Condo in Boston's Back Bay is totally renovated

The first block from the Public Garden between Arlington and Berkeley streets in the Back Bay has always been very desirable, but the homes along the first block of Commonwealth Avenue are really impressive.

Architects Gridley J.F. Bryant and Arthur Gilman designed nine contiguous residences at 20-36 Commonwealth Ave. in this block, creating “one of the most imposing compositions in the whole district,” wrote Bainbridge Bunting in “Houses of Boston’s Back Bay, An Architectural History 1840-1917.”

The homes present a unified, unbroken façade. All were designed and built in 1861 for nine different owners.

Thirty-four Commonwealth was built for Henry Edwards and his wife, Martha Ann (Dorr) Edwards. A descendant of theologian Jonathan Edwards, he was born in Northampton, MA Oct. 22, 1798, and became an importer and merchant who spent much time in Paris where he was a friend of Lafayette.

He was also a member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives, a trustee of Mass. General Hospital, and, for 40 years, a trustee of Amherst College.

It was not until 1966 that 34 Commonwealth was converted from a single family home into 10 apartments.

The kitchen boasts beautiful granite counters, high-end stainless steel appliances and abundant cabinetry.

In 1980 it was changed to six apartments, and four years later, it became four condominiums.

Robert Cohen of Boston Realty Advisors has listed one of the condos, Unit 3, at $824,000.

It is a lovely unit with deep molding and large windows that let in tremendous amounts of light and provide beautiful views. It has a large living room, a stainless steel and granite kitchen, a dining area and a bedroom that is large enough to be turned into two rooms. 

It was totally renovated in 2008 with new hardwood flooring, a new tile floor and new vanity in the bath, new kitchen cabinets and countertops and, in the living room, new bookshelves and a wet bar.

Cast iron fences surround the two front gardens on each side of the wide, front walkway, which leads to the six steps that rise to the center front door. The arched entry has a center keystone and decorative flowers between the rows of wide stone moldings. 

The glass-paneled front door opens into a foyer before French doors open the lobby.

The large living room has a decorative fireplace with a marble mantelpiece, new bookshelves and a wet bar.

The lobby would be a wonderful spot to wait for someone. A window seat is beneath each of the two windows that flank the front door. 

An arched period mirror above the marble fireplace mantelpiece echoes the arched doorways that lead to the window seats. An oriental rug covers the center of the hardwood flooring. The beautiful curved staircase with wide handrails is at the back of the lobby.

The door to Unit 3 opens to an entry hall. The living room and the kitchen are to the right and the bathroom and bedroom to the left. Just before the living room, the hallway widens to a dining area.

There is a pass-through in the wall between that and the living room, so that conversation can occur between the rooms.

The living room through the wide doorway at the end of the hall is beautiful and functional.

In the center of the wall to the right is a fireplace with a metal insert and a white marble mantelpiece with a keystone carved at the top center just under the ledge. 

A pass-through from the kitchen provides a counter for casual dining.

A beautifully stylized light fixture hangs from the center of the ceiling, encircled by wide crown molding.

A pair of large windows is side by side in the far wall, giving charming views of the many different types of trees on the Commonwealth Avenue Mall. Now the trees are turning various shades of yellow and red and green. 

A comfortable window seat is beneath the windows, and built-in floor cabinets with marble tops are on each side of the windows. Shelving is above the cabinet on the left, and a closed wall cabinet is above the one on the right.

The kitchen is through a wide doorway opposite the dining area. The beautiful granite countertops are reminiscent of tweed. The backsplash behind the sink is the same pattern of granite.

Spacious cabinets provide plenty of storage. Above the sink is a storage area for plates, and above that are two cabinets paneled with glass. Other cabinets provide hidden storage.

The big, carpeted bedroom has crown molding and a lovely marble fireplace, which is decorative.

The stainless steel refrigerator is Fisher & Paykel. The stainless steel dishwasher is Bosch. The stainless steel range is Frigidaire. Recessed lighting illuminates the entire area.

Just past the kitchen is a laundry closet with a stacked washer and dryer. Just past that is the full bath with a walk-in shower that has marble walls and flooring and a glass front. There is a rain forest showerhead. The vanity has a furniture-like base with a marble top.

At the end of the hall is the huge bedroom. Wide crown molding circles the ceiling, and wide molding surrounds the windows. The two large windows are covered with wide louvered shutters. 

The views include the old John Hancock, the mirrored John Hancock Tower, and the beautiful stone Emmanuel Episcopal Church on Newbury Street. The fireplace has a white marble mantelpiece and black metal insert. There are a double wide closet and also a huge walk-in closet with both rods and shelving for storage.

DETAILS

Address: 34 Commonwealth Ave., Unit 3, Back Bay

BR/BA: One bedroom, one bath

Age: 1861; 1984; 2008

Size: 1,086 +/- square feet

Price: $824,000

Taxes: $9,735 (FY 2011)    

Condo fee: $325 per month (includes hot water)

Features of building: Located on the desirable first block of Commonwealth Avenue near the Public Garden, four-unit, owner-occupied building has beautiful lobby and front gardens; professionally managed. 

Features of unit: Completely renovated in 2008, unit has large rooms, beautiful detailing, two decorative fireplaces, abundant light; central air conditioning. 

Close by: Commonwealth Avenue Mall, the Public Garden; Back Bay and Beacon Hill shops and restaurants; easy access to MBTA Green Line at Arlington Street, Orange Line, commuter rail and Amtrak at Back Bay station and Red and Green Lines at Park Street; Storrow Drive, Routes 93 and 90.

Contact: Robert Cohen, Boston Realty Advisors, 745 Boylston St., Boston, MA 02116. Phones: 617-375-7900 (office) or 617-962-0142 (cell).

Websites: www.robcohen.com or www.bradvisors.com

An open house will be held at this property Sunday, Oct. 23, from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m.