Kenmore Square icon sold for $3.5 million

Three handsome brick buildings with swell fronts, conical towers and a white stone portico at 493-497 Commonwealth Ave., a signature commercial property in Kenmore Square, is among November’s spectacular sales.

Together the buildings sold as shells for $3.5 million. Boston Realty Advisors was both the listing and selling brokerage.

Jason Weissman, principal and founder of Boston Realty Advisors, said he began marketing the property during the summer, calling for offers. “There were multiple rounds of bidding,” he said.

Constructed in 1895, the buildings were single-family homes for nearly 25 years. Arthur H. Vinal, a well-known city architect, designed 493 Commonwealth Ave., while the Boston firm of Walker & Kimball designed the homes at 495 and 497 Commonwealth Ave.

The Waterman family purchased the three houses from the original owners, and from the early 1920s to 2005, the buildings housed the J.S. Waterman and Sons Funeral Home.

In 2007 the Waterman Realty Management Limited Partnership sold the property to Commonwealth Avenue LLC, an entity of Kimco Realty Corp., a real estate investment trust based in New Hyde Park, N.Y.

The grand oak staircase at 497 Commonwealth Ave. ascends four floors.

Shortly afterward No. 497 was separated from the other two buildings; it was sold Nov. 17 for $1.05 million. Nos. 493 and 495 were sold for $2.45 million on the same date.

Bay Management Corp. of New York City, which has offices in Dedham, bought the buildings through two separate entities, Epiphany LLC and Kenundrum LLC. The firm owns and manages several apartment complexes, including the Greenhouse Apartments on Huntington Avenue and Gaslight Village in South Weymouth.

A spokesman from Bay Management said no plans have been finalized for their use.

Four years ago, plans called for returning the interconnected buildings to their original use in a substantially different configuration. A single-family home was considered for 497 Commonwealth Ave., while seven condos were considered for the other two buildings.

Despite a great deal of interior demolition, many original architectural details remain, including stained glass windows, oak wainscoting and marble fireplaces, said Weissman.

Selling broker Christopher Sower, who is managing director and partner of Boston Realty Advisors, said the new owners probably would look at some form of residential use for the property.

These stained glass windows are on a lower landing of the staircase.