There isn't much house left here, but it is nice to see that 205 Everett St is up for sale. I wrote about this property in October 2007, and since then it looks like the current owner has done absolutely nothing to maintain the property. The weeds are high, the trash on the sidewalk is thick, windows have been left open year round, and we can only hope that someone will buy this property and improve it.
Its current condition is a disgrace. It is a visible property at the corner of Everett and Holton and the house has some history, as described by Bill Marchione on the BAHS website:
In 1836, Abel Rice, a cousin of Edmund Rice, and a former Brighton Center schoolmaster, purchased eight acres of land near the intersection of Everett and Holton Streets. Here the farmer/ schoolmaster constructed a Greek revival-style residence, with an ell for schoolrooms, a structure which still stands at 205 Everett Street. Rice devoted his North Allston acreage to the cultivation of strawberries. He is said to have introduced the very first strawberries to the Boston market.
This home could be a jewel in the neighborhood. Allston/Brighton is filled with these graceful old homes but most of them have not been preserved. That house on Murdock St is another example. Its sad because they certainly don't make homes like they used to!
ReplyDeleteThis would be an excellent property for a small academic institute or non-profit -- it's an easy trip to Harvard and would have room for some parking. It's historic education roots might make it appealing to some think tank involved in education. I've been sending it to friends on the boards of such groups and strongly encourage everyone in A-B to try shaking similar trees.
ReplyDeleteOf course it would be wonderful to have a family in there, but I think Everett Street is just too busy to make the it attractive.
Everett Street is not that busy, compared with Western Avenue or North Harvard. How about if the Allston Task Force or the ABNNF makes a suggestion to Harvard to buy that property (for a reasonable rate, seeing as they only paid $1 for the Western Avenue property) then they would come out even. Then they could fix it up as a Senior Center and donate it lock, stock and barrel to the city of Allston. Oh my god! I forgot. Harvard doesn't do anything good for Allston in an expeditous manner except if it is in their own interest. Maybe their should be a stipulation clause when the property is purchased that the house has to be made according to the building plans of how it was originally built and make it a single family home - not a condo or townhouse. Just an out-of-the-box idea!
ReplyDeleteI don't think the house would need to be rebuilt in order to be habitable -- the interior is disgusting, but not seriously deteriorated. It would certainly need quite a bit of work, and at the least a new kitchen and bathrooms. Probably new plumbing and electric as well, although I haven't seen that. However, there is absolutely no reason for the bank to put any sort of stipulation on what's done with the property after the sale -- they just want to make as much money off it as possible. They're a bank, after all. Banks have no emotions.
ReplyDeleteDear Anonymous,
ReplyDeleteThis is true. But wouldn't it be nice to have it do one decent thing in the neighborhood. It's too bad the German School didn't buy it or the Catholic church. It would have made a nice center for the local children and adults.
One can always dream. I just hope that the new building doesn't look like the rentals on the street by Tommy Gardner, senior moment, the name of the street escapes me. I have lived in Allston 50 years and I still can't remember the name of that street always escapes me.
When I rode my bike home on Friday it was still standing. When I drove home from a pumpkin carving party tonight it was a heap of rubble.
ReplyDeleteOh, so the house was eventually taken down. Yeah, it could have been a historical gem and the would-be owners would have owned a piece of Brighton history. Maybe it really had to go, because of the huge amount of work needed to restore it. In any case, there might be more habitable or even more beautiful houses out there.
ReplyDeleteHope to see some photos inside of the house or the floorplans. Thanks! :)
ReplyDeletehouse for sale Philippines