A Tour Of Beverly In 3 Listings
My adopted homeland is a strange and wonderful place, where the working class neighborhoods of old lap against the pilings of summer manses, where fishermen and merchant marines share a zip code with the progeny of captains of industries long crumbled in the dust of time. (No extra charge for the melodrama OR the purple prose — now that’s a deal and a half.)
These three listings struck me as characteristic of their neighborhoods, if I spare you a look at the $7 million estates in Beverly Farms. The Farms seems to enjoy some privilege in this town, which I find inherently offensive, but it’s there, nevertheless — they have a public-private fireworks show on the 4th of July, for instance, and a house in the farms worth $7 million assesses for less than half its value while our homes assess for close to 100%.
First, there’s working-class Ryal Side, and a real peach of a house with beautiful views:
87 Kernwood Avenue
Beverly, MA 10195
Beds: 3/Baths:2
SQ.FT.: 1796
$345,000
Then, Montserrat, which bears the same name as the little art college in our town. It has its own train depot 1 stop north of the main one downtown, and any house in the neighborhood is within an easy walk of the Montserrat stop and a brisk-but-not-bad walk from the Depot. Montserrat is pretty, with older historic homes and mostly-nice 20th century architecture, and really convenient — if the bubble hadn’t burst, this area would have taken off next. If you want a commuter’s bargain in an idyllic setting, this could be your new ‘hood.
17 1/2 Pierce Street Address #2
Beverly, MA 01915
Beds: 3/Baths: 1.5
SQ.FT.: 1465
$279,000
Finally, The Farms. It’s pretty up there, and the lots are big, and except for jerks who built fences so the Proles can’t see their ocean views (you know which condo association you are!) it’s a swell place to live. There’s a fruit shop called the Fruitful Basket with amazing bread, cheese, and hand-picked produce that’s worth the premium they charge. The farms has its own natural foods store, wine and spirits shop, and a new Tapas restaurant that I haven’t tried yet.
99 Preston Place
Beverly, MA 10195
Beds: 4/Baths: 3.5
SQ.FT.: 3571
$849,500
