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OPEN HOUSES LISTED INSIDE
BOSTON HOMES T HE C OMPLETE G UIDE FEBRUARY 14 - 20, 2009
SERVING BEACON HILL, BACK BAY, FENWAY, SOUTH END, JAMAICA PLAIN, CHARLESTOWN, NORTH END/WATERFRONT, DOWNTOWN, SOUTH BOSTON, DORCHESTER & EAST BOSTON
HOME PORTRAIT In South Boston One-family home has details, charm
A three-bedroom single-family home at 4 Pacific St. in South Boston, near Thomas Park, is on the market for $670,000. PHOTO BY KATHLEEN ZIGMONT
Beacon Hill home exudes refinement BY JUNE ALBRITTON CORRESPONDENT
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n the Flat of Beacon Hill is an amazing house that today combines the best of green building standards and smart house technology. Tracy Campion of Campion and Company and Brad Sprogis and John Neale of Sprogis & Neale Real Estate have listed this ultimate family home at $7.95 million. Built in 1869 for the Rev. John Parkman, the home is located at 20 Brimmer St., a one-way tree-lined street that starts at Pinckney Street and ends at Beacon Street next to the Bull and Finch Pub, also known as the original Cheers. The home is on the first block, before Mount Vernon Street. Developer Peter Georgantas and his company, PEG Properties and Design of Boston, actually are renovating two properties on Brimmer Street, this one and one next door where he and his family will live. The home is red brick with granite keystone pediments above the doors and Continued on page 8
The roof deck greenhouse, viewed from the stairwell at 20 Brimmer St. on the Flat of Beacon Hill, provides abundant light. The five-bedroom home has been listed at $7.95 million. PHOTO BY JUNE ALBRITTON
BY KATHLEEN ZIGMONT CORRESPONDENT
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here’s a pretty little street near the top of one of the highest points in South Boston that is home to one of the prettiest houses in South Boston. At 4 Pacific St., off Thomas Park and just steps from the lovely and historic Dorchester Heights Park, is a brick-front, single-family home built in 1890 that manages to beautifully blend gracious period detail and modern amenities. “This home was built around the turn of the century and retains much of the charm, but it has everything today’s buyers are looking for,” said Mike O’Hagan of Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage who has listed this home at $630,000. “It has everything going for it – top quality updates, space and a perfect South Boston location,” O’Hagan said. This mid-block home is on a street of other single-family, owner-occupied homes, he said. “This neighborhood is one of the few neighborhoods in South Boston to have Continued on page 38
Penthouse duplex on water is special BY JUDY ASHWORTH CORRESPONDENT
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The interior courtyard at Lincoln Wharf at 357 Commercial St. along the waterfront creates a beautiful first impression. Unit 809, a penthouse duplex, COURTESY PHOTO / THE CHARLES REALTY is on the market for $759,000.
NEW & SEARCHABLE
gem of a penthouse has just come on the market at Lincoln Wharf at 357 Commercial St. in the North End/Waterfront neighborhood. The current owner has spared nothing in his recent renovation of this living space, and he is known for being very particular about details, including paint colors. “It’s beautiful and unique,” says Betsy Herald of the Charles Realty who is marketing the duplex penthouse at $759,000. The attractive, turn-of-thecentury brick building was
converted from a power station to condominiums in 1987. Greeted always by a concierge, one enters the hallway to the elevators and the central courtyard, a common space nicely finished with interior landscaping and seating areas and soaring dramatically to the eighth floor. A glass elevator provides a smooth ride to the penthouse. Everything is new, except for the entry space, the large sliding windows and deck doors, and the hardwood oak parquet floors. The most dramatic change to the space came when the
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BOSTON HOMES: THE COMPLETE GUIDE • www.linkbostonhomes.com
Week of February 14 - 20, 2009
Home on Flat of Beacon Hill is simply extraordinary Continued from page 1
age room complete this level. The master bedroom suite occupies windows and a black oriel window. the entire next floor with a spacious Georgantas kept the front wall of walk-in closet plus two other closets the home, but every other part from with built-ins. The walls of the master the foundation to the roof deck is bath are Calcutta gold marble cut to new. Lasers were used to ensure that form a continuous pattern throughout all floors are level, and the most upthe room. There is a double rainforest to-date technology was built into the shower as well as a claw foot soaking home. All of the new components are tub. Both the master bedroom and the historically accurate, producing both bath have gas fireplaces. a livable and a beautiful home. The top floor has a large bedroom The front garden has small everin front and two other