Centers And Squares
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.
22 Line St Somerville Condos
22 Line Street Somerville Townhouses
22 Line St Somerville Condos The five townhouses at 22 Line Street were built in 2002.
I’m embarrassed to admit that it took me a while to realize that Line Street is actually the Cambridge / Somerville line – buildings on one side of the street are in Cambridge, on the other – Somerville.
Line Street runs between Cambridge Street and Kirkland. At one end you’re close to Inman Square, Cambridge Hospital and Youville Hospital. At the other end you’ll find Kirkland Village with Savenor’s Market and several places to grab a bite to eat. Union Square’s not far away and it’s an easy walk to Harvard Square.
Somerville and Cambridge real estate buyers looking for a spacious townhouse with every modern amenity will find lots to like at 22 Line Street.
22 Line Street Somerville MA Condos Feature:
- Four level townhouses
- 2161 – 2961 sq.ft.
- 3- 4 bedrooms
- 2.5 – 3 baths including a master bath
- Open layout
- Patio and balcony
- In-unit laundry
- Central air conditioning
- Garage parking
- Granite counters and stainless steel appliances in the kitchen
22 Line St Somerville MA Real Estate Sales
The most recent sale in the complex was a three-bedroom, three bath townhouse that sold for $890,000 in Oct. 2009.
If there are townhouses available in the complex they’ll appear below. Click on the small photo for additional photographs and more information.
The Line Street Condominiums are located at 22 Line Street, Somerville, MA 02143.
Margaret Fuller – Born in Cambridge 200 Years Ago Today
Margaret Fuller lived briefly at 42 Brattle Street Cambridge
Today is the 200th anniversary of Margaret Fuller‘s birth. Fuller was born in Cambridge on May 23, 1810. Her birthplace at 71 Cherry Street still stands. Margaret Fuller was a noted feminist, author, editor and Transcendentalist.
Today 71 Cherry Street is a National Historic Landmark. The house was built by Margaret’s father, Timothy Fuller in 1807. In 1902 one of the earliest settlement houses in the US was started here, the Margaret Fuller House, serving the immigrant community in the city.
Now known as the Margaret Fuller Neighborhood House, the organization recently completed a restoration of the Fuller birthplace. Neighborhood services provided here include daycare and summer programs, an emergency food pantry and a computer lab.
For a brief time, Fuller and her family lived at 42 Brattle Street in Harvard Square. The Brattle House, now owned by the Cambridge Center for Adult Ed, was built in 1727 and named for General William Brattle who owned the house at the time of the Revolutionary War.
Margaret Fuller died in 1850 in a ship wreck off Fire Island. Though her body was never recovered there is a Fuller memorial at Mount Auburn Cemetery in Cambridge.
The Margaret Fuller birthplace is at 71 Cherry Street, Cambridge MA 02139. Fuller and her family lived at 42 Brattle Street, Cambridge MA 02138 from 1831 to 1833.
Vintage View of Atherton Street in Somerville
Vintage View of Atherton Street in Somerville Recently I spent the good part of a day searching through 1000s of vintage postcards at the Brimfield Flea Market. If you’ve never been to Brimfield you’re in for a treat. This small town turns into a massive antique mart three times a year – in May, July and September.
My destination was the postcard hall, however, so I missed the craziness of the fields filled with booths and collectors from around the world. Instead I spent hours flipping through boxes of postcards with views of the towns and cities in Centers and Squares territory – Arlington, Belmont, Cambridge, Medford, Somerville and Watertown. I found some great cards and will share some of my favorites here.
Early View of Atherton Street in Somerville Massachusetts
This postcard is a view of one of Somerville’s most well known buildings – the Round House on Atherton Street. I have several other views of the Round House but this was a card I hadn’t seen before.
The image includes the Carr School across the street. But what I really love about the card is that it shows another of my favorite buildings – the Round House’s next door neighbor – the mansard house at 40 Atherton Street on the left side of the card. I’m a big fan of mansards and this one has a particularly appealing profile. Here’s what the house looks likes now:
Mansard house on Atherton Street Somerville MA
What fun it would be to have a century-old postcard view of your own house! If you live in an older house someday you just might stumble across one of these vintage views of your home.
