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Welcome to Centers and Squares
As a Cambridge real estate agent, the city squares of Cambridge, Somerville and Medford and the town centers of Arlington, Watertown and Belmont, Massachusetts are my home turf. And as a lifelong New Englander who’s lived within twenty miles of Boston most of my life, I can introduce you to other nearby towns as we search for your new home. If you’re planning to sell your home in Cambridge, MA or nearby you’ll find plenty of info about the home selling process here too. Questions? Send me an email or call me at 617-504-1737.
Two Family Houses – Somerville and Cambridge Real Estate
Somerville Two-Family House
Cambridge and Somerville have many two family houses for real estate buyers interested in investment property or condominiums.
Two-Family Houses in Cambridge and Somerville
The days are over when the rent from one apartment can cover your mortgage and allow you to live for free in a two-family. In fact, two-family real estate values in Cambridge and Somerville are influenced by the apartments’ value as condominiums. Many two-family buyers end up renovating and converting the apartments to condos.
Two Family House Styles in Cambridge and Somerville
Some two-family homes consist of two identical stacked units – usually five or six rooms in each apartment.
Larger two-family homes have a four of five one or two-bedroom apartment on the first floor and a two-level apartment upstairs, sometimes with three or four bedrooms.
A variation of the two-unit multi-family home is the “Philadelphia style” or Philly layout. Here, the first floor apartment has stairs in the unit to one or sometimes two rooms on the second floor. Nobody in Pennsylvania knows why we call this the “Philadelphia style”.
Other two-family home styles include side-by-side townhouse style multi-familys or larger houses, often built as grand, single family homes that have been partitioned into two apartments.
Recent Two-Family Home Sales in Cambridge and Somerville
- 28 two-family homes have sold in Cambridge in the last year
- Prices ranged from $340,000 to $1,300,000
- The average sales price was $622,620
- Average per square foot price was $240.49
Short sales and foreclosures had a significant impact on multi-unit real estate sales in Somerville during the last year.
- 108 two-families sold in Somerville in the last year
- 17 of the 25 least expensive two-family sales were short sales or foreclosures
- Sale prices ranged from $180,000 to $730,500
- The average sales price was $458,730
Condo Sales in Two-Unit Houses
In Somerville, 83 condos in two-unit buildings sold in the last year for prices ranging from $245,000 to $880,000. The average sales price was $439,664. Average price per square foot was $320.
67 condominiums in two-unit buildings sold in Cambridge in the last year for prices ranging from $220,000 to $2,130,000. The average sales price was $598,379. The median sales price was $510,000. The average per square foot price was $398.
Tour the Medford Wind Turbine on Monday
Tour the Medford wind turbine
The wind turbine at the McGlynn Elementary Schoolis a beautiful addition to the Medford skyline. I did a double take the first time I spotted it from the Route 93 onramp by Medford Square. And often when I’m on a real estate tour in Somerville I can see it in the distance. When you’re on the hill above Porter Square – Spring Hill I think it is – you can catch a glimpse of it on certain streets.
On Monday, June 29, 2009 you’ll have the opportunity to learn more about the Medford wind turbine. After a welcome from Mayor McGlynn, Patty Barry, Director of the City of Medford’s Energy and Environment Office, will give a presentation on the wind turbine project followed by a site tour.
Online registration is required – here’s the link to register.
The Medford wind turbine tour and presentationwill take place on Monday, June 29,2009 from 3:00 to 4:30 pm at the McGlynn Elementary School, 3002 Mystic Valley Parkway, Medford, MA 02155.
The Minuteman Library Network
The Minuteman Library Network - your ticket to read.
I’ve always thought that one of the very best perks for living in Cambridge is membership in the Minuteman Library Network. Over the years when I moved around a lot as a renter whether or not the town or city belonged to the MLN was a factor when I considered towns to live in.
When you live in a Minuteman Library Network community your library card is your pass to libraries in 35 towns plus 6 college libraries. You’ll have full borrowing privileges – walk into any of the libraries and it’s as if you lived there – your library card works just like it does at your home library.
It’s a great excuse to visit some of the excellent town libraries around Massachusetts. There’s wonderful original library architecture in local libraries plus lots of modern upgrades since Massachusetts has renovated and expanded many of its libraries over the years.
And if you don’t want to get out and about you can access the holdings of all 41 libraries in the combined online catalog.
The Minuteman Library Network has continued to grow over the years since it was established in 1982. All of the towns around Cambridge belong to the network including Arlington, Belmont, Medford, Somerville and Watertown.
So – if you’ve just moved to Cambridge – be sure to get your library card- it’s your ticket to read – the Minuteman Library Network member libraries own over 6 million items.