bedrooms, greens and a weeping fruit tree. Douwhich could be combined, two full ble oak doors paneled with etched baths and a beautiful laundry room. glass open into a small vestibule Stairs on this level lead to a glass before another set of double doors conservatory/greenhouse and a large open into a grand living room, which roof deck with a built-in grill. In addihas gorgeous wide molding. A stairtion, a living green roof has been crecase with a double birdcage newel ated at either end of the deck. post is at the far left. Other amenities include a whole To the right is a wood-burning firehouse water purifier, 15 zones of radiplace with a carved marble mantelant in-floor heat, and five zones of piece. The floor is beautiful oak in a cooling. Twelve sets of speakers have herringbone pattern with a double been installed. Three wireless antencourse of walnut following the nas are located throughout the house perimeter. to provide uninterrupted phone serA door with an arched header is in the center of the back wall. Pocket The family room includes a built-in desk with pullout cabinet for computer equipment, a wood-burning fireplace and a vice. “Peter loves building and is proud doors can be closed there, but the wall of windows with views of the private patio, the raised planting beds, and the two private parking spots. of his houses,” says Campion. view is so striking that they probably A breakfast room with a built-in the stairs to the French barn-style “While some builders may cut a few would remain open. The hallway microwave and a convection oven as from the living room to the dining well as a Miele dishwasher and a bench has been created midway in basement that has a cedar closet, a cli- corners to make a greater profit, Peter room has a barrel ceiling, a floor pat- Fisher & Paykel two-drawer dish- the next section of the room, and at matized wine cellar and extra storage. always uses the best products for the One flight up from the living room project. He really cares about quality the far end is a wood-burning brick terned of oak and walnut, and anoth- washer. In the center of this area is a large fireplace next to a wall of windows. is the library paneled in quarter-sawn and craftsmanship.” er arched door to the dining room Adds Neale: “While some people where light pours through the win- island topped with a black stone Here is a view of the brick patio, the oak that also has a butler’s pantry and counter that extends to allow room raised planting beds, and the gate that wet bar. At the front of the house is a are satisfied with a Timex, there are dows. The rooms on this level are lit with for a couple of chairs. A Sub-Zero leads to the brick paved parking area guestroom with a full bath and a dec- others who demand a fine Swiss orative fireplace that was bought in watch. This is the fine Swiss watch of Georgian-style wall sconces for even beverage cooler is built into the for two cars. A door beside the elevator leads to London. A powder room and a stor- buildings.” lighting. The dining room has a fire- island. place like that in the living room. A door beside the hall door opens to a good size butler’s pantry and wet bar. In the hallway are a coatroom and a powder room and stairs to the kitchen level. Beneath the stairs is a powder room. Having the kitchen and the dining room on separate levels is not a problem. A wood-paneled elevator with mirror inserts and a mosaic tile floor operates between all the floors. The French bistro-style kitchen is open from the front wall to the back. It features custom white cabinetry and black stone countertops and backsplash, along with a 36-inch Sub-Zero refrigerator and a separate 36-inch freezer. Other top-of-the-line appliances include a Wolf double range gas cooktop, two large ovens The pattern in the marble behind the twin vanities was carefully matched to The French bistro-style kitchen is open and features a large center island topped with and a custom-made vent hood plus a continue perfectly on all of the master bathroom walls. PHOTO BY JUNE ALBRITTON a black stone counter and state-of-the-art appliances. A breakfast area is nearby.
D E T A I L S
RD. KMENT
PINCKNEY ST.
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ME BRIM
Price: $7.95 million
Contact: Brad Sprogis or John Neale, Sprogis & Neale Real Estate, 679 Tremont St.,
REVERE ST.
RG ISBU LOU
Age: 1869; 2008-2009
Close by: The Public Garden, historic Church of the Advent, antique shops and restaurants along Charles Street; the Esplanade and the Hatch
ST. DAR T CE AY WES N. W AR L CED
BR/BA: Five bedrooms, four full baths, three half baths
Boston, MA 02118. Phone: 617-262-1504. Or, Tracy Campion, Campion and Company, 172 Newbury St., Boston, MA 02116. Phone: 617-236-0711. Web sites: www.campionre.com, www.sprogisneale.com or www.thebrimmerhouse.com
VE ST.
Taxes: $20,631
Shell; easy access to Arlington Street and Charles Street/MGH MBTA stations, Storrow Drive, Route 93, Mass. Turnpike.
ST.
Size: 5,700 +/- square feet
LES ST.
Address: 20 Brimmer St., Beacon Hill
This home may be seen by appointment.
UCE