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Condos In Renovated Churches
Churches and synagogues converted to condos often result in dramatic spaces with soaring ceilings, beautiful oversized windows and preserved architectural details. A number of former churches have been turned into condos in Cambridge, Somerville and Watertown. Loft buyers will appreciate the wide open spaces in these reused buildings.
Converted Churches and Synagogues in Cambridge
99 Otis St Cambridge Lofts
99 Otis Street Cambridge
The Saint Hedwig Church was built in 1939 and converted to condos in 1998. There are four multi-level lofts and heated garage parking. Condos range in size from 1308 to 2017 sq.ft. Two units were on the market this year for $689,000 and $699,000.
CHECK FOR AVAILABLE CONDOS AT 99 OTIS ST
101 3rd St Cambridge Condos
101 Third Street, East Cambridge – James Greene Condos
The church at 101 Third Street in East Cambridge is one of the oldest church buildings in Cambridge. Built in 1827 as a Unitarian church it became the Holy Cross Church in 1940. In 2000 it was converted to four luxury condos. The condos ranged in size from 1300 to 3160 sq.ft. and sold for $585,000 to $1,300,000.
CHECK FOR CONDOS FOR SALE AT 101 THIRD ST
238 Columbia St
238 Columbia Street – Art Space Condos
In 1901 the first synagogue was built in Cambridge at 238 Columbia Street. The Beth Israel Synagogue was converted to ten artists’ live / work lofts in the early 1980s. Condo buyers do not need to be artists to buy in the building. A 1115 sq.ft. unit sold in 2009 for $420,000.
CHECK FOR CONDOS FOR SALE AT 238 COLUMBIA ST
Converted Churches in Somerville
Renovated Church in Davis Sq
Orange Hall Lofts – 7 Park Avenue
The former church at 7 Park Avenue in the heart of Davis Square was converted to three enormous lofts in 2000. Condos range in size from 3522 to 6136 sq.ft.
CHECK FOR LOFTS FOR SALE AT 7 PARK AVE, SOMERVILLE
Sanctuary Lofts
The Sanctuary Lofts – 60 Tufts St Somerville
The Sanctuary, 17 loft condos in a former church with a new modern addition, was developed in 2000. The church structure was built in 1869 as the First Universalist Church and then became the Orpheum Theatre in 1916. The lofts have ceilings as high as 30′ and many have multi-level layouts. In 2008 a 1446 sq.ft. condo sold for $395,000 and a foreclosed unit sold for $310,000.
CHECK FOR SANCTUARY CONDOS FOR SALE
1 Summer St Somerville
1 Summer Street Somerville
The First Methodist Church in Union Square was built in the 1860s and converted to seven condos in 2006. Condos range in size from 1200 to 4574 sq.ft. and ceiling heights in some of the units soar to 60 ft. Each condo has garage parking and there is an elevator. A 2465 sq.ft. three-bedroom condo sold for $850,000 in 2007.
CHECK FOR CONDOS FOR SALE AT 1 SUMMER ST
Churches Converted to Condos In Watertown
Two large churches have recently been converted to condominiums in Watertown MA.
Bell Tower Place
Bell Tower Place Condos – 444 Mount Auburn St
The former St. Theresa’s Church has been converted to seven condominiums with two additional units in the former rectory. Condos have high end finishes, central air conditioning, a fireplace, and garage parking. Much of the interior detail in the 100-year old church has been incorporated into these stunning condos. Bell Tower Place is marketed by Hammond Residential.
SEE CONDOS FOR SALE AT BELL TOWER PLACE
Renovated Church in Watertown
Mount Auburn Village – 134 Mt Auburn Street
Eight of the 14 units at Mount Auburn Village near Watertown Square are in the former First Baptist Church. The condos have dramatic layouts with one unit featuring amazing views from the former bell tower. The condos are listed by Gail Roberts of Coldwell Banker in Cambridge.
SEE CONDOS FOR SALE AT MOUNT AUBURN VILLAGE
Like the idea of living in a former church? How about a former school? Check out:
Condos in Renovated Schools in Medford
Cambridge and Somerville Renovated School Condos
Park Street Lofts – Park and Ivaloo Street Somerville
Park Street Lofts Somerville Mass
The Park Street Lofts were built in 2003 at the corner of Park Street and Ivaloo Street in Somerville MA.
Park Street runs between Beacon Street and Somerville Ave near Porter Square, Union Square and Kirkland Village. The Academy of Arts and Sciences is nearby and it’s not far from Harvard Square.
