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Faces Nightclub – Soon To Be Apartments?
Anyone who’s driven into the city via Route 2 for the last twenty years or so has wondered about the eyesore on the right side of the highway as you enter Cambridge.
Faces nightclub, once a popular disco, has been abandoned for some twenty years. Increasingly shabby, it’s a terrible way to welcome people to Cambridge. “When will Faces be torn down?” has been asked innumerable times. Turns out that Faces site may be destined for apartments.
Arthur D. Little Office Building Is No More. Is Faces Next?
A week or so ago while on our weekly real estate tour we thought it had been torn down as we drove past on Route 2. We must not have been paying attention, however, because after circling back it turned out that it was the old Arthur D. Little office building that had just been reduced to rubble.
Is Faces next? Lately the old Faces sign has been wrapped in plastic. Far more promising, though is the recent Cambridge Planning Board meeting in February where developers presented plans for rental housing to be built on the Faces site.
Criterion Development Partners came before the Planning Board to introduce their plans to build a 227-unit apartment building on the site. There would be studios, one-bedroom and two-bedroom apartments in the four story complex. The development team would buy the Faces site from long-time owners the Martignettis.
The Faces site is complicated because of the flood plain and wetlands. The developers talked about how the design of the complex addresses those issues. The apartment building will be constructed with green building standards and there is an emphasis on the use of public transportation and bicycle use, capitalizing on the proximity of the Alewife MBTA stop and the bike path. The developers proposed that residents will be given a three month Charlie Card subway pass and there will be bike storage and a bicycle sharing program for tenants.
The Planning Board had plenty of questions for the developers but it was clear that everyone looks forward to the day that Faces is torn down.
11 Homer Ave Cambridge – Come By On Sunday
First open house at 11 Homer Ave Cambridge
I’m holding the first open house at 11 Homer Ave in Cambridge MA tomorrow from 1:30 to 2:30. I hope you can stop by!
11 Homer Ave just came on the market for $419,000. It’s an unusual opportunity to buy a single family at this price point in the Cambridge MA 02138 zip code. It’s tough to get a two-bedroom condo with parking for much less than $400,000 so this house offers the chance to have your own home at a condo price - and to add value with renovations and updates.
The house has been well loved by one family for decades. I’ve always thought that houses have vibes and this is a happy house. The entry stairhall is gracious and the big windows let in lots of light. You’ll probably spend a lot of time in the large backyard once the snow melts.
New buyers will want to do updates but it would be possible – if you couldn’t afford to do it all at once – to live in the house and do upgrades over time as you can afford them.
The kitchen will likely be a favorite gathering spot. It’s good-sized with room for a big table, lots of cabinets, and plenty of counter space. There’s a dishwasher and a gas stove. Remove some wallpaper and paint the cabinets, maybe put on some new hardware – you could get more good years out of the kitchen before you did major renovations.
There’s a large bath on the first floor. Upstairs, the new owners may opt to turn one of the four bedrooms into a second bath.
The cellar has good ceiling height, great storage, a place for a workbench, laundry hookups, and a door to the backyard. There’s a brick and concrete block garage that will fit a compact car plus parking for another car in the driveway.
Mount Auburn Cemetery with its meandering landscaped paths, bird watching opportunities, and regular tours and lectures is across the street. Fresh Pond Reservation – a favorite destination for walkers, runners and dog owners - is down the block. In addition to the two mile path around the pond there’s also a golf course and playground. Want to vary your jogging route? – the Charles River isn’t far. A branch of the Cambridge Public Library is around the corner on Aberdeen Avenue.
The bus on Mount Auburn stops at Homer Ave – you’ll be in Harvard Square in minutes. In addition to the bus – it’s actually the electric track-less trolley – there’s easy access to commuting routes from 11 Homer Avenue. You can quickly get to Memorial Drive, Storrow Drive, and routes 2, 3, 93, 95, and 128.
11 Homer Avenue Cambridge MA 02138 will be open tomorrow, Sunday, February 20, 2011 from 1:30 to 2:30. If you can’t come by call Liz Bolton – that’s me! – at 617-504-1737 to schedule an appointment to see the house.
No Saving Spaces In Cambridge
Reserved Parking Space In Cambridge
No saving spaces in Cambridge – parking spaces that is.
With the repeated snow storms this winter, many Cambridge residents who’ve shoveled out spaces on the city streets have taken to saving their parking spaces by putting out barrels, cones, chairs, even appliances.
Some people take offense at saved spaces. I tend to sympathize. Nothing’s worse than doing a top notch job of clearing away mountains of snow only to have a less than industrious neighbor grab your space - leaving you to circle the block over and over again when you return.
The City of Cambridge has been removing the items used to reserve parking spaces. They’re not done yet – I snapped the table at right on tour today – but the trucks have been going out and every item on the street gets thrown in the truck and taken away when they get to your street. My brother’s building lost its trash barrel that someone was using to save their spot.
Maybe it’s time to take the T and let your car save its space.
Clean Sidewalk Contest in Cambridge
Do You Live On The Best Shoveled Block In Cambridge?
