boston real estate

Burroughs Street, Estate of the Day

Filed under: Estates

Boston's Jamaica Plain area is full of beautiful old houses along the roads near Jamaica Pond. Today's home is a pondside residence 100 yards from historic Jamaica Pond, part of Boston's Emerald Necklace of parks. Built in 1897 this home combines Victorian and Greek Revival elements and retains its grand and gracious space. this large home has ten bedrooms and includes a servants wing. The Carriage House was structurally restored and renovated and now serves as family recreational and home office space. This home is listed at $2.5 million.

Gallery: Burroughs Street

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15% of Chestnut Hill Home Sale Profits Will Go to Charity

by Ann Brenoff (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Estates, Charity

Mark Andrus, who made his fortune selling Stacy's Pita Chips to Frito-Lay, is giving back. He's listed an historic Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts estate that he recently renovated at $12.5 million and will donate 15% of the profits from the sale to to the Boston Food Bank. With this home, Andrus is launching RH Design and Development, his new real estate development company devoted to helping people in need.

We think he couldn't have picked a better time and hopefully more millionaires and billionaires will join in the "give back" drumbeat.

For the 45-year-old Andrus, giving back has been a way of life. Both his parents gave generously despite their own struggles. His dad, a physician, lost his eyesight to diabetes and went back to school to become a psychologist, a path that Andrus himself pursued. Even when the company he co-founded with his ex-wife Stacy was a struggling upstart, it offered free English as a Second Language classes to the community.

"When we sold, I wanted there to be an aspect of my life where I could continue giving back to the community. For this new company -- where we're building high-end homes -- it only feels right to be to be giving back to those in need. Yes, we build great beautiful things, but you can't forget about or ignore those who are struggling and can't partake in this," he said.

Andrus bought the 1929 brick Balemore estate for $3.5 million and spent $7 million and 2.5 years renovating it. He always intended to sell the 6-bedroom, 5-bath home, which has 12,000 square feet and sits on 2.2 acres, although he celebrated Thanksgiving in the house with his family both to "do a test run" and to inaugurate the company's first project.

The Georgian Revival mansion, a stunner, is fused with modern resort-like features, including a spa garden with a plunge pool, indoor-outdoor living areas, a wine cellar and state-of-the-art Crestron audio-visual system. There are two laundry rooms, a library and a studio apartment with a small kitchen. There are stone terraces and formal gardens.

Andrus, who lives in Boston, sold Stacy's Pita Chips in 2005 to Frito-Lay.

Allison Mazer of Sotheby's International Realty has the listing.

Tags: boston real estate, chestnut hill, estate of the day, massachusetts real estate

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Boston's Hancock Tower Gets New Owners

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Real Estate Developments

Boston's most recognizable skyscraper, the John Hancock Tower has a new owner. Boston Properties has purchased the tower from private-equity firms Normandy Real Estate Partners and Five Mile Capital Partners for about $289.5 million, plus the assumption of about $640.5 million in debt, a total of around $930 million. The tower sold at auction last year for around $661 million ($20.1 million for the mezzanine debt as well as that $640.5 million mortgage). The tower had sold for $1.3 billion in 2006.

According to a Wall Street Journal article the sellers have agreed to complete some capital and improvement projects that are under way. Last year we mentioned that the owners were planning a $20 million renovation inside the building adding restaurants, shops and underground parking. Boston Properties also owns other local icons including the Prudential Tower and 111 Huntington, a building famous for its rooftop crown.

Tags: boston, boston real estate, hancock tower, john hancock tower

Trinity Place Penthouse, Estate of the Day

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Estates

Today's estate takes us to the 18th floor of Trinity Place, a luxury condo building in Boston near Trinity Church, Copley Place and the Boston Public Library. This property is a pair of penthouses on the top floor. The penthouses are connected by a 1,440-foot gallery. The sprawling expanse has eight bedrooms and over 8,500 square feet of space. The interior is expensively done with Grigio Carnico marble columns dividing a great room into three living spaces: the dining area, sitting area, and living room. Other extravagances include a marble fountain, marble floors, electric fireplace and a master bedroom with columns, built-ins, and moldings next to a library with tray ceiling, recessed lighting, a wet bar, and refrigerator. The master bath has floor-to-ceiling green onyx marble and a whirlpool soaking tub. High-end appliances abound but you can also order in room service from Sorellina, the Italian restaurant downstairs. It is listed at $15 million. After the jump, a gallery long enough to roller skate down.

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Boston Buyers Spurn Starck

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Estates

Could it be that uber-designer Philippe Starck isn't universally appealing. His condos in New York and Miami Beach have thrived but in Boston, not so much. Starck's YooD4 project which has taken over the old Area D-4 police station in the pricey South End, hasn't connected with consumers. Marketing began a year ago but only six of 26 condos have been sold and even those six aren't done deals.

What's the problem? The Boston Globe cites rising mortgage rates, construction delays, and high prices as factors but it could be that Starck's bare yet flashy design just doesn't resonate with Boston's more traditional real estate buyers. Those who buy into Starck's projects aren't just purchasing space they are buying into Starck's quirky aesthetic. The interiors for YooD4 had two options: "Nature" with bamboo floors, teak kitchen cabinets and marble tile bathrooms or "Urban" with white oak floors, white laminate cabinets and white walls.

Starck did better across town at Parris Landing in the Charlestown navy Yard. Most of the units sold in 18 months. What's the difference? Starck had less of a hand in this one, design packages for interiors are optional and Starck confined most of his Starcktacular special effects to common areas. The future of YooD4 may well involve a toning down of the Starck magic.

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Tags: boston real estate, condo, condominium, philippe starck, south end, starck, yood4

128 Beacon Street

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Estates

A classic Beacon Street address in Boston is now luxury condos. 128 Beacon Street is three contiguous historic brownstones that offer space ranging from 1,851 square foot two-bedrooms to 4,846 square foot three-bedroom homes. Some have studies and family rooms, and most have outdoor spaces including terraces, decks and gardens. The building includes garage parking (a true luxury in this area) and additional storage. The new spaces retain many of the original architectural details and have fireplaces and hardwood floors. The homes have marble entrances, custom-built hardwood cabinetry, granite counters and each residence is pre-wired for video, data and telecommunications, including high speed broadband internet access. The roof decks over views of the Charles River and the Boston skyline. There will also be a full-time concierge. Current apartments available for sale include a 3,498-square-foot three apartment with a walk-out deck which is listed at $3.7 million.

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The Hawthorne Estate, Estate of the Day

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Estates

Today's estate is located in the Boston suburb of Westwood, Massachusetts. The Hawthorne Estate was built around 1903 and sits on 30 acres of prime land which has subdivision approval for eight lots. The main house is a Federal Revival mansion with 11,000 square feet of living space. The home has classic grand style with a great room, oak-paneled library, solarium and formal dining room. There is a multi-tiered deck off the family kitchen, seven bedrooms and multiple fireplaces. The property includes two horse barns, an eight-car brick carriage house and tennis court. It is listed at $17.9 million including the lots or $6.85 million for the house plus over six acres.