There are 18 residential units in the complex – four townhouses, four two-level lofts, and ten loft flats. There is also one large office condo.
Park Street Lofts Layouts
- Townhouses have three levels, 2,093 – 2,166 sq.ft
- Duplex lofts – 1617 – 1909 sq. ft.
- One level lofts – 842 – 1878 sq.t.
- 1-3 bedrooms
Park Street Lofts Features
- Garage parking
- Elevator building
- Central air conditioning
- Huge windows
- Master bedroom with walk-in closet
- Granite and stainless steel kitchen
- Deck and / or balcony
- In-unit laundry
Recent Real Estate Sales at Park Street Lofts
- A 1,077 sq.ft. two-bedroom sold for $355,000 in 2009
- An 848 sq.ft. two-bedroom sold for $297,000 in 2009
Other Somerville Loft Buildings:
400 Washington Street – Ivy Place
Still want more? Click on the Somerville Condos tag link below or to search for Somerville real estate for sale click on the MLS Search link at the top of the page. And remember – I can show you any home that catches your eye. Call me at 617-504-1737 or email me with any questions.
If there are condos available at the Park Street Lofts they’ll appear below. Click on the small photo for additional info and more photographs.
The Park Street Lofts are at 43 Park Street and 17 Ivaloo Street, Somerville, MA 02143.
400 Washington St Somerville – Lofts at Ivy Place
400 Washington Street, Somerville MA - Ivy Place
Condo buyers looking for a true loft-style condo that’s close to Harvard will want to consider the the lofts at Ivy Place at 400 Washington St in Somerville MA. Built in 2001 there are 15 condos on four floors including one commercial space.
Unlike some condos that are described as lofts because the floor plan is a bit more open than a traditional layout, the condos at 400 Washington Street are true lofts. The floor plan, with the kitchen and bath at the core, allows for some privacy for the sleeping area / bedroom and owners often divide the space with bookcases and other room dividers.
Near the intersection of Beacon Street, there are shops and restaurants nearby including Dali, evoo, the Wine and Cheese Cask, Savenor’s, the Biscuit and the Kebab Factory. Harvard Yard is about half a mile down Kirkland Street (Washington Street becomes Kirkland at the Cambridge line). Union and Inman Squares are not far away.
400 Washington Street Somerville MA Condo Features
- Condos range in size from 1084 to 1258 sq. ft.
- Elevator
- 9.5 ft. ceilings
- Central air conditioning
- Granite counters, stainless steel appliances with gas stove
- Hardwood floors
- Huge windows
- Gas fireplace
- In-unit laundry
- Balcony or patio
- Offstreet parking space
- Pet friendly
- Professionally managed
- Heat and hot water included in the condo fee
400 Washington St. – Recent Sales at Ivy Place
- A second floor unit with two parking spaces sold for $433,000 in 2009
- A penthouse condo with one parking space sold for $417,000 in 2009
If there are condos for sale or rent at 400 Washington Street, Somerville they’ll appear below. Click on the small photo for additional photographs and more information.
SEARCH FOR LOFTS IN SOMERVILLE
50 Bow Street Somerville – Lofts – Urbanica 50
50 Bow St. Somerville MA - Urbanica 50 Lofts
50 Bow Street Somerville MA - Lofts at Urbanica 50 The renovated police station at 50 Bow St. in Union Square in Somerville MA is now home to 14 loft- style condos.
The former police station, built in 1874, is a Second Empire mansard style brick building. Renovated in 2005, the project’s developers have also redeveloped a former police station in the South End at 7 Warren Street, now called D4, and the former fire station in Belmont, now known as Engine 1.
50 Bow Street Somerville MA Lofts Feature:
- 872 – 1753 sq.ft
- Very high ceilings and large windows
- Mahogany floors
- Stone counters and stainless steel kitchen appliances
- Limestone tiled baths
- Central air conditioning
- Philippe Starck lighting
- In-unit laundry
- Most units have parking
- Elevator building
50 Bow Street Somerville MA - Urbanica 50 Sales
- Lofts at Urbanica 50 sold for prices between $380,000 and $699,000.
- Penthouse condos sold in 2006 for $590,000 and $600,000
- A one-bedroom, one-bath condo sold in 2008 for $323,000
If condos are for sale or rent at 50 Bow St. Somerville MA they’ll appear below. Click on the small photo for more information and additional photographs.
