The seller of a penthouse in Boston decked out in copper details says it’ll cost $2.4 million to part with the “highly unique” unit.
Chuck Kane, senior lecturer at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Sloan School of Management, purchased the condo in 2007 and “put a lot of heart and soul” into renovations of the one-bed, two-bath penthouse, which includes a rooftop deck and an English cottage look.
The open-concept unit at 49 Grove St. is a 1,327-square-foot loft with 720 square feet of landscaped exterior, split between the two-level rooftop deck and a balcony overlooking the Charles River. It’s located in the Beacon Hill neighborhood, recognized for its charming cobblestone streets, 1800s rowhouses and gas-powered streetlamps.
“The deck is phenomenal and one of the best views I’ve personally seen in the city,” said co-listing agent Colin Boylan of Sotheby’s International Realty. “The home itself is meant to be something you don’t get in the city. It’s a different world than the traditional Boston.”
The $2.4 million price tag makes it the neighborhood’s most expensive one-bedroom condo for sale, according to Homes.com. The median home price in Beacon Hill is $1.2 million.
The seller admittedly loves copper and made it a focal point throughout the unit. The kitchen’s sink, faucet, and backsplash have a copper look; the 15-foot-high working wood fireplace is wrapped in copper; and the ceiling in the second-floor lounge area features a copper ceiling. The chandelier in the living room comes from Kane’s travels to Peru, and it’s also entirely copper.
Outside, copper lines the balcony that shoots off from the office, and the rooftop deck has copper planters and chimney hoods. Kane wanted to encapsulate the English cottage look, something he admired from time spent working in London.
“That’s also part of the English theme. A lot of the English cottages use copper quite a bit,” he said.
As part of his upgrades, Kane tore down drywall to expose brick throughout, including in the shower. He installed shutters on the windows, and a new second-floor runway, built out three outdoor spaces, and even made a deal with the building to expand the unit’s footprint. The lofted second floor fits a library, office nook, and secondary lounge area.
“I did a deal with the building where I bought the final staircase up to the roof area,” Kane said. “In return for buying a gas furnace for the entire condo complex, I bought that staircase, which allowed me to do the circular stairs up to the roof deck.”
Single at the time, he designed the home as a bachelor pad, perfect for hosting parties, or a temporary escape when in town.
Agents imagine a similar buyer would benefit from the unit’s out-of-the-box aesthetic.
“Our buyer we envision is someone who’s a male CEO in their 30s, 40s or 50s, and it might be a secondary, third, or fourth home,” said Boylan. “It’s like their own little palace.”
And when not in use, the unit can be rented out for short or long-term rentals. It's listed to rent for $9,900 a month.