow into one another with ease. With two generously sized bedrooms upstairs, one nursery/home office, and 2.5 bathrooms throughout, this home provides ample space to unwind and enjoy. Downstairs, a versatile basement with a washer/dryer is ready for whatever you need next—home gym, playroom, extra storage, take your pick.

Out back, past the gorgeous sun porch, is your private yard where The Magnolia House lives up to its name: a serene retreat shaded by a large, mature magnolia tree. There’s plenty of room for al fresco dinners with friends and quiet summer afternoons. The home is also equipped with solar panels, providing solar energy to power the home, while split systems can cool and heat the home comfortably year-round.

Last, but far from least, the house is zoned for membership to Sunnyside Gardens Park—a huge benefit as it offers access to tennis courts, a running track, two playgrounds, a skate ramp, baseball, basketball, and soccer, a picnic grove, and a full calendar of social events, all just steps away. It’s no surprise Time Out named this street one of the 50 best blocks in NYC!

The city is right there, but under the shade of the magnolia tree you might forget it for an afternoon. Isn’t that the point?