Cambridge’s Own Flatiron Building – Cambridge Condos on Brattle Street

Yes – Cambridge does have its very own version of the Flatiron Building – the Birches Condominiums at the intersection of Brattle Street and Mount Auburn Street in West Cambridge.  It’s a brick building that you can’t help but notice as you drive towards it with Belmont and Watertown at your back. 

The building comes to a narrow point and gradually flares out as you move up Brattle or Mount Auburn towards Harvard Square – resulting in a triangular building – a brick and mortar thin slice of pie reminiscent of New York’s famed Flatiron Building.

The address of the Birches Condos is 246 – 250 Brattle Street, Cambridge MA 02138.  The adjacent building, at 240 – 244 Brattle Street, is the Larches Condominiums.

History of The Birches Condos at 246-250 Brattle Street Cambridge

The buildings at 240 – 250 Brattle Street were designed by architect Roscoe B. Whitten.  240 – 244 Brattle, The Larches, was built in 1923 as The Larch Apartments.  The Birches Apartments at 246 – 250 Brattle Street was built in 1924.  Garage bays were added several years later behind 240-244 Brattle so many of the condos at the Larches have a garage parking space.

Roscoe Whitten designed several other distinctive buildings in Cambridge including one of the beautiful early 1900s brick buildings that overlook the Charles River at 987-989 Memorial Drive.

Features of the Condos at 240-250 Brattle Street Cambridge

The condos at the Birches and the Larches are exceptionally handsome with gracious layouts, original charm and fine details including china closets and wainscoting in the dining room, glass fronted cabinets in kitchens that retain the originals (many have been renovated over the years), and an abundance of oversized windows.

The views from the multitude of windows are a big part of the appeal of these condos. The condominiums are floor-through units with views over Brattle Street and over Mount Auburn. From the Brattle Street side the condos overlook the beautiful houses of the Larchwood neighborhood. On the other side, spreads out leafy views of the 175 acre Mount Auburn Cemetery, America’s first garden cemetery and a National Historic Landmark.

Real Estate Sales at 240-250 Brattle Street Condos

Each of the condos that sold in the last few years at the Birches and the Larches had six rooms, two bedrooms, and one bath.  The condos were of varying sizes. Recent sales include:

• A 1st floor, 1200 sq.ft. condo with a garage space sold for $520,500 in 2006
• A 1st floor, 848 sq.ft. condo sold for $384,900 in 2006
• A 2nd floor, 1152 sq.ft. condo with a garage parking space sold for $505,000 in 2008
• A 1st floor, 1185 sq.ft. condominum sold for $465,000 in 2009

Would you like to live in your very own Flatiron Building condo?  You can use the link below to check for availability at the Birches or the Larches.  If no condos are listed for sale you can expand your search terms to look at all Cambridge real estate and more.

CLICK HERE TO CHECK FOR CONDOS AT 240-250 BRATTLE STREET CAMBRIDGE

Categories: Property Info
Tags: Cambridge Condos

This entry was posted on Tuesday, June 16th, 2009 at 7:47 pm and is filed under Property Info. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

1. Elizabeth Rectanus said at August 11th, 2009 at 11:19 pm

   I am looking for a 3 bed short-term furnished rental from 101/-possible first week of December. A couple with three dauhgters 7, 9, 13. Can pay around $3900. also looking for parking.

   Is this something oyu do? Also is there a way I can work with you to list any rentals- furnished or unfurnished? (I am a licensed real estate broker.)

   Thanks, in advance, for your reply.

   Elizabeth Rectanus

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