Boston loft-style development is sleek, affordable

Near the intersection of Harrison Avenue in the South End is a new residential development on Massachusetts Avenue called six9one in reference to its address.

Hotelier Nubar Hagopian, an engineer by training, and engineer/designer Kamran Zahedi, president of Urbanica, principals of New House South End LLC, developed the six-story, 40-unit complex on what was vacant land. 

Studio Luz Architects provided the design of the façade, and Berkeley Building Company was the general contractor.

Annette Givens of the Charles Realty is marketing six of the condominiums now – priced between $355,000 and $585,000 – which range in size from 605 to 973 square feet of living space.

The exterior along Massachusetts Avenue is terracotta that complements the old brick Victorian bow front row houses across the street. Eight-foot-high windows and boxed bay windows or oriels with aluminum-frames add visual interest.

The back of the building comprises composite aluminum. Many of these condos have balconies that overlook Trask Street, a narrow cobblestone road that runs between six9one and the Northampton Street Community Garden.

The large, L-shaped lobby has a high ceiling and lots of glass and connects to Trask Street.

A dining area has been created in Unit 508 in front of the kitchen, which features  glossy gray lacquered cabinetry, blizzard white Caesarstone counters and zebrawood flooring.

An elevator serves all six floors, from the 19-car, below-ground heated garage, accessed from Trask Street, to the common roof deck with shrubbery screens.

Unit 508, a spacious condo with one-plus bedrooms and a bath, has been staged to give prospective homebuyers an idea as to how they might want to furnish the dwelling. It is listed at $465,000.

The open floor plan has an unusually long living room that measures more than 37 feet and concludes with views of the community garden. The L-shaped kitchen is at the front of this space, just beyond the entry foyer.

Like all these residences, it is equipped with Bosch appliances – an electric range, a microwave, a stainless steel refrigerator with French doors and a Bosch dishwasher that is paneled to match the cabinetry, which has the urban color scheme.

The cabinetry has a high-gloss gray finish, and the wall cabinets have opaque glass fronts.

A nature theme is incorporated into the kitchen designs with the light striated cabinetry, hickory flooring and organic white Caesarstone counters.

The counters are white speckled Caesarstone that complements the light hickory flooring.

Just inside this unit is an interesting area that could serve as a home office or simply a study. The master bedroom with a walk-in closet has two exposures; two windows, one of which is long and narrow, look toward the south. The other wall has floor-to-ceiling sliding glass doors that open onto a 45-square-foot balcony and a view toward the west.

The European-style bath with a dual flush toilet and a long, rectangular sink poised above the wooden vanity has an oversized shower tiled with tiny blue mosaics. The flooring has linen-like porcelain tiles that measure 12 by 24 inches.

Next to the bath is a laundry closet with hookups for a stacked washer/dryer.

The entry to each of the condos is quite attractive. Slightly recessed, the doors are mahogany, with matching millwork.

Across the hall is Unit 507, which overlooks Massachusetts Avenue and the cityscape.

The model living room Unit 508 has been staged to take advantage of the open floor plan.

It has one-and-a-half bedrooms and a bath and 750 square feet of living space. It is listed at $400,000.

The L-shaped kitchen is finished in nature tones, with light, striated cabinetry and blizzard white Caesarstone counters. The flooring is a light hickory wood.

The living room area is toward the right of the entry, and straight ahead is a large study, which could be furnished as a guest room. It is lacking both a closet and door, so that it cannot be called a second bedroom.

The bedroom is next to the study and has a large closet. The bath is outside the bedroom and features an oversized shower tiled with white and gray mosaic tiles.

The floor plan in Unit 203 is quite similar but slightly smaller at 684 square feet. Listed at $355,000 it has slightly different finishes. The open kitchen has glossy gray lacquered cabinets, the flooring is engineered and the bath is tiled with mosaics in varying shades of blue. 

Just one two-bedroom condo, Unit 401, is on the market at this time and has a fabulous layout, as it has both a northern and southern exposure within 973 square feet of living space.

It is listed at $585,000 and includes an outside parking spot.

The bedrooms are large and include tall casement windows with transoms, drawing in lots of natural light.

The living room has floor-to-ceiling glass with sliders that open onto a large deck with views of Northampton Street and the surrounding neighborhood.

For efficiency, the kitchen with glossy gray cabinetry is tucked into an interior corner of the grand space. Here, the flooring is a darker zebrawood.

The second bedroom is nearly as large as the master bedroom, which has an en suite bath with a combination tub/shower. The second bath, next to the laundry closet, is outside the bedroom and has a shower. Glass-enclosed Juliet balconies are off each bedroom.

Units 502 and 506 are practically mirror images of each other with 605 +/- square feet. Both are offered at $355,000 and overlook the community garden. Each has a balcony off the living room.

Off-street parking is available for an additional fee – $45,000 for a garage space or $35,000 for an outdoor spot.

The view from the common roof deck at six9one sweeps over the South End row houses and catches the skyscrapers of the Back Bay.

To date, nine of the residences have been sold or are under purchase-and-sale agreement, said Hagopian. Several others have been leased.

DETAILS

Address: six9one, 691 Massachusetts Ave., South End

Unit 203: One-plus bedroom, one bath, 684 square feet, $355,000

Unit 401: Two bedrooms, two baths, 973 square feet, $585,000

Unit 502: One bedroom, one bath, 608 square feet, $355,000

Unit 506: One bedroom, one bath, 605 square feet, $355,000

Unit 507: One-plus bedroom, one bath, 750 square feet, $400,000

Unit 508: One-plus bedroom, one bath, 897 square feet, $465,000

Size: Ranging from 605 to 973 square feet

Age: 2010-2011

Taxes: To be determined

Condo fees: Ranging from $368 to $523 per month 

Features of building: New 40-unit condo complex with elevator and on-site parking; central heat and air conditioning; pet-friendly.

Features of units: Flexible open spaces with sleek kitchens with Italian-made cabinetry, high-end stainless steel appliances and Caesarstone counters; wood floors, laundry hookups, video security system.

Close by: South End restaurants, shops and galleries; Boston University Medical Center Symphony Hall, Jordan Hall, Huntington Theater; Museum of Fine Art; Northeastern University; Fenway Park; easy access to MBTA Silver, Orange and Green Lines, Routes 93 and 90.

Contact: Annette Givens, the Charles Realty, 257 Newbury St., Suite 2, Boston, MA 02116. Phones: 617-236-0353 (office) or 617-435-3540.

Websites: www.thecharlesrealty.com or www.691massave.com

An open house will be held Saturday, Sept. 24, from 1 to 3 p.m. and Sunday, Sept. 25, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.