15 Trowbridge St Cambridge MA – Cambridge Condos
15 Trowbridge St Cambridge Mass
15 Trowbridge Street, Cambridge MA This handsome Cambridge condo building is located right around the corner from the stretch of Mass Ave that runs between Harvard Square and Central Square. Cambridge real estate buyers will appreciate the easy access to the T and to the many restaurants, pubs and shops nearby.
15 Trowbridge St Cambridge MA – History
15 Trowbridge St was originally built in 1899 as a three-story six-unit apartment building. It was one of many Cambridge buildings of the period designed by Boston architect John Hasty.
Some of the other Hasty buildings in Cambridge that are now condominiums include the Newport Road condos, the Washingtonian at Washington Ave and Linnaean Streets, and The Lowell at 33 Lexington Ave.
The six large apartments were eventually split and today there are twelve units in the building plus an additional unit in the lower level. After many years as rentals, in 2005 the apartments were converted to condominiums and sold.
15 Trowbridge Street Condo Features
When 15 Trowbridge was converted the building systems were updated but the condominiums were sold in unrenovated condition. Many owners have subsequently renovated their condos.
- One and two-bedroom condos
- 550 – 955 sq. ft.
- High ceilings
- Wood floors
- Some units have a back porch
- Large common back yard
- Basement laundry and storage
- Most units have a parking space in a lot one block away on Ellery Street
Recent Cambridge Real Estate Sales at 15 Trowbridge St
The most recent sale in the building was in 2009 when a two-bedroom condo with an updated bath and a back porch sold for $412,000.
If condos are available in the building they’ll appear below. Click on the small photo for additional photographs and more information.
Looking for a condo in Cambridge? I’ve been a Cambridge real estate agent for ten years and would be delighted to help you find your next home. Call me at 617-504-1737 or send me an email and tell me what’s on your real estate wish list.
Cambridgeport Trolley on Brookline Street?
Cambridgeport Trolley on Brookline Street? They’re repaving Brookline Street in Cambridgeport (where aren’t they repaving lately?) and it’s an opportunity for an interesting look at what lies beneath the blacktop.
If you happened to drive or walk by while the work was underway you got a look at the old street covering. It seems that Brookline Street was paved with brick at one time.
What lies beneath Brookline Street in Cambridge
Even more unexpectedly it seems that perhaps there was a trolley line running down the streets. Here’s a photo of the tracks that have just been pulled out and placed at the left of the street by the sidewalk.
Pulling out trolley tracks on Brookline Street in Cambridgeport
I can’t find anything about a trolley line on Brookline Street. My family lived at the end of the street for eighty or so years and I meant to ask my dad if he remembers a trolley. Anybody know the story?
33 Lexington Ave Cambridge – The Lowell
The Lowell at 33 Lexington Ave, Cambridge MA
33 Lexington Avenue in Cambridge – The Lowell – is today a seven-unit condo building.
Lexington Avenue is a pretty residential side street in West Cambridge that runs between Brattle Street and Huron Avenue and extends to Fresh Pond Parkway. The shops and restaurants in Huron Village are nearby.
33 Lexington Ave Cambridge – History
This handsome three-story building was designed by Boston architect John Hasty in 1900. Hasty designed many Cambridge buildings that are now condominiums including 18 Centre Street, 88 Hancock Street, the Newport Road condos, and the Washingtonian.
Originally built with six large units, the building, with the addition of a unit on the lower level, was converted to seven condos in 1990.
33 Lexington Ave Condos- The Lowell – Features:
- Six large condos – 1952 – 2013 sq.ft.
- Two side-to-side units per floor
- 884 sq.ft. condo on the lower level
- Two to four bedrooms
- Larger units have two baths
- Fireplace in larger units
- Most have porches
- Period detail
- On street parking
Sales at 33 Lexington Ave Cambridge
The most recent sale at 33 Lexington was in 2005 when the smaller unit sold for $374,000. The last sale of a larger unit was in 2000 when a condo on the second floor sold for $602,500.
If there’s a condo for sale at 33 Lexington Avenue it will appear below. Click on the small photo for more photographs and additional info.
Looking for a condo in Cambridge? I’d be delighted to help you with your search. I’ve been working with buyers and sellers in Cambridge for ten years and can be reached at 617-504-1737.
The Lowell Condos are located at 33 Lexington Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02138.
Hawk Nest at 185 Alewife Brook Parkway in Cambridge
I’ve been meaning to write about the hawk nest at 185 Alewife Brook Parkway in Cambridge for a week or two but real estate has been keeping me too busy to blog.
I was out on a tour with buyers when we passed a group of people with binoculars looking up at the office building across from Whole Foods. The nest on the front of the building is quite large and hard to miss once you try to figure out what everybody’s looking at.
A quick search pulled up all sorts of info about the red-tailed hawk nest and its occupants – the two parents and their three baby chicks. Here’s a video that tells the story of the Cambridge hawk family. There’s also an update on youtube that shows the chicks in the last few days – they’re really getting big!
The Boston Globe had a long article about the hawks today and it hit the news on TV this evening as well. The hawk family is famous!
According to the Globe article, traffic’s been affected as people slow to try to figure out what’s going on. Truthfully the traffic through this stretch is so horrendous you’re typically sitting there anyways.
2 of the baby red tailed hawks at 185 Alewife Brook Parkway
Update on May 29th: I finally stopped and joined the crowd watching the birds. The babies are so big now that you can see them clearly when you’re driving by – and it sometimes seems that only one or two are still in the nest.
But no – all three are still there though they seem to take turns standing up at the front of the nest.
I think that’s why some of the birdwatchers return day after day – they’re hoping to catch the hawks’ first flight.
It must be getting pretty crowded in that nest. And as my dad commented – those hawk parents are working really hard keeping those big baby birds fed.
My dad was a bit blase about hawk watching since he’d just been fishing up in New Hampshire the day before and had a close-up view of the bald headed eagle that nests at the lake.
Watching the hawks across from Whole Foods
Birdwatching traffic problems remind me of another amazing roadside birdwatching opportunity – the blue heron rookery on Route 2 near 495 – it’s in Littleton I think. When the herons first nested here cars lined the side of the highway as people parked to watch these beautiful birds. In short order no parking signs were posted. Nowadays you have to crane your neck as you zoom by – not the safest way to birdwatch. Someday I’m going to find some place to park and hike back.
285 Harvard St Cambridge – John Alden Apartments
285 Harvard Street Cambridge MA - The John Alden
285 Harvard St Cambridge MA is a classic Cambridge brick building built in 1929 as the John Alden Apartments.
Today there are 48 condos in the four-story building which is entered through a landscaped courtyard.
Cambridge real estate buyers will appreciate the convenient Mid-Cambridge location – close to Inman, Central and Harvard Square.
Condo buyers will find a variety of units here. There are studios, one-bedroom and two-bedroom condos. Some retain the charm and character of the period, others have been stylishly updated.
285 Harvard Street Cambridge MA Condos Feature:
- Hardwood floors
- Some units have a working fireplace
- Some retain the original glass fronted cabinets
- Elevator building
- Common laundry
- Additional storage
- Condo fees include heat and hot water
285 Harvard St Cambridge MA-Real Estate Sales at the John Alden
There has not been a two-bedroom sold in the building since 2006 when two 748 sq.ft. two-bedrooms sold for $345,000 and $350,000. A 592 sq.ft. one-bedroom condo sold in 2009 for $301,200 and a one-bedroom condo was recently offered for sale for $300,000.
If units are available at 285 Harvard Street they’ll appear below. Click on the small photo for additional photographs and more information.
Condos at the John Alden Apartments are located at 285 Harvard Street, Cambridge MA 02139.
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