Architect Royal Barry Wills in Cambridge
Houses for Good Living by Royal Barry Wills
Royal Barry Wills has been one of my favorite architects since I was a child. His historically accurate reproduction Capes, Saltboxes and Colonials warm my heart.
Growing up, my parents had a couple of his books – Houses for Good Living and More Houses for Good Living. I would pore over these books – the classic New England houses pictured inside were my favorite house styles.
One day when I was about 10 or 11 we went for a family drive. I’m not sure where we were – maybe Weston, or Wellesley or some nearby town – when I yelled “Stop the car!” Down a long driveway I had spotted a Royal Barry Wills house I recognized from one of the books. Sure enough – when we arrived back home I leafed through the book and there it was.
Royal Barry Wills Architecture
Royal Barry Wills understood that it was the details that made the difference – that made a newly built Cape look like it was built in 1760, not 1960. Some of those details he got right included:
- Large central chimney
- Correct pitch of the roof
- Graduated clapboards
- Windows with 24 to 36 individual lights (panes)
- Clapboards set close to the ground
We are fortunate in Massachusetts that Royal Barry Wills is a native son. Wills grew up in Melrose, attended MIT in Cambridge, and established his practice in Boston where he worked until his death in 1962. There are houses designed by Royal Barry Wills in many Massachusetts towns.
Royal Barry Wills in Cambridge
There are two Royal Barry Wills houses in Cambridge that I know of but I was disappointed when I set out in search of them.
20 Coolidge Avenue is undoubtedly a beautiful house but it’s almost impossible to see from the street with a high fence and a garage blocking the view. There are lovely interior photographs and a floor plan of the house in More Houses for Good Living.
Royal Barry Wills House in Cambridge MA
I was really sad when I walked by 19 Old Dee Road, a handsome Garrison Colonial that Wills designed in 1940. It’s a classic house with its massive corbeled chimney and large decorative pendants at the overhang ends. The house is undergoing renovation however- the windows have been replaced (ugh!) and French doors installed to the right of the front door (double ugh!). While I’m sure the refurbished interior will make somebody very happy for a traditionalist the house’s current state was a disappointment.
In Search of Royal Barry Wills
It’s not easy to locate Royal Barry Wills houses from his books (despite my luck as a ten year old!) since houses are often identified only by owners’ names. Houses by Wills are regularly noted in real estate listings though sometimes I think agents use his name almost as a generic term when describing a classic New England style house.
I’m always interested in seeing more of these picture perfect houses. Do you have any Royal Barry Wills favorites in your town? Let me know!
SEARCH FOR ROYAL BARRY WILLS HOUSES FOR SALE
Union Square Somerville – Ethnic Food Markets Tour
Shop in Union Square - Ethnic Markets Tour
Union Square in Somerville MA is a hotbed of ethnic markets that feature food and ingredients from around the world.
The ArtsUnion Project of the Somerville Arts Council is sponsoring two more of their popular tours of ethnic markets in Union Square. So if you’re bewildered by the offerings or want more ideas to spice up your cooking – take advantage of this inside look at Union Square stores including:
- Capone’s Foods, 14 Bow Street
- Casa de Carnes, 38 Bow Street
- Halal Market, 380 Somerville Avenue
- La Internacional Market, 318 Somerville Avenue
- Little India, 77A Bow Street
- New Bombay Market, 359 Somerville Avenue
- Pao de Acucar & Brazilian Buffet, 57 Union Square
- Reliable Market, 45 Union Square
Each tour will visit three markets. Tour participants will get to explore the markets, have a chance to meet the store owners if they’re available, and be briefed on the other markets in Union Square that you pass by.
The tours are popular and attendance is limited. Reserve your spot before the tour sells out fills up. Call 617-625-6600 ext. 2985 or email stephanie.scherpf@gmail.com to reserve your space in a tour. If you leave info in your message about how many people will attend on which day you’ll be notified about where to meet.
Tours are scheduled for:
Thursday, July 9, 2009 from 6:00 to 7:30 pm
Thursday, July 23, 2009 from 6:00 to 7:30 pm
There’s no charge for the tour but bring your wallet – there’s lots of tasty food to buy!
Take the Union Square Somerville ethnic food market tour in July – take a look at Union Square Somerville real estate right now!
SEARCH FOR UNION SQUARE SOMERVILLE REAL ESTATE
House Parts We Love – Granite Steps, Granite Posts and More
The latest installment of House Parts We Love is all about granite – and I’m not talking about shiny granite counters – which I know many people, but not me, love. No, I’m talking about old granite – granite steps, granite hitching posts, granite foundations, even granite houses and buildings.
