On the Market: Big Houses in Allston
Ordinarily, I don’t associate roomy and distinctive Victorians with Allston. In reality, though, Allston has quite a few — it’s just that many of them have been taken over by students, quickly losing the glamour they had 120 years ago. After all, Victorians are high-maintenance houses requiring constant upkeep. They’re meant for the dedicated and don’t do well as investment properties owned by lackadaisical absentee landlords.
There are a few Victorians in Allston that have been lavished with love, though. There’s one on Gordon Street, for example, painted the bright colors befitting one of San Francisco’s Painted Ladies. On High Rock Way, probably one of the nicest streets in Allston, there are several large and very respectable Victorians that can hang with the best of them.
Few other Allston Victorians shine to that degree, but many hold a lot of promise. These are large comfortable homes, perfect for a big family. They are close to parks, shops and public transportation. They’re also convenient to Mass Pike for commuters. And considering the proximity to the city, these houses come with a reasonable price tag. In Allston, a six-bedroom single-family house can be had for the cost of a two-bedroom condo just a few streets over in Brookline. The best place to look for these homes is in the area just south of where Cambridge Street and Brighton Avenue meet. On the market right now, three large homes in Allston look very tempting. All are adjacent to Stanley Ringer Park and are a short walk to the Green Line:
2 High Rock Way
Allston
BEDS:6/BATHS:3
SQ.FT:3,311
$479K
54 Gordon Street
Allston
BEDS:5/BATHS:3.5
SQ.FT:2,677
$599,500
34 Ridgemont Street
Allston
BEDS:6/BATHS:3
SQ.FT:2910
$699K
