January 28, 2008

Around the Neighborhood: The Beacon Hill Pub

Imagine Beacon Hill as a giant, somewhat misshapen rectangle. At the southeast corner, you have the majestic golden dome of the state house, embodiment of the power, history, and carriage of the neighborhood. And appropriately enough, at the opposite corner you have a building that symbolizes the utter nadir of all these things: The Beacon Hill Pub.

Now, don’t get me wrong; I dig the place. In a neighborhood where 11-dollar cocktails are the norm, the BHP’s $2.75 Brubaker pints taste great before they even touch your lips. And sticky floors, painted-over windows, and marginal (at best) bathrooms aside, it’s nice to have at least one place in the neighborhood where a collared shirt - untucked, even - makes you feel dressed up.

So today’s post will focus on properties within staggering distance of this regional landmark. Or, if dive bars aren’t your thing, properties a short walk from the smorgasbord of salons, boutiques, and fashionable eateries that pockmark the Charles Street storefronts.

First thing that caught my eye was 13 Lindall Place #3, a spacious, beautifully laid out 2-bed, 2-bath condo on a picturesque lane just a stone’s throw from MGH. At $561/square foot, it’s one of the most sensational values on the Hill and comes with just one tiny catch - see that big green thing off in the upper left? Elevated tracks of the Red Line subway. But hey, it could still be perfect - for someone who’s deaf.

I do realize that I’ve just called a $700,000 property a bargain. But despite Beacon Hill’s blue-blooded reputation, it’s home to any number of properties one might (loosely) term “affordable”. 91 West Cedar Street #4 combines the gorgeous look and feel of a gas-lit neighborhood with a bottom line below the median asking price of a property in Somerville. Granted, it only gets you 435 square feet and some seriously tight corners, but in a location this walkable, the entire neighborhood is your living room. I’m serious - there’s a laundromat directly across the street.

And, for the dive bar aficionado who has everything, there’s 15 Charles River Square. As you can see from the virtual tour in the listing, it’s stately to the point of over-elegance, and like most 7-figure properties, the price has not been reduced despite nearly 500 days on market. It has direct access to Storrow Drive, which means easy-in, easy-out travel, and all the advantages of urban location with a level of privacy (so long as you like your Charles River Square neighbors) that you aren’t likely to find anywhere else inside 128.

photos © Cosmo Catalano under CC by-nc-sa 3.0.