Condo replicates a landmark home up to the turret
July 15th, 2007 - Category: Condo, Real EstateThis city is proud of its history, so when the landmark 1880 George Perkins house burned down in 1995, the citizenry bemoaned the loss. To the rescue came a developer with a plan for a new three-unit condo building that would replicate the Victoria/French Academy-style mansion. Along the way, Geoffrey H. Richon Co. took over the project, completing the building in 2004. The Gloucester Historical Commission presented Richon with its Preservation Award in 2005 for “a new building that is sympathetic to the historical environment.”
Tom Skinner purchased the unit on the top floors in 2004. Tucked under the mansard roof the condo has cathedral ceilings and windows on all four sides of the building. From the basement-level garage, a covered walk leads to Skinner’s rear entrance where he can take the elevator, or hike up the handcrafted staircase, to the third floor. There, the living and dining areas are combined in an open floor plan. Off the maple-and-granite kitchen is large private roof deck. The master suite includes a spacious granite-and tile-bathroom, while the guest bedroom has a bath with skylight.
But the piece de resistance is the turret. An art-filled staircase leads to the fourth-floor of the tower, which holds a single room that Skinner uses as a study and extra guest room. From there, a ship’s ladder leads to a cozy fifth-floor space with magnificent views framed by dormered windows on three sides. To the rear, a deck offers views to Cape Ann’s Rocky Neck and Eastern Point, and, on a clear day, all the way to Hingham.
Skinner is selling the property himself and will hold an open house today from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
GAIL RAVGIALA
50 Pleasant St., Unit 3 Gloucester Price $549,000
Style Second Empire
Built 2004
Square feet 1,400
Rooms 7
Bedrooms 2
Baths 2
Sewer Public
capeannharborview.com
