Boho Charm! Yard, Storage, Walkable Downtown/NAU

Remote workers, travel nurses, moving to town! Walk everywhere! NAU/Downtown/grocery/coffee! Charming cottage w/ upstairs storage for equipment/belongings/furniture! Spacious with vintage appeal. Happy Space w/ natural light, wood floors, 10 ft. ceilings & historic elegance. 1 of 3 private, fully self-contained apartments in one large house. Eat-in kitchen w/ dishwasher, W/D. Queen bed + twin in large Living Rm w/ dining plus workspace. Lush fenced yard/birdsong/butterfly garden & patio. The space Please note: We are booked Jan 1st to June 30th 2026. Also please note there is now a farmhouse table and chairs under the living room window where the second day bed used to be. (See photos) Also we have added a vintage writing desk/workspace. (See photo) We can provide videos of the space and storage. Please read ALL the detailed descriptions we provide to make sure our cottage is a good match for you. There is a large storage area not photographed - the staircase access to it is non-standard/not suitable for children. Contact us before booking. And feel free to ask questions about the train which runs across the street from the house, regularly, day and night. You will love this space if you are looking to spend time in Flagstaff and you are looking for something cute, affordable, clean, safe and close to everything but you are not looking for an upscale residential neighborhood as a priority. Our neighborhood is mixed in with businesses but safe and just around the corner from several hotels and motels and NAU science building. Just 2 -3 blocks away is the delightful historic and trendy Southside of Downtown with every kind of eatery, bar or coffee shop you could desire. If any of the following pushes your button, Lilac Cottage might be right for you: dining outside in the garden, flowers, birdsong and butterflies, unique tasteful decor and antiques, walking/cycling to town, a sense of community, history, an authentic experience while spending time in a new area, antiquing, trains, independent coffee shops and breweries, hiking, exploring and being in the city but having green space/wildlife nearby. Lilac cottage is light and bright with original pine floors and 10 foot ceilings. The bathroom is small but bright and clean, white on white. Much of the furniture is vintage or antique so we ask that you use it gently. (Summer guests: please note there is no air conditioning. The bedroom with Queen bed is spacious and elegant and separated by double doors from the living room which has a day bed/sofa. Please note the 2nd day bed has been removed in favor of dining table and chairs overlooking the garden. A laptop work space has also been added. A bright eat-in kitchen with dining for four completes the cottage kitchen. Can also be used as alternate workspace. There is no TV (You can sign up with Suddenlink) but we provide reliable, fast wifi. Outside in the garden there is dining for two by the shade of the very old lilac bush. Lilac Cottage is walking distance to great eateries, breweries and coffee shops at the historic funky newly revitalized Southside of Downtown Flagstaff. The house is also in the historic register for Southside. The house was built in 1901 by the Arizona Lumber & Timber Company as employee housing for a manager and moved to its current site mid-century. Many other houses on the street date from the early 1900's and have been occupied by the same families for generations. This neighborhood is close nit and safe but not gentrified - on some neighborhood homes, historic restoration is badly needed. But head down the street, cross the intersection at Matador Coffee and turn Left down Mike's Pike and you're in Downtown. Head up, in the other direction, to the end and meet the path along the railway tracks and the underpass that takes you to Thorpe Park. Great for runners!Directly across the train tracks from the house you'll find the spring that started the settlement that became Flagstaff. Please note: The train goes by on the hillside above the house, the engine is noisy and the breaks do screech on some trains. The train tracks are across the street and behind a row of 3 houses. (See photo) We don't get as many trains here as in the center of downtown but they do run throughout the night. Trains are a regular feature in Flagstaff. the trains did not bother the last 3 long term renters all nurses but may bother some people. Just like anywhere in Downtown, if you are outside when the train goes by, the noise will interrupt your conversation. Flagstaff folk are used to the train and living in a busy hub with millions of visitors per year. But other than a passing train, the street is surprisingly quiet for the inner city, especially the Cul De Sac (Dead End) where we are which has low traffic. Summer Guests: Please note like many Flagstaff homes, we do not have AC. We put up very effective outside blinds in summer. Mornings are cool but Lilac gets the morning sun in it's large bedroom and kitchen window, so, early in the morning, close the windows, keep blinds down/curtains drawn and use fans until later in the day when things cool down again. At night, keep windows open and fans on for hot spells. The Location: This is a safe inner-city neighborhood that is mostly residential (mix of families and students) but close to everything. Old homes have been torn down to build luxury apartments and historic preservation is sadly missing. The cottage is in the oldest part of town which pre-dates Downtown. There is a community ballpark half way down the street. At the beginning of our street you'll find Natural Grocers, Haven Montessori School, Matador Coffee and the NAU conference center. This is an urban getaway; if it's a gated community or country club you're looking for this is probably not your place. However we love this end of Clay Ave. - the forested hillside above the house make it feel like the country. Any questions about the trains or the suitability of Lilac Cottage for you, just ask. We also have two other cottages adjoining this one, Sweet Pea which is smaller and in the back, and Willow which is similar in size to Lilac - both have quiet professionals renting them for a year. Please note there is No TV, but super high speed wifi, No A/C but window shades inside and out and fans provided in every room. Guest access You will receive a lock box code if I am not at the property. Lilac Cottage is next door to Willow Cottage, separated by a hallway. This is not a stand alone cottage BUT is fully self contained. Guests have seperate entrance and no shared amenities. . Guest use the the garden directly in front of the cottage for outside dining and enjoying wildlife. The garden next door is for guests of Willow cottage. A pathway clearly delineates the two front gardens. (Willow guests have an additional private fenced side garden with dining and shade so they often hang there.) There is a parking space down the driveway on the left hand side of the house. The parking space is marked by the number 2. Lilac guests may also park on the street in front of the house (Except when there is snow, when the cars may be towed for snow clearance) Please let us know if you are bringing more than one car. Other things to note The train goes by above on the hillside across the street from the house. The tracks are across the street and up the hill a little bit (see photo). The engine is noisy and the breaks do screech on some trains. Trains are a regular feature in Flagstaff and they don’t stop at night. The train runs often through-out the night at differing intervals. Some people will be bothered by the trains at night, especially in summer with the windows open. Earplugs recommended/Using a fan by the bed is helpful. Just like anywhere in Downtown, if you are outside when the train goes by, the noise will interrupt your conversation. Flagstaff folk, and regular visitors are used to the train. The street itself is quiet and is the could de sac party of the road. The property is not suitable or safe for children under 12 years of age. A maximum of two occupants are allowed. Summer Guests: Please note like many Flagstaff homes, we do not have AC. The outside blinds we have installed are really great! Mornings are cool but Lilac gets the morning sun in it's large bedroom and kitchen window, so, early in the morning, close the windows, keep blinds down/curtains drawn and use fans until later in the day when things cool down again. The front room stays cool all day - just keep the double doors to bedroom closed. At night, keep windows open and fans on for hot spells. Any questions about the trains or the suitability of Lilac Cottage for you, just ask - we have been renting this property for 20 years and many of our guests stay longer than anticipated.