Birmingham

Annual House Tour marks 25 years

By Tiffany Esshaki
C & G Staff Writer

» click to enlarge « Photo by Donna Agusti Lynda Shrenk’s English cottage-style home will be one of eight homes on the tour, with proceeds of the event benefiting programs at The Community House. Photo by Donna Agusti Lynda Shrenk’s English cottage-style home will be one of eight homes on the tour, with proceeds of the event benefiting programs at The Community House. Photo by Donna Agusti Guests of the House Tour will get the chance to peek into some of the area’s finest homes and explore a wide range of design styles. 0 Photo by Donna Agusti Guests of the House Tour will get the chance to peek into some of the area’s finest homes and explore a wide range of design styles.

BIRMINGHAM — The Community House will present its popular House Tour Sept. 20, showcasing eight of the finest homes in the Birmingham-Bloomfield area.

The fundraising event, now in its 25th year, is being presented in part by Hall and Hunter Realtors. Guests will get the chance to embark on a self-guided tour through select houses in the community ranging in style from traditional to contemporary.

Event co-chair Michelle Schwab said the tour, which traditionally sells out, is a fun and unique way to support The Community House.

“The 2012 Birmingham House Tour marks the 25th consecutive year that this popular event has served to raise funds for The Community House,” she said in a prepared statement. “To celebrate this milestone we are featuring eight beautiful and one-of-a-kind homes ranging from a charming and cheerful pre-Civil War historically registered in-town home to a mid-century contemporary set in a spectacular wooded setting to a cool, gallery-like Rail District loft.”

Lynda Shrenk’s house on Hazelwood in Birmingham will be one of the homes featured on the tour. She said that when she was approached by TCH to present her three-bedroom English cottage-style home, she was glad to help.

“I think they wanted something in the Holy Name (Church) area; something a little less typical,” said Shrenk. “It’s a nice way to help the community and support The Community House.”

In addition to gaining access to the private homes showcased on the tour, guests will have the option to stop at TCH for a salad buffet luncheon on the Van Dusen Terrace. All of the proceeds from the lunch and the tour will support the many wellness, leadership and outreach programs that TCH offers to children in need in Pontiac and Detroit. Schwab said that participants take part in the tour year after year because it’s a different and interesting way to do some good for a worthy organization.

“We think our guests are really going to enjoy this rare opportunity to look inside some of the area’s most distinctive homes, knowing they are also helping to raise money for TCH children’s outreach programs.”

The 25th annual Birmingham House Tour will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sept. 20, with lunch offered from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Tickets are $35 in advance or $45 the day of the tour, though advance reservations are recommended. Lunch is an additional $15. For more information or to register for the tour, call (248) 644-5832 or visit www.tchserves.org.

The Community House is located at 380 S. Bates St. in downtown Birmingham.

You can reach C & G Staff Writer Tiffany Esshaki at tesshaki@candgnews.com or at (586)498-1095.