SEARCH FOR SOMERVILLE LOFTS FOR SALE
Urbanica 50 is at 50 Bow St., Somerville MA 02143 in Union Square.
Osgood Lofts – Somerville Condos – 25-27 Osgood St. Somerville
The Osgood Lofts. These 14 Somerville condos were built in 2005 at 25-27 Osgood Street between Porter Square and Union Square.
Osgood Street is just one block long, tucked above Somerville Ave. There’s a community garden and a park with playground on the block. The street is named in honor of Osgood Dane who quarried slate and granite on the hill here in the 1800s. Dane and Granite Streets also commemorate the quarry.
Osgood Lofts - Somerville Condos at 25-27 Osgood St.
Osgood Lofts Features
- Two bedrooms, two baths
- Huge windows
- In-unit laundry
- Central air conditioning
- Two-car garage parking with storage
- Visitor parking
- Elevator
- Pet friendly
Osgood Lofts – Real Estate Sales
12 two-bedrooms, 1066-1147 sq.ft.
- Sold for $387,000 to $451,000
- Average sales price – $424,214
2 larger two-bedroom condos, 2100+ sq.ft.
- Sold for $580,000 and $635,000
Available real estate on Osgood Street will appear below. Click on the small photo for additional info and more photographs.
The Osgood Lofts are located at 25-27 Osgood St., Somerville, MA 02143.
Davis Square Condos
Davis Square T Station
Davis Square Condos No doubt about it – Davis Square is a popular location for Somerville real estate buyers. Davis has a Red Line T stop, the bike path, the Somerville Theatre, and plenty of shops, restaurants, cafes and bars. There’s a liveliness to the square day and night.
The condominium styles available in the neighborhood are similar to options elsewhere in Somerville and Cambridge – units in converted two and three-family houses, in converted brick buildings – one from the 1930s, one circa 1960, lofts in former industrial buildings, condos in a converted school, and new or recently built townhouses.
In the last 12 months the average sale price for Davis Square condos was $462,504 and the median sales price was $429,500. 52 condominiums sold in the neighborhood (or at least those identified to be in the neighborhood by the listing agent – truth be told some stretch the location a bit and others fail to include the neighborhood designation in the listing entry) for sale prices from $145,000 to $893,000.
Currently 17 condominiums are listed for sale in Davis priced between $299,000 for a one-bedroom in a 15-unit brick building to $1,100,000 for an enormous condo in a converted church. The median asking price per square foot is $388.
Davis Square bench photo courtesy of ekilby
Click on the photos below for more info (and more photos) about these Davis Square condos. If you’d like to take a look at any of these or want some help with your real estate search please give me a call at 617-504-1737. I’d be happy to help! Elizabeth A. Bolton, Coldwell Banker, 171 Huron Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02144.
Somerville and Cambridge Schoolhouse Condos
Lowe School Condos in Davis Square
Somerville and Cambridge have several schoolhouse condominium associations and more on the way. Schoolhouse condos are popular with real estate buyers who appreciate the large windows, high ceilings, and vintage details often found in these condominiums.
My favorite school was in a similar large old brick building, the Dale Street School in Medfield Mass. I still remember the breezes that came through the oversized windows, the wide hallways and stairs, and the water bubblers that lined the hall. Happily it’s still used as a school but if it’s ever converted to condos I’ll be first in line. The converted schools in Cambridge and Somerville give real estate buyers the opportunity to relive – just a bit – their schooldays.
Condos in Converted Schools in Cambridge
The Lincoln School Condos on Walden and Mead Streets are very close to Porter Square. This large former school has been divided into just twenty condominiums, with a number of spacious condos measuring more than 1500 sq. ft. There’s less of a schoolhouse feel in these condos though the large windows and super high ceilings make for dramatic and open spaces. Condos at the Lincoln School turn over infrequently. The last sale in MLS was a 1000 sq. ft. condo that sold in 2006 for $430,000.
The French School condos at 69 Harvey Street in North Cambridge are close to Davis Square. The bike path to Davis crosses Mass Ave at the end of Harvey Street. There are sixteen condos on four floors in the former school. The condos have a loft like feel with exposed brick walls and high ceilings. A two-bedroom condo on the second floor sold this year for $415,000. Read more about the French School condos.
Dana Park Place in Cambridgeport is Cambridge’s newest condo development in a converted school. The former school has been transformed into 23 condos and more units will be built in the former church next door. The buildings overlook the recently refurbished Dana Park and Central Square is right down the street. The condos have luxurious finishes, central air conditioning, and garage parking.
