massachusetts

This month the world spotlight will focus on Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts yet again as another U.S. President vacations there. Martha's Vineyard was a favorite vacation destination of the Clintons and the island a ferry ride away from Cape Cod has been a celebrity summer spot for years. It also has a long history, illustrated by today's home, the Fisher-Bliss house in Edgartown. This home was constructed in 1832 by master builder Thomas M. Coffin, with later alterations dating to 1924. The home was built for Captain George Lawrence who sold it to Captain Jared Fisher. It is the only three-story Greek Revival house in Edgartown's Historic District and is within walking distance of the many attractions in this picturesque island town.

The house remained in the Fisher family until 1964 and was then handed over to the Society for the Preservation of New England Antiquities, now known as Historic New England. It was never operated as a public museum but was maintained by the organization and used for summer rentals. It has 11 bedrooms and eight fireplaces and the upper stories offer harbor views. From the widow's walk you can enjoy sweeping views of the harbor and bay. Behind the house there is a one-and-a-half story barn, constructed in the mid-nineteenth century, which can be used as a garage, children's playroom or storage area. It is listed at $3.65 million.

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Most of the homes I see in the Berkshires town of Great Barrington, Massachusetts are older elegant estates dating back from the area's long history as a summer retreat. This home however, is modern and freshly created. The home is on 120 acres stretching from a ridge to the Williams River. It is set on rock outcroppings and has views of the surrounding woods. A floating roof soars over a cool home of steel, wood and glass. Airiness is the buzzword with this one, it's got huge glass windows, open staircases and clerestory windows designed to let light flood the clean, bare space. The property includes many decks, a pergola, two-bedroom guesthouse and a twenty-five meter lap pool. It is listed at $8.5 million.
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Maybe, society has had enough. In Spokane, Washington, even non-smokers came to the defense of the cigar community when public golf courses tried to implement a ban. Other places are relying on creativity, such as tobacconist De La Concha's cigar dinners. In New Hampshire, the legislature is getting involved – a bill may legalize the sale of liquor in cigar bars.

In most places, it's tough to find a social setting where you can enjoy a cocktail and a cigar at the same time. The "live free or die" folks are looking to change that. If tobacconists are able to receive liquor licenses, the resulting store traffic could offset much of the damage being done by the financial crisis.

For Two Guys Smoke Shop in Salem, New Hampshire – where I used to go when I lived in northern Massachusetts – sales have fallen since the state banned smoking in restaurants two years ago, with particular effect in the winter. The ability to sell drinks would make the venue more enticing to customers, keep them in seats longer and likely result in an increase in sales.

There aren't many cigar venues left in New England or elsewhere in the country where you can smoke and drink at the same time. In Manhattan, we have a few spots, and Boston has Cigar Masters. Many cities have their hidden gems, but you have to find them. For the cigar smokers of New Hampshire, however, this could change. And, if you believe that Dixville Notch chooses the president every four years, expect to see similar laws pop up in other states.

Controversial Boston real estate developer Don Chiofaro is running into resistance. His plan to raise what would be two of the city's largest towers has been the subject of ire for local residence who would hate to see their views obstructed and other do-gooders who don't want to sacrifice the character of the waterfront.

In his latest round of battle, Chiofaro heard criticism that the two buildings would simply be too large for Boston. Currently, the city's tallest building is the Hancock Tower, totaling 61 stories. It's followed by the Prudential building and Chiofaro's One International Place (Two International Place is not as high).

In an unusual show of restraint, the developer has not called his opponents "pirates."

Proponents are excited not only by the prospect of 860,000 square feet of office space, a hotel and 100 condo units but also the likely 4,000 construction jobs that would result from the $900 million project.

Even if he makes it past the locals, one problem remains: money. Boston Mayor Tom Menino, who hasn't been terribly sympathetic with Chiofaro in the past, has said that he'll require that the builder prove he has the financing lined up ... if the project gets that far. Five years ago, Chiofaro almost lost his crown jewel, International Place, when Tischman Speyer (the "gang of pirates" from New York) tried to foreclose.

This fight is far from over, but I wouldn't make plans to move into those new units yet. This could take a while.

Today's home on Fisher Hill in Brookline, Massachusetts has as its claim to fame the fact that it was once featured in an article in Time Magazine on the "New American Home" (the owners talked about their dual home offices and large space for watching television). The six-bedroom home sits on over and acre and has an indoor pool and an indoor basketball court/gymnasium as well as an outdoor sport court. It is listed at $6.295 million which makes it the most expensive home on the market in Brookline.

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The City of Boston just can't seem to make up its mind. Back in December, officials were mulling an absolute smoking ban that likely would have led to the closure of several cigar-related businesses (such as Cigar Masters on Boylston St.). Now, the city sees tobacco as a way to bring some new cash into ol' Beantown's coffers – up to $13 million annually, actually. The tax increase would cover loose tobacco, small cigars and smokeless tobacco.

Having tapped the cigarette well dry with a recent tax increase from $1 a pack to $2.51 last July, the lawmakers have had to hunt elsewhere. Officials, with bizarre logic, believe that the cigarette tax has led price-sensitive teenagers to consume other forms of tobacco. Yet, there has been no report of an outbreak hoodlums smoking White Owls at Copley.

While this measure does not affect the luxury cigar market directly, the underlying thinking may signal future legislative ambition. Cigarettes, long the preferred tobacco product to tax, will eventually lose their value as a source of tax revenue, particularly if they are taxed out of existence. While the stated ambition of the proposed Massachusetts measure is to price tobacco out of the reach of minors, it also suggests that alternative sources of tobacco tax may be necessary.

We've seen this thinking in action with the SCHIP. The states may follow.

Worried about the future of your right to enjoy cigars? Join the Cigar Rights of America.

Spring in New England often arrives with such beauty it seems calculated to make you forget all about winter. This home is on Peach's Point, a private peninsula in Marblehhead, Massachusetts . The home is on two acres facing the Atlantic Ocean and is in walking distance of a sandy beach. The brick and clapboard home was built around 1910 and has been restored and expanded into a modern retreat. There are five bedrooms, six fireplaces, a kitchen with a wood counter, sitting room, exercise room and a brick terrace that faces the ocean. It is listed at $5.9 million.

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I love looking at properties from my home town of Centerville, Massachusetts. I can remember passing this one down a long road on my way to the beach. This 1930s Georgian Colonial is directly on the beach facing Nantucket Sound. It has a private, sandy beach and a dock. Inside it is over 5,000 sq. ft. and 13 rooms, including six bedrooms. The style is classic Cape Cod and heavy on the nautical. While the kitchen seems newer other rooms definitely need an update. It is listed at $7.495 million.

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For a long time Boston's Beacon Hill has been its priciest area and a recent article in The Real Deal points out that while volumes of sales may have been affected by the real estate slump, prices are still up. And in fact, the more expensive homes are still selling strong simply because larger homes will always have a lure in an area where there isn't much room for expansion. But can the area handle the sale of the 10-bedroom Appleton-Parker House? The large property isn't on the Hill but is located nearby on Beacon Street opposite Boston Common. The brick structure was built in 1818 and was formerly home to the Women's City Club. The property is listed as a development opportunity for a single family user or to break up into condos. The Greek Revival building, known as the Appleton-Parker House is on the National Register of Historic Places in 1978. It is currently used as a single family residence but is broken into four condos, with gated access to three garaged parking spaces and six outdoor spaces. It's listed at $27.5 million and if it sells for anywhere close to that it would be the highest sale in Boston this year.

After my colleague Jared Paul Stern mentioned Boston's most expensive real estate listing, I thought it might be fun to check out another pricey home in the city. October always makes me long for Boston and crisp fall days. Walking up Commonwealth Avenue on a sunny cool autumn day, one can't help but admire the stately townhomes that line the grandest part of this thoroughfare. This Beaux Arts home was built in the mid 1800s and renovated and combined into one gorgeous single family home in 2005. The home is five levels and includes three private decks and an impressive five parking spaces, two in garage parking spaces which occupy the garden level and three outdoor spaces.

The home has arched glass windows and beautiful marble and stone inlaid floors. The parlor reception room has arch bay windows facing the street with 15 foot ceilings and 12 foot pocket doors and the mahogany wainscoting billiards room / library is an elegant place to enjoy cocktails and conversation after dinner. The gourmet kitchen has a 15 foot granite island and a gorgeous handmade La Cornue range. The master bedroom suite has a fireplaces and two large wallk-in closets, one which is currently in use as a gym and a huge onyx / marble bath with a Jacuzzi, steam shower, double vanity and an intricately designed floor with radiant heat. On another level, a private three bedroom suite includes a formal and an informal living room or study and full kitchen, wet bar and lounge. The den leads to a deck with a Jacuzzi. This home is listed at $11.95 million.

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This large home in Cotuit, Massachusetts takes traditional Cape Cod style to a new level. The home is on seven acres and has waterfront views. The land includes a pool area and a guest house with a turret and a circular staircase. The shingled home combines rough wood beams and exposed brick with columns and double-height ceilings to create a home that manages to be both cottage cute and a bit extravagant. The listing references a lot of France, pointing out that every room in the house features a chandelier, mostly imported from Paris, the kitchen features a professional eight burner Parisian stove and the master bedroom has glass etched doors reminiscent of Lalique styling. There are four bedrooms total and the home also has a library, fitness area and a wine cellar/grotto. The home is being sold furnished and is listed at $12.5 million.

For more prime properties and lush locations, see Luxury Homes and Mansions.

The Wyck Estate in Manchester-by-the Sea, Massachusetts is another old beauty that has been on the market for a while. It had been on the market for at least a year when I first wrote about it in 2005. This is one of the most beautiful homes on Masschusetts's North Shore. Built in 1912, the main residence is a replica of a French chateau created using bricks imported from France. The 7.85 acre compound also includes tennis courts, a private beach, boat house, children's playhouse and a filtered saltwater pool. The home has been owned by the same person since 1944 so it maintains its original charm including marble fireplaces, plenty of carved wood and ornate stonework. This grand summer estate was on the market for $23.5 million three years ago. Now it looks like the carriage house is being sold in a separate parcel of 2.1 acres and the main home is for sale for $13.25 million.

For more prime properties and lush locations, see Luxury Homes and Mansions.

There are many creative ways to sell condos in these desperate times. I've seen developers offer up free cars, trips, bottles of wine, resale guarantees and yes, I've seen plenty of contests but this is the first one I've seen with a spokesmodel. A developer in Canton, Massachusetts has had some trouble selling their Canton Park condo complex so they are giving away one in a $50-per-entry contest with YouTube videos hosted by the lovely Gisele Sterling in a bikini.

The unit is worth $235,000 and to win the free condo, you'll have to submit the best written essay or YouTube video on one of four topics: why you are Boston's biggest sports fan, your most embarrassing moment, what super power you wish you had, or a showcase of your or your pet's unique talents. The contest hopes not only to get rid of one unit but hopefully to attract attention to the complex so others sell too. It got my attention. Entrants have until September 30 to enter the contest.

[via Boston Herald]

Good news for friends of The Mount, Edith Wharton's Lenox, Massachusetts, house today. Bloomberg reports that the property, which was facing foreclosure, has been saved at least temporarily. The 97-year-old estate raised $800,000 before the foreclosure deadline. Susan Wissler, senior executive officer of Edith Wharton Restoration Inc. says that the situation is still very critical. There is still an outstanding balance of around $5.5 million in bank loans (a $1.3 million mortgage and an additional credit line of $3.2 million). The Wharton preservation group had missed a $30,000 payment to Berkshire Bank in Pittsfield, Massachusetts in February. Edith Wharton Restoration started a campaign to raise $3 million The $800,000 was raised from 1,300 donors including former Walt Disney Co. Chief Executive Officer Michael Eisner and his wife, Jane who gave $25,000. The Mount will be open for the season beginning May 9 but a new foreclosure date of May 31 still looms.

Most people see bottle service with VIP treatment at a hot club in a big city a special treat and a perk of being able to afford spendy bottles of booze. But one Boston official disagrees and is cracking down on the clubs that offer bottle service to their clients. His argument? That the price of the bottle causes patrons to feel they have to down the whole thing before the night is over which, consequently, steps on the toes of the "happy hour" law of a two-drink max per patron. Club owners and VIP's agree that it is an important part of high-end establishments. Personally, I've only seen people partake in bottle service -- and typically there are more than enough people at the table to help decrease individuals portions.