The mild temps we’ve had the last few days were a perfect opportunity to do some clean up work on the sidewalks outside your house. Just what you need – to ensure nobody slips and falls on your walkway – and to get ready for the Best Shoveled Block in Cambridge contest.
The Cambridge Post Office and the Green Streets Iniative are sponsoring the clean sidewalk contest.
Nominations are due by Feb. 25, 2011.
Local letter carriers will be the judges – since they’ve got to navigate city sidewalks all winter they’re well qualified to select the winner.
It’s a wonderful idea to add some fun to the drudgery of shoveling. Neighbors can get together and make sure everyone on their block has kept their stretch of the sidewalk free and clear of ice and snow. Nothing like some competition to get the neighbors out with shovels and snow blowers at the ready.
Information about the Best Shoveled Block Contest in Cambridge is available on the City website.
Cambridge Bookstores
Cambridge Bookstores After a particularly unsatisfying trip to Barnes & Noble I’m recommitting to shop at the wonderful independent bookstores that remain in Cambridge.
I’m a frequent book buyer – never leaving the store without a big bag. While I do spend plenty at bookstores in Cambridge sometimes when a book buying urge struck I would head out to Burlington. Typically the Barnes & Noble there would have a good selection in that day’s targeted subject plus plenty of other enticing books. More than once I’ve left an armful of books on the counter the better to free my arms to find more books.
But B&N seems to have made a distinct shift in emphasis - the store seemed markedly different than just a couple of months before. Much book space has been given over to toys and to promoting their electronic reader, the Nook. The books that were on display were a disappointment – lowest common denominator sort of books - the “masses” in mass market seem to be the target.
So I’m resolved – next time the book buying urge strikes I’m heading to a Cambridge bookstore. Sadly there are fewer independent bookstores in Cambridge nowadays – I still miss Reading International, Wordsworth and Paperback Booksmith. All the more reason to frequent the bookstores in Cambridge that we still can.
Bookstore hours and phone numbers are included below. Before planning a visit a call to confirm store hours would be a good idea.
Cambridge Bookstores – New Books
Porter Square Books – Years ago there was a bookstore in the Porter Square mall that I used to pop into to find something to read on the train back to Concord. After it closed Cambridge was without a bookstore north of Harvard Square for many years. Happily some folks from the Concord Bookstore – another wonderful independent bookstore – opened Porter Square Books several years ago. It’s become very popular – at Christmas the cash register line stretched to the back of the store – a sight that warmed book lovers’ hearts. There are frequent author appearances, a buyer reward program, and a cafe that’s become a popular neighborhood destination.
Porter Square Books is in the Porter Square Mall by the T station. 617-491-2220
Open M-F 7am - 9pm, Sat 8am - 9pm and Sunday 9am - 7pm
Harvard Book Store – Located in Harvard Square on Mass Avenue, the Harvard Book Store has been a favorite of Cambridge book lovers for over 75 years. It’s difficult to walk past their windows without spotting a must-have book. The Harvard Book Store has one of the best lecture series in Cambridge and when admission is charged you get a coupon for a discount at the store. A super destination for new books, there is also has a strong selection of used books downstairs.
The Harvard Book Store is located at 1256 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge MA.
Open Mon – Sat 9am – 11 am and Sun 10am – 10pm. 617-661-1515
Globe Corner Bookstore – the Globe Corner Bookstore in Harvard Square specializes in travel books and maps. I shop here when looking for guidebooks about various regions and countries and always make it a point to stop in when shopping for my Dad who appreciates the hiking books, maps, atlases, etc. I’ve bought here over the years. The owners have announced plans to sell the store so Cambridge book lovers have fingers crossed that they will find a buyer to keep this local treasure going.
The Globe Corner Bookstore is located at 90 Mount Auburn Street, Cambridge
Open Mon – Sat 9:30am – 9pm and Sun 11am – 7pm. 617-497-6277
Cambridge Bookstores – Used Books
Bryn Mawr Book Store – This used book store has an excellent selection of fiction and non-fiction. You can find recent bestsellers at used book prices as well as rare books here. The store regularly holds sales of books by subject matter – one week (or is it month? I’m not sure) gardening books will be on sale, the next week sociology books will be discounted, etc. Proceeds from book sales fund scholarships to Bryn Mawr College.
Bryn Mawr Book Store is in Huron Village at 373 Huron Ave, Cambridge. 617-661-1770
Open Mon – Sat 10am – 5:30pm. May to December on Thursdays open until 7 pm.
McIntyre and Moore Booksellers- McIntyre and Moore has long been one of my favorite used bookstores in Cambridge and I’ve followed them around from their first(?) location in Harvard Square, to Davis Square and now to their current spot in Porter Square near Bob Slate Stationery. McIntyre and Moore specializes in scholarly books in wide range of subjects. You can also find fiction, children’s books, cookbooks, and books on sports, games, gardening, health, finance and much more.
