MA: Stoughton mansion eyed as 'transit-oriented development' for Boston-bound professionals

Nov. 27--STOUGHTON -- At the time of its construction in the late 1870s, John Phinney's mansion at 81 Summer Street was likely the fanciest property in town, according to town historian David Lambert.

But Phinney, an industrialist who manufactured shoe parts in a factory up the block, died less than 10 years after purchasing the land. By 1931, his business was closed, and Phinney's descendants had sold the home and left Stoughton altogether.

Today, the 22-room mansion, long since vinyl-sided and subdivided, is hoping to re-enter the real estate market with newfound dignity.

Realtor Ken Licciardi said its owners, a pair of sisters born in India, are hoping to tap into the growing demand of young professionals seeking housing near Boston.

Located a quarter-mile from a Commuter Rail terminal, Harinder and Jatinder Kaur are hoping 81 Summer Street can take on renewed value as a so-called "transit-oriented development" in an era when housing prices have sent many would-be yuppies into the region's outer municipalities. MBTA schedules estimate the train ride to Boston's South Station at 35 minutes.

"Stoughton has become a town that people are really migrating to from the more expensive areas," said Licciardi, who grew up in the town.

The Kaurs began converting 81 Summer Street from apartments to condominiums six years ago, more than doubling the property's value in the eyes of Stoughton tax assessors . Licciardi said two of those condominiums have already sold, and he has listed a three-bedroom unit on the top floor at $299,000.

"This property would appeal to someone who has an affinity for old homes," he said. "It gives you a feeling of timelessness and space. Every unit is unique and every room seems to be a unique shape or size."

On the third floor, many of the ceilings are slanted, creating nooks and crannies largely absent from modern construction. But in the master bedroom, located in the houses tremendous four-sided turret, ceilings open up to 15 feet in height.

In its transformation from industrialist mansion to transit-oriented condominium complex, some charm has been lost, according to Lambert, who remembers visiting a friend's apartment in the building years ago.

"They've gutted it completely to make a variety of units out of it," he said. "There are a couple of nice spots that have the fireplaces and what not but as far as the 19th century charm a lot of it would have been lost."

During the century since its construction, the house's porch has been walled-in to create more indoor space and, aside from two towering beech trees on the property, much of the historic landscaping has been paved to make way for parking.

A Gilded Age mansion in its original splendor would have been a tough sell in Stoughton Center, according to Licciardi. Even if a buyer was willing to pay for its expensive upkeep, 81 Summer Street's less-than-luxurious neighbors make the house seem out of place.

Next door is a former industrial space, now home to the St. Vincent de Paul Society's sprawling thrift store, and caddy-cornered is a downsized renovation of Phinney's former factory.

While such an arrangement made a convenient walking commute for the 19th century industrialist, zoning laws and car-centric settlement patterns have since rendered the combination a strange one.

Across the street is a later addition to the industrial landscape: a commercial garage, surrounded by five stretch limousines that have sat in disrepair for years.

Had the Phinney family stayed at 81 Summer Street, they might have rented such vehicles for a trip into Boston. But the house's current day owners are hoping their buyers will take the train.

Staff writer Ben Berke can be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @Enterprise_Ben.

___ (c)2018 The Enterprise, Brockton, Mass. Visit The Enterprise, Brockton, Mass. at www.enterprisenews.com Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.