North Cambridge School Conversion
New Schoolhouse Condos Coming to Cambridge? It looks like it – these buildings, between Middlesex Street and Yerxa Road in North Cambridge, once housed St. John’s R. C. School and are now in the midst of construction. There’s a notice for a special hearing to construct decks posted but I don’t yet know much about this project. I’ll add more details when I get them.
Somerville Condos in Former Schools
The Carr Schoolhouse Condos on Atherton Street in the Spring Hill neighborhood are some of the most charming schoolhouse condos around. There’s lots of original oak woodwork, beautiful windows, and even blackboards preserved in some units. There are studios, one bedrooms, and two-bedroom condominiums. Spring Hill is near Porter Square and Harvard Square isn’t that far away. Read more about the Carr School condominiums.
The former Lowe School on Morrison Avenue in Davis Square is another popular school house condo association. The former school now houses 16 condominiums. The condos have very high ceilings – 12′ in some units – and condos on the third floor have private decks, some have skylights. The location is clearly a big draw with the heart of Davis Square just a couple of blocks away. The last condo sale in MLS at the Lowe School was two years ago when a two-bedroom condo sold for $402,000.
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Dreaming of a schoolhouse condo of your own? Click on the buttons below to search the MLS for Somerville and Cambridge condos. And if you would like some help with your real estate search call me at 617-504-1737 or email me – I would be delighted to help.
Somerville Two-Bedroom Condos – Condominiums In Somerville MA
Many Somerville Condos Are in Three-Families
In the real estate market in Cambridge and Somerville, condos are often the best option for first time homebuyers. In Cambridge the average sales price for a single family home in the last 12 months was $1,140,675 – well out of range for first time buyers. In Somerville, during the last twelve months single family houses sold for an average of $434,626. Somerville real estate buyers, however, will find that condos are in better condition, are usually more updated, or in a better location than a similarly priced house in Somerville.
The 2009 Two-Bedroom Condo Market in Somerville MA
Many first time buyers are looking for a two-bedroom condominium. Since January 1, 2009:
- 19 two-bedroom condos sold in Somerville
- Average sale price of a two-bedroom condo: $410,983
- Median sale price of a two-bedroom condo: $403,000
- Average price per square foot: $325
- Two-bedroom Somerville condos sold on average for 97% of asking price
Sale prices of two bedroom condominiums sold in Somerville since the beginning of 2009 ranged from $265,000 to $639,500.
What You Get for The Money in 2009- Somerville Two-Bedroom Condos
For $265,000 a five room, two-bedroom, 1.5 bath, 1114 sq. ft. condo sold in East Somerville on Myrtle Street, not far from Union Square. The condo was a townhouse, part of an 18-unit association built in 1989. There was parking for two cars, an 80’s era kitchen, private patio, and finished basement. Seems like a good deal!
Right in the middle of the pack, for the median price of $403,000, a six room, two-bedroom, 1 bath condo sold on Electric Avenue (can’t you just hear the song in your head?) near Teele and Davis Square. This 1074 sq.ft. condo was on the first floor of three-family that had been renovated and converted to condominiums in 2003. The condo had central air conditioning and there was a garage space plus additional driveway parking.
The most expensive two-bedroom condominium sale in 2009 to date, was a beautiful six room, two-bedroom, two bath condo on the upper two floors of a two-family on Lexington Avenue between Davis and Porter Square that sold in January for $635,000. The house was built in 1900 and gut-renovated and converted to condos in 2004. The house backs up to the bike path. The 2097 sq. ft. condo had an open floor plan, granite and stainless steel kitchen, central air conditioning, a fireplace, several decks, in-unit laundry, and parking for two cars.
Two-Bedroom Condos – Real Estate Options in Somerville MA
Many Somerville condos will be found in converted two and three-family houses. Other units, townhouses and flats, will be found in larger condo buildings built in recent years or during the last boom in the 1980s. Somerville also has a number of loft condo buildings and one of the condos sold this year was a live/work loft for artists near Davis Square that sold for $585,000. Of the 19 condos that have sold since the start of the year:
- Two condos were in two-family houses
- Seven condos were in three-family houses
- Ten condos sold in larger complexes with 6 – 21 units
Last year there were 106 two-bedroom condos on the market in Somerville on April 22nd. Today there are 72 two-bedroom condos for sale in Somerville. Search for one here:
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