Vintage granite steps in Cambridge
In the 1800s granite was quarried in many New England towns. In Massachusetts, Rockport, Braintree, Quincy, Chelmsford, Tyngsborough, and Westford were among the towns with granite quarries.
I wish I could remember the Massachusetts town I visited several years ago while showing real estate that had a wealth of granite house parts. There was an inordinate amount of granite steps, walls, foundations, posts, curbs – everywhere I looked I saw granite. It turned out that the town had a quarry many years ago and I think some of what I was seeing were houses and yards that had been embellished by quarry workers.
Many public or commercial buildings in Boston were built of granite including the Custom House, buildings at the Charlestown Navy Yard, and parts of Mass General Hospital. For years, several granite houses along the main street in Marlborough, New Hampshire have been among my favorites.
Around Cambridge, Arlington and Somerville you can often spot old granite. Older buildings, usually from the early 1800s, may have granite foundations. In mid-Cambridge many of the houses have very beautiful granite steps like those pictured above. The slide show below includes an old granite post I spotted in Cambridgeport, and a wonderful granite and iron fence in Arlington Center.
There’s something very appealing about old, weather worn granite. Nowadays it’s possible to purchase reclaimed old granite to use for fence posts or entry steps or what have you.
Here are photographs of my granite favorites from Cambridge and Arlington. Click on the triangle to view the photos:
Westwood Road Somerville – Real Estate, Architecture, History
Home on Westwood Road
Westwood Road is one of Somerville’s jewels and a favorite with real estate buyers who appreciate the architecture of its beautiful turn of the century houses. Just one block long, Westwood Road runs from Benton Road to Central Street. The Somerville Museum sits at the Central Street end of the block.
History of Westwood Road in Somerville MA
The lots on Westwood Road were divided in 1874 when the estate of James M. Shute and the adjoining Benton farm were subdivided. Houses were not built on the street until 1894 when real estate developer and hardware dealer Charles Bradshaw built the first eight houses on Westwood Road.
Bradshaw built the finest of homes and then proceeded in 1895 to move a number of large trees, elms and maples some 50 to 60 years old, onto the front of the lots lining the street. It was said to be the first time such an undertaking was attempted in Massachusetts. Just one year after the road was built, Westwood Road was lined with fine homes and mature trees.
The granite posts at the Central Street end of Westwood Road were part of the original gates of the Shute estate.
Westwood Road Architecture
The houses that make up this densely built street are some of Somerville’s best examples of Shingle Style, Queen Anne, and Colonial Revival architectural styles. The houses sit close to the street and are separated by just feet, making a rich and handsome streetscape.
Several of the houses on Westwood Road have been listed for sale in the last few years and I’ve had a chance to go inside. The interior details – stained glass, woodwork, built-ins – even such typically mundane things as thermostats and heating grates – are some of the finest you’re likely to encounter.
Westwood Road is a National Register of Historic Places Historic District. The district, consisting roughly of the area bounded by Summer Street, Benton Road, Westwood Road and Central Street was added to the Register in 1989.
Westwood Road Somerville Real Estate
In recent years several Westwood Road houses have sold to lucky buyers:
- An 11 room, 7 bedrooom shingle style house sold in 2002 for $700,000
- A 15 room, 7 bedroom Colonial Revival house sold in 2003 for $830,000
- A 12 room, 7 bedroom Shingle Style house sold in 2007 for $688,500
- A 7 room, 4 bedroom Victorian house sold in 2007 for $792,500
Here are photographs of some of the homes on Westwood Road in Somerville Massachusetts:
Use the following link to check for homes for sale on Westwood Road in Somerville. You can then continue to search for homes for sale in Somerville or in other Massachusetts towns.
CHECK FOR HOUSES FOR SALE ON WESTWOOD RD SOMERVILLE MA 02143
Dancing In the Streets – City Dance Party in Cambridge
There’ll be dancing in the streets this Friday night as the City of Cambridge celebrates with its annual Dance Party.
Each year since 1996, when the first Dance Party was held during Cambridge’s 150th anniversary celebration, hundreds of people have gathered to dance the night away to tunes spun by DJ Joey Demers.
The annual City Dance Party is scheduled for 7 to 10 pm on Friday, June 26, 2009. The event is held in front of Cambridge City Hall on Mass Ave between Inman and Bigelow Streets. Mass Ave will be shut to traffic by City Hall and a light show will play across the crowd.
Free admission and open to the public.
Participants who use public transportation are encouraged to take the subway since the #1 bus will not run down Mass Ave during the party. Starting at 6 pm the #1 bus will terminate at Central Square until 11:30 pm when full service resumes.
There’s sun in the forecast for the end of the week – if that’s not an excuse to celebrate I don’t know what is! Put on your dancing shoes and boogie on down to the Cambridge City Dance Party.
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