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.
TROMP – Cambridge Transportation Program
Maybe you noticed the TROMP banner outside Harvard Square and wondered what the heck is TROMP? I know I did when I spotted the button at right at Cambridge City Hall. Turns out it’s a new Cambridge transportation program.
TROMP stands for Travel Responsibility Outreach and Mentoring Project. It’s a collaboration of city departments, local organizations and citizens. The aim of the year-long project is to educate all who travel in and through Cambridge – by foot, by bike, and by car – about how to do so responsibly.
Getting around Cambridge can be a challenge. Jaywalking gets worse and worse, bicycles can be both a menace and a vulnerable target of careless or aggressive drivers, and when not stuck in traffic cars sometimes drive as though Cambridge’s streets are a raceway. Everybody’s got stories including my family – my dad was hit by a bike on the sidewalk, my mother knocked to the ground by a car in Porter Square.
Cambridge is always working on improving travel in the city. Traffic calming street modifications, marked bike lanes, newly modified crossing signals. TROMP hopes “to alter the culture of traffic in Cambridge Massachusetts” according to the group’s website (hint: click the letters on their homepage) through four phases – orientation, education, warning and enforcement. They’ll be meeting with community groups, talking to school kids, distributing flyers, and encouraging participation. Let’s hope they’re successful.
Here’s a video about TROMP:
Chocolate Factory Condos – 253 Norfolk St
The Chocolate Factory Condos at 253 Norfolk St, Cambridge MA
The Chocolate Factory condos are loft-style units at 253 Norfolk Street in Cambridge MA. The eye catching orange wood building is the former site of a candy factory, first Russell Confectioner, later the Gobelin Chocolate Co.
Converted to condos in 1998, the three-story building now houses 21 condominiums with garage parking below. Located on a tree-lined residential block, 253 Norfolk Street is close to Central Square, Inman Square and MIT.
Chocolate Factory Lofts Feature
- Central air conditioning
- Unique layouts, some multi-level
- Soaring ceilings
- Parking – garage or outdoor
- Gas fireplace in some units
- Common patio, some condos have a private deck
Recent Sales at 253 Norfolk St, Cambridge MA
Since 2008 several one bedroom condos have sold ranging from
- A 546 sq.ft. condo with outdoor parking for $285,000 to
- An 854 sq.ft. condo with garage parking for $368,900
A 1049 sq. ft. two-bedroom, two-bath multi-level unit with garage parking sold for $419,000
The Chocolate Factory condos are located at 253 Norfolk Street, Cambridge, MA 02139.
Cambridge Registry of Deeds – Middlesex South Registry of Deeds
Cambridge Registry of Deeds
The Middlesex South Registry of Deeds – what we often call the Cambridge Registry of Deeds – is located in East Cambridge on Cambridge Street between Second and Third Streets. It’s hard to miss with its enormous red brick columns.
The plaque out front describes the Registry as “One of the finest Neo-Classical buildings in Massachusetts, especially noted for its colossal brick columns.” The building was designed in 1898 by Boston architect Olin B. Cutter.
In remarks at the dedication on November 13, 1900, Samuel K. Hamilton described the building:
“Viewed from any point of the compass, it presents a building imposing in size, symmetrical in proportion, and beautiful in architecture.”
The interior is beautiful as well but sorry – no photos. Nowadays you have to empty your pockets, go through a metal detector, and leave your camera in the car in order to enter the building. The building also houses the Middlesex Probate Court so gets quite busy.
If you’re visiting the Cambridge Registry of Deeds for your real estate closing you’ll want to take the elevator or one of the two grand staircases to the second floor. Real estate closings take place under the rotunda in the open area that looks quite a bit like a food court. Recently a room adjacent to the area where documents are recorded was refurbished to provide additional space for closings. It’s called the Closing Room or the Settlement Room and – happily – it’s air conditioned – something we all appreciate in July or August.
Documents recorded at the Registry since the mid-1980s are available online. If you’re interested in researching the early history of your house you’ll want to visit the Registry in person. The Registry’s holdings include deeds and mortgage documents dating back to the mid-1600s.
The Middlesex South District Registry of Deeds serves Acton, Arlington, Ashby, Ashland, Ayer, Bedford, Belmont, Boxborough, Burlington, Cambridge, Concord, Everett, Framingham, Groton, Holliston, Hopkinton, Hudson, Lexington, Lincoln, Littleton, Malden, Marlboro, Maynard, Medford, Melrose, Natick, Newton, North Reading, Pepperell, Reading, Sherborn, Shirley, Somerville, Stoneham, Stow, Sudbury, Townsend, Wakefield, Waltham, Watertown, Wayland, Weston, Winchester and Woburn.
The Cambridge Registry of Deeds is located at 208 Cambridge Street, Cambridge, MA 02141 just one block from the Lechmere T station. Open Monday – Friday 7:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Office hours for recording – 8:00 a.m. to 3:45 pm.
University Green – Cambridge Condos
University Green - Harvard Square Luxury Condos
University Green – Luxury Cambridge Condos. University Green is a 52-unit luxury condo building in Harvard Square at 130 Mount Auburn Street Cambridge. Built in 1985, the five story building is set back from the street behind a landscaped garden courtyard.
Condos range from 760 s.f. studios to three-bedrooms over 2500 s.f. in size.
University Green Features
- 24 hour concierge
- Elevator
- Central air conditioning
- Garage parking
- Balcony
- Private storage
- In-unit washer/dryer
- Fireplace in some units
Recent Condo Sales at University Green, 130 Mount Auburn St Cambridge
The most recent condo sales at University Green in 2012 included:
- One bedroom, 1.5 bath for $895,000
- Two bedroom, two bath for $1,030,000
- One bedroom, two bath for $1,285,000
- Three bedroom, 2.5 bath for $2,150,000
If condos are available at University Green they’ll appear below. Click on the small photo for more photographs and additional information.
The University Green condominiums are located at 130 Mount Auburn Street, Cambridge, MA 02138.
Cambridge Public Library Opening
Cambridge Public Library Opening I couldn’t help but wonder when I drove down Broadway the other night – Is the Cambridge Public Library finally open? It was brightly lit and looked beautiful. If I knew how to take a picture in the dark (turns out I don’t) I’d have it here. Instead a 1915 postcard view of the library is below.
It’s been a long time coming. The main branch of the library closed in March 2005. It reopened in temporary quarters in the Longfellow School in June 2005 where it remained through January 2009. The branch libraries have done a tremendous job over these many, many months but a city the size of Cambridge needs its main library.
Cambridge Public Library in 1915
The Cambridge Public Library opened in 1889. The Richardsonian Romanesque building was designed by architect Henry Van Brunt and built on land donated to the city by Frederick H. Rindge. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The original building has been restored and a dramatic new addition constructed.
Cambridge Public Library Opening
There will be an Open House and Ribbon Cutting at the new Main Library at 449 Broadway on Thursday, October 29, 2009 from 5 to 7:30 p.m. The official ceremony begins at 6:00 p.m begins and is sold out. The library received requests from more than 500 potential attendees but the auditorium seats only 200. People are encouraged to attend the open house and the library may have loudspeakers outside the auditorium.
The library opens for business on Sunday, November 8th. Hours that day will be 2 to 5:00 p.m. Thereafter, the library will be open its regular hours:
- Monday – Thursday 9 – 9 – Children’s Room closes at 7:00 pm
- Friday & Saturday 9 – 5
- Sunday 1 – 5 (November through April)
It will be all hands on deck at the newly reopened Main Branch – all the branch libraries will be closed for the week of November 9 to 14.
The Cambridge Public Library is at 449 Broadway, Cambridge, MA 02138.
Thomas Graves Landing – Canal Park, Cambridge
Thomas Graves Landing - Cambridge MA
Thomas Graves Landing at 4-6 Canal Park in Cambridge offers 167 luxury condos. Built in 1988-1989, the complex overlooks the Lechmere Canal and the CambridgeSide Galleria mall. The park around the canal offers a beautiful place to stroll and a playground for kids.
Located in East Cambridge, near a number of other luxury condo buildings, Canal Park is close to Boston and near two Green Line T stations – Lechmere and the Museum of Science. Like to walk? Mass General Hospital, Boston Garden, Beacon Hill, Government Center, the Financial District or the State House are all within walking distance. It’s also easy to jump on major highways or get to the airport quickly.
Thomas Graves Landing Building Features
- Outdoor pool
- Health Club
- Sauna
- Function room
- Guest parking
- 24-hour concierge
- Elevators
Thomas Graves Landing 4-6 Canal Park, Cambridge, MA
Canal Park Condos Feature
- Central air conditioning
- Terraces or balconies
- Floor to ceiling windows
- In-unit washer / dryer
- Garage parking
- Storage locker
- Fireplaces in 7th floor and penthouse units
Recent Sales of Thomas Graves Landing Condos
A 523 sq.ft. studio condo sold for $310,000
One bedroom, one-bath units, 777 – 815 sq.ft., sold for $415,000 to $420,000
Two-bedroom, two bath condos, 1206 – 1374 sq. ft, sold for $$570,000 to $615,000
Thomas Graves Landing Condos Available for Sale or Rent
Amelia Earhart’s House In Medford
Did you know that Amelia Earhart lived in Medford Mass? With the movie, “Amelia”, starring Hilary Swank as Earhart and Richard Gere as Earhart’s husband, opening this weekend I figured it was a good time to check out the home where the famous aviatrix lived.
Amelia Earhart’s House In Medford
Amelia Earhart's Home In Medford Mass
The Earhart women, Amelia, her sister Muriel, and their mother Amy, moved to Medford in 1924 following their mother’s divorce. They moved to this hip roofed shingled house at 76 Brooks Street in West Medford.
As the monument in front of the Amelia Earhart home notes, Amelia lived here with her mother and sister for several years. She subsequently lived at Denison House, a settlement house in Boston where she worked as a social worker. She married George Putnam, played by Richard Gere in the movie, on February 7, 1931.
Monument In Front Of The Earhart House On Brooks Street
Earhart was the first woman to fly across the Atlantic – first as a passenger in 1928 and then as a pilot in a solo flight in 1932. She was only the second person to fly solo across the Atlantic, five years after Charles Lindbergh’s flight.
Amelia’s mother died several months after her daughter’s disappearance in 1937 during her ill fated round-the-world flight. Her sister, Muriel Morrissey, lived a long life in Medford where she was a public school teacher. Muriel died in Medford in 1998 at the age of 98. George Putnam died in 1950 at the age of 62.
Here’s another local tie-in with a recent movie: Julia Child’s House In Cambridge
Would you like to see inside Amelia Earhart’s house? It’s just been listed for sale and you can click on the small photo below for more info and additional photographs.
Halloween Costumes In Cambridge
Halloween Costumes In Cambridge Halloween is one of my favorite holidays. I’ve been a gorilla, a lobster, a chicken, a bag of grapes… So I’m always on the lookout at this time of year for a good costume store. Luckily Cambridge has two.
Wondering Where to Buy or Rent a Halloween Costume in Cambridge?
Great Eastern Trading Company
Great Eastern Trading Company has a dazzling collection of costumes and accessories for sale. The sequined tutus hanging outside caught my eye and I was overwhelmed when I walked inside. The shop is chock-a-block full of funky, sparkly, unusual, creative costumes. It’s a vintage clothing store so you can put together something yourself or choose from the racks that are jam packed with costumes ready to go. There are wigs, masks, and all the accessories you’ll need to put your look together. When I’m looking for the perfect costume Great Eastern Trading Company will be my first stop.
Great Eastern Trading Company is in Cambridgeport near Central Square at 49 River Street at the corner of Auburn. Open Monday through Saturday at noon, Sunday at 1 pm.
Garment District and Boston Costume
The Garment District and Boston Costume also offer a combo of vintage clothes and Halloween costumes. The Garment District, best known in these parts for its Dollar A Pound clothing buying opportunities (now $1.50 per pound every day but Dollar Friday), is upstairs and Boston Costume, which offers costume rentals as well as sales, is on the first floor. The store is open until midnight from now until the 31st.
The Garment District and Boston Costume are located at 200 Broadway in East Cambridge. Hours through October 31st are 11 am to midnight every day but Saturday when the stores open at 9 a.m.
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