McIntyre and Moore bookstore is in Porter Square at 1971 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge
Open Mon – Thurs 10am – 6pm, Fri & Sat 10am – 8pm and Sun noon – 6pm 617-229-5641
Rodney’s Bookstore – Rodney’s, in Central Square, is a big store for a used bookstore with a very good selection in all sorts of popular subjects. They’ve recently added a second floor for remainder books and also offer pine bookshelves if you’re looking for some new bookcases to hold all those books you just bought.
Rodney’s Bookstore is in Central Square at 698 Mass Ave, Cambridge.
Open Mon – Sat 9:30am – 9pm, Sun noon – 8pm. 617-876-6467
These are my favorites but there are more used bookstores and specialty bookstores in Cambridge. Feel free to put in a plug for your favorites in the comments below.
Cambridge MA Real Estate Market-2010-Year In Review
It’s good to see, when we tally the end of year numbers, that there was improvement in the Cambridge real estate market in 2010. The total number of properties sold rose modestly while the total dollar volume rose by over 10%.
Much of the improvement came in the single family sector. The number of single family houses sold increased by 15% over 2009’s sales and the median price rose by more than 10%.
Condo sales dipped ever so slightly. The median price rose about 3%.
Multi-family sales were robust – increasing by more than 15% over the number sold in 2009. The median price increased by 3%.
Cambridge Real Estate Year In Review
Welcome to the Cambridge MA Real Estate Review
Total properties sold in Cambridge:
- In 2010: 851 (+2.41%)
- In 2009: 831 (-8.38%)
- In 2008: 907
Average days on market:
- 2010: 80 days
- 2009: 79 days
- 2008: 91 days
Total value of real estate sales:
- 2010: $528,083,938 (+13.78%)
- 2009: $464,152,012 (-10.12%)
- 2008: $516,395,918
Properties sold for:
- 2010: An average of 97% of the list price. The median price was $465,000 (+5.69%)
- 2009: An average of 97% of the list price. The median price was $440,000 (-0.91%)
- 2008: An average of 97% of the list price. The median price was $444,000
Click here to continue reading about the Cambridge MA real estate market
Cambridge MA Real Estate Market – Nov 2010
Welcome to the Cambridge MA Real Estate Report
Here’s a look back at how the Cambridge MA real estate market did in November 2010.
Cambridge MA Real Estate On the Market - Nov. 30, 2010
On November 30th there were 288 homes listed for sale in Cambridge – 24% fewer than one month ago when 380 properties were listed for sale. Inventory tends to go down quite a bit at this time of year as sellers wait until after the holidays to put their properties on the market.
Cambridge MA Real Estate Sold in Nov 2010
61 homes sold in Cambridge during November – an increase of more than 33% over last month’s sales. Sales prices ranged from $135,000 to $3,300,000.
13 single family homes sold last month for prices ranging from $338,500 to $3,300,000. Average days on market was 60 and these houses sold on average for 97% of the list price. The median sales price was $849,150.
43 condos sold in Cambridge MA in November 2010 for sale prices from $135,000 to $1,610,000. The median price was $391,000. Condominiums sold on average for 97% of the list price and were on the market an average of 94 days.
5 multi-family houses sold in November for $525,000 to $1,010,000. These houses sold for an average of 94% of asking price. Average days on market was 76.
The total value of Cambridge MA real estate sold in November 2010 was $39,333,830.
Also see:
Cambridge MA Home Sales – Oct 2010
SEARCH FOR CONDOS FOR SALE IN CAMBRIDGE MASS
SEARCH FOR SINGLE FAMILY HOMES FOR SALE IN CAMBRIDGE MA
Information about Cambridge MA real estate market in November 2010 from MLSpin.
Cambridge MA Home Sales – October 2010
Welcome to the Cambridge Real Estate Report
Here’s our monthly look at Cambridge MA home sales with the October 2010 home sales numbers for Cambridge.
Cambridge MA Homes On the Market - October 31, 2010
On October 31, 2010 there were 378 homes listed for sale in Cambridge – 6% fewer than one month ago. Asking prices ranged from $189,900 to $4,450,000. The median asking price was $511,750. Properties had been on the market an average of 112 days.
Cambridge MA Homes Sold in October 2010
45 homes sold in Cambridge during October 2010. Sales prices ranged from $175,500 to $6,651,100 for a four-house parcel on a 30,000 sq.ft. lot near Harvard Square.
6 single family homes sold in October 2010 for prices ranging from $460,000 to $2,035,000. Average days on market was 49 and these houses sold on average for 94% of asking price. The median sales price was $849,150.
36 condos sold in Cambridge MA last month for sales prices from $175,500 to $1,250,000. The median condo sales price was $411,500. Condos sold on average for 97% of the asking price and were on the market an average of 81 days.
In addition to the four-house-on-one-lot sale, 2 multi-family houses sold in October for $525,000 and $889,150.
The total value of Cambridge MA homes sold in October 2010 was $32,116,550.
Information about Cambridge MA home sales in October 2010 from MLSpin.
Last month’s numbers:
Cambridge Properties Sold in September 2010
SEARCH FOR CONDOS FOR SALE IN CAMBRIDGE MASS
SEARCH FOR SINGLE FAMILY HOMES FOR SALE IN CAMBRIDGE MA
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