Comments on: This Boston Condo Got Religion

By: anodean

anodean — Thu, 19 Jun 2014 14:13:15 +0000

@Emerald63: Ah! That's a comfort. And the structure, from its stone work to the wood work of its awe inspiring vaults, is absolutely a thing of beauty. Not a home-comforts sort of beauty though, which is what makes it hard to imagine living in it. Frodo's right: hard to heat, because it was never meant for living space... though you're right, a library conversion would certainly have been appropriate. :)

By: Emerald63

Emerald63 — Wed, 18 Jun 2014 21:08:12 +0000

@anodean: Forgot to mention, this one large open space with a mezzanine is actually just one unit. There are 7 others in the church proper, with the others in outlying buildings. So... not a communal space.

By: Emerald63

Emerald63 — Wed, 18 Jun 2014 21:05:56 +0000

I suppose it must be having had an architectural education, but I was much more excited about this listing than the rest of you (and even the quoted listing agent). Perhaps this particular residential infill design is somewhat misguided, but the overall space itself is amazing, stunning, awe-inspiring, and lots of other heavenly adjectives. I’m just very, very grateful that the church wasn’t torn down or butchered. The woodwork restoration brought tears to my eyes just thinking of all the similar spaces we’ve lost to box stores and strip malls. And it’s not like the living areas can’t be remodeled. Granted, they shouldn’t have to be, but at least it’s possible.

Maybe one reason I’m so drawn to this is its similarities to the chapel at my dad’s alma mater, the University of the Ozarks. It’s a small Presbyterian school where attending services is still required, so the chapel is well known. Also, my great uncle was the contractor, with construction completed in 1933, right in the depths of The Depression. One thing Uncle Gomer (yes… Gomer) did was find stone masons in Italy and brought them over for this project. At least someone had deep pockets back then. (Not Gomer, though, but his bosses.) You can see the chapel here:
http://www.ozarks.edu/spirituallife/chapel/building.asp – interior
http://www.ozarks.edu/spirituallife/chapel/ – exterior

Thanks for finding the tower unit listing, Marty. Looks quite nice. I was especially struck by Pics 18 and 19, with multiple staircases every bit as intense as the ones in the narrow Chicago row house from a few listings back.

By: Emerald63

Emerald63 — Wed, 18 Jun 2014 20:40:16 +0000

@anodean: RE "'Ware slops!" Are you referring to the non-hygienic "Look out below!" of Medieval times? Hmm... still, it has to beat out "Bring out your dead" for dreadfulness. Although... there is a cemetery right across the street, so... yeah... handy.

By: Emerald63

Emerald63 — Wed, 18 Jun 2014 20:37:43 +0000

@Frodo: Hell to heat? Not a problem. As a decommissioned church with bedrooms, some would say the fires of hell are already there. But it would make a right nice library. If anyone used them anymore.

By: anodean

anodean — Wed, 18 Jun 2014 19:38:30 +0000

If these “units” are all wide-open mezzanines in this high, vaulted space, I can see why they named it a “village.” Next thing you know, your neighbor will be shouting ” ‘Ware slops! “

By: Frodo

Frodo — Wed, 18 Jun 2014 16:28:34 +0000

It must take hell to heat it in the winter.

Otherwise, I can forgive the odd layout with as much open spaces as there are to play with. I see a lot of potential here although it seems more conducive to being a club, restaurant, coffee shop / book store, or some other such establishment, than it is for a home.