Boston Common - Niche Media - A side of Boston that's anything but common.
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HAUTE PROPERTY Listing agent Tracy Campion and developer Joe Holland. continued from page 119 But much of the last century was unkind to the area, and its deterioration was fast-tracked by the construction of the MassPike, Storrow Drive, and the Bowker Overpass joining the two in the 1950s and '60s. Gradually, though, clusters of historically significant structures have been resurrected as private residences, bringing in modern amenities and restoring the exteriors to reflect their original splendor. It was The Meads, a group of residences completed in 2007, that really started the current wave of interest in residential development, Campion observes. In 2005, Connecticut-based Greenfield Partners spent $32 million on a swath of properties owned by Simmons (and the all-women's Garland Junior College before that), filling 413–415 and 419 Commonwealth Avenue with residences boasting fireplaces, elegant moldings, and a stunning roof deck. The company abandoned plans for further development, however, and in 2010, The Holland Companies, based in Boston, picked up the remaining properties at 407, 409, and 411 Commonwealth The open layout maximizes the unit's space. 120 Joe Holland is doing his part to speed up the pace of the growing neighborhood. This winter, he'll demolish 451 Marlborough to make way for nine luxury units designed in a modern style by noted local architect David Hacin. "You don't get many opportunities in the middle of Back Bay to build a brand-new building," Holland says. "451 will have a completely different vibe." Buyers are already excited by the idea: "I don't even have it marketed yet, and brokers are calling up wanting to see plans!" Holland reports, noting that the location is shaping up to be a draw rather than a liability. "It's more evidence of how gentrified this neighborhood is getting," he says. "The distinction between first block and second block of Comm. is going away, and the line [between desirable and not] migrates every year." BC IMMINENT DOMAINS These mansions offer history and glamour. 304 Commonwealth Avenue 304 Commonwealth Avenue, No. 1 This limestone mansion includes a private garden, a balcony, and original mahogany mantels. $3,499,000 3 beds, 3.5 baths 3,270 square feet Contact: Tracy Campion, Campion and Company, 617-236-0711 236 Commonwealth Avenue, No. 2/3 Built in 1875, this home includes a chef's kitchen, a private deck, and magnificent woodwork. $2,088,000 3 beds, 4 baths 2,105 square feet Contact: Keith Shirley and Valerie Post, Meridian Realty Group, LLC, 617-908-4000 PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF TRACY CAMPION (304 COMMONWEALTH) The Bradley's story is one of intelligent reconstruction in a longoverlooked part of town. Avenue, along with a squat former classroom at 451 Marlborough, for nearly $14 million. "We felt that [the Meads developers] were giving up too early," explains Joe Holland, project manager at Holland Development. "They started to establish the neighborhood but just didn't follow through." The resales on The Meads were stronger than the initial sales, his team noted, and with the right concept for the right buyers, they believed, interest would only increase. Holland enlisted the interior and architecture pros at Grassi Design Group to help him reimagine the Bradley space as condos, ranging from a 2,185-square-foot three-bedroom to a palatial 4,600-square-foot double unit. (One buyer purchased and combined two.) Units boast soaring ceilings (up to 16 feet) and a wingspan of 86 feet— practically unheard of in Boston, where townhouses are typically narrow and deep. Knowing that the 120-year-old lobby of 409 Commonwealth Avenue was a showpiece deserving of extra attention, Holland assigned the space its own dedicated designer: Klaus Fuchs, who oversaw the raved-about lobby at The Bryant Back Bay. "From the start, we felt that it was worth giving up that sellable square footage, because having that grand lobby was really going to draw people to the other side of Mass. Avenue," says Holland. Grand is what they got: Post-renovation, the space showcases marble and glistening mosaic-tile floors, an intricately carved fireplace, and the original ornamental plaster moldings that highlight an enormous, sweeping marble staircase. The work paid off. The units sold out within 60 days of offering, commanding prices from $2.85 million to $4.35 million. At press time, one nearfinished unit—possibly the grandest of the bunch, with intricate plasterwork, a spacious chef's kitchen, and enormous windows—was up for resale, Campion revealed, with an asking price of $5.9 million. BOSTONCOMMON-MAGAZINE.COM 119-120-BC_HP_Opener_Spring13.indd 120 2/12/13 5:07 PM