Eco-friendly condos in Boston to be ready in March
A rare event is happening in Jamaica Plain: Construction of new condominiums that are centrally located and will be move-in ready this spring.
In this Boston neighborhood known for its beautiful, but older two- and three-family Victorians, the 13-unit building at 156 Green St. should be a welcome change to buyers who want to avoid maintenance and simply enjoy the luxury of being steps away from the Green Street MBTA station and J.P.’s vibrant Centre Street.
The mixed-use building, called Bartlett Square, features residences on the top three floors and retail space on the ground level.
Janet Deegan of Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage is listing nine of the residences for sale in this mixed-use building.
They are on the second and third floors and range in size from one to three-plus bedrooms.
(Plus means that in addition to the standard layout of bedrooms, kitchen and living/dining areas, a separate library/media room is included. The extra rooms add significantly to the enjoyment of the space.)
Two condos are already under agreement, and two others are being sold through Boston’s affordable housing lottery.
Solar panels have been installed to provide electricity in the common spaces of the building.
During a recent tour Deegan emphasized the green building design and construction, as well as the special attention paid to soundproofing during construction.
“This developer [Chris DeSisto of Boston-based Maple Hurst Builders] feels green and sustainable is the way to go,” she said.
DeSisto purchased the formerly vacant lot, across Amory Street from the MBTA Orange Line Green Street stop. He started construction in September 2010; it is now almost complete.
It features everything from a KONE elevator – made of 95 percent recycled materials and using one-third of the energy of a traditional hydraulic elevator – to a rooftop that will eventually be planted with sedum, a drought-resistant plant meant to help with water control and avoid harmful runoff.
Other energy-efficient features include solar panels for common electric needs, hydro-air heating from a gas-fired boiler and Icynene insulation and air seal throughout.
DeSisto is pursuing rental agreements for the three ground-floor retail spaces.
Unit 303 is nearing completion; this home has two bedrooms.
Retail owners will be part of the building condominium association. Under consideration are a café and a yoga studio.
Available condominiums at Bartlett Square include one 750-square-foot, one-bedroom unit; two 840-square-foot one-plus-bedroom unit; four 1,000-square-foot two-bedroom condos, and two 1,550-square-foot three-plus-bedroom homes.
Prices range from $320,000 to $630,000 for the more expensive three-plus unit, which has views of Sumner Hill. (The views added another $20,000).
All condominiums have an underground parking space available for purchase at $20,000 and a 40-square-foot, first-floor storage space available for purchase at $5,000. The parking garage includes a bike storage area.
The second and third floors each have six condos; a single fourth-floor condo is already under agreement although the two three-plus units are duplexes with fourth-floor decks.
All condos feature oak floors and limestone baths – some with subway tiles and/or soaking tubs and others with oversized showers.
The condos have clean lines with sleek columns and crown molding.
The open floor plans include kitchens that look over dining/living areas via a peninsula countertop and in-unit laundry hookups hidden in closets and an intercom system for guests.
Buyers will have the opportunity to select from several granite countertop finishes and wood kitchen and bath cabinet finishes. Kitchen appliances are stainless steel and Energy Star rated; a standard package of Frigidaire appliances or an upgraded package of mostly Bosch appliances is also available at the buyer’s choice.
While the Bartlett Square condos are brand-new and billed as modern, the interior design contains desirable classic features, such as crown moldings and interior columns separating bedroom from living areas.
Double-hung windows are higher-end Pella, with wood interior and aluminum exterior frames for easier care.
In the two duplex units, stairways heading upstairs have one landing. Walls in the common living areas are generally white and cream; some bedrooms are already painted in warm pumpkin, sky blue or moss green.
The extra studies in each of the three-plus bedroom units available are wired for surround sound and have full walls of natural-and-white bookshelves.
The wooden washbowl and polished nickel fixtures add a contemporary sensibility to the home.
Walls between units are more than 8 inches thick, including some air space. Deegan emphasized the special attention that the builder paid to soundproofing, both between individual units and between second-floor units and the retail space below.
Bedroom sizes are 11 by 12 feet in two-bedroom units and slightly larger in three-bedroom units. Master bedrooms in the three-bedroom units are a spacious 17 by 11 feet.
DETAILS
Address: Bartlett Square Condominiums, 156 Green St., Jamaica Plain
BR/BA: Nine units for sale – one, one-plus, two and three-plus-bedrooms with one, one-and-a-half or two baths, depending on size.
Size: Ranging from 750 to 1,550 square feet
Prices: From $320,000 to $360,000 (one and one-plus bedrooms); $400,000 to $440,000 (two bedrooms) and $610,000 to $630,000 (three-plus bedrooms).
Age: 2010-2012
Taxes: To be determined
Condo fee: Ranging from $275 to 475 per month, depending on unit
Features of building: New construction of four-story mixed-use building with three commercial spaces on ground floor and 13 residences with brick and granite front; green/alternative energy building; elevator and stair access to all levels; vegetative green roof; underground bike storage; parking garage with spaces available for $20,000 each; first-floor storage available for $5,000 each; intercom for guests; anticipated move-in date March 2012.
Features of homes: Oak floors, limestone baths; laundry hookups; Internet, cable and landline telephone wiring in each unit, surround sound in three-plus-bedroom units. Buyers have choice of granite countertop options and wood cabinet-front options; central air and energy-efficient hydro-air heating.
Close by: Central Jamaica Plain, next to Green Street Orange Line MBTA stop; less than half a mile to Doyle’s Café, JP Licks, City Feed, Ula Café and other restaurants, groceries, banks; a bit farther to Jamaica Pond and Franklin Park; easy access to Longwood Medical and Academic Area, Simmons College, Northeastern University.
Contact: Janet Deegan, Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage, 713 Centre St., Jamaica Plain, MA 02130. Phone: 617-895-6366.
Websites: www.NEMoves.com, www.JamaicaPlainRealEstate.com or www.bartlettsqcondos.com.
This property may be